from: Progressive States [1]
Michigan Fights to Ensure PEG Channels Are Available to All
BY Julie Schwartz
The future is very uncertain for public, education and government (PEG) channels. These local channels have traditionally been carried by cable companies as a public service to highlight local community and public voices. Historically, PEG channels have been receivable on both analog and digital service, ensuring that PEG stations were accessible by any individual with a television, regardless of income level or cable package. Now that the Digital TV transition is looming for broadcasters, the question is what happens to these channels. Comcast, a service provider, is not required to, nor going to, go "all digital" as of February 2009, but is attempting to use the transition as an excuse to reduce access to PEG channels.
In November, Comcast attempted to move Michigan PEG channels off the "basic" tier of services and stick them in "digital delivery." This move would place the channels up into the 900 range and out of easy access to hundreds of cable subscribers. When Comcast proposed the change in November many local officials found themselves trapped. While local officials wanted to protect PEG channels, the recently enacted uniform video services local franchise act, Public Act 480, made their local approval process a rubber stamp, and greatly diminished their power to stop Comcast.
Michigan legislators, in an attempt to save PEG, drafted house bill 5693 to amend Public Act 480. The bill requires that cable providers keep their government channels available to subscribers without requiring the need for additional equipment.
Michigan's amendment uses language similar to that in California's state video franchising legislation, AB 2987. One of the many PEG friendly assurances in AB 2987 required that PEG channels should be receivable by all subscribers, whether they receive digital or analog service, without the need for any equipment other than equipment necessary to receive the lowest cost tier of service.