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from: News Advance

Hope may be dimming for public access TV
by Alicia Petska
News Advance (VA)O
02/13/08

The possibility of lending city support to Lynchburg’s public access station is still on the table, although City Council unanimously approved a contract that could have the channel off the air as early as this week. On Wednesday, Ward II Councilman Ceasor Johnson said he was willing to champion community television’s cause during this year’s budget hearings if there was interest in keeping the programming.

He made no promises of success, though, noting the city was facing a tight financial year. “Kaine, he’s got a $1 billion loss right now,” Johnson said, referring to the state’s budget deficit. “That trickles down to local government and everyone’s going have to tighten their belts. I don’t know what people will be willing to do for public access.”

City Manager Kimball Payne, who’s finishing his budget proposal now, told council members at Tuesday’s meeting that support for public access will not be included. At the meeting, City Council unanimously approved a new franchise contract for cable provider Comcast. Under the terms of that deal and in compliance with recent changes to state law, Comcast will no longer be required to support local public access programs, which run on Channel 7. Hosts still have the right to broadcast their programs, but will now have to pay to produce them - a possibility that could spell the end of Lynchburg’s 30-year public access tradition.

from: News Advance

New Lynchburg cable franchise drops public access
by Alicia Petska
News Advance
02/13/08

Lynchburg City Council has unanimously approved a new cable franchise contract that drops support for public access programming. Council, which previously voted against stepping in to save the city's public TV station, did leave the door open for possible city funding in the future. Ward II Councilman Ceasor Johnson asked that the issue be brought up again during this year's budget talks, which kick off next month.

Prior to council's vote, which was cast Tuesday night, 15 people came forward during a hearing to speak in support of public access. Lynchburg's had public access TV since 1978. In the past, its been supported by the city's cable provider, currently Comcast. Changes to state law approved in 2006 no longer require companies to carry that burden.