Save Access

Note: Indiana just passed a state-wide video franchise bill and already Time Warner is threatening to limit PEG delivery under the new legislation. This same scenario played out in San Antonio, Texas (see: this site) where the Time Warner PEG services and channels went off air after that state-wide bill passed. Anyone who still believes state and national video franchises won't impact PEG need only look at these two precedents.

from: Indystar.com

June 6, 2006

Save our public access to cable TV stations

Subscribers to Bright House Cable Networks should be aware that the operator, which is owned by Time Warner, is requesting changes in its contracts with the City of Indianapolis to reduce or eliminate on basic cable the four educational and government channels and make some of them available on premium channels only.

It is doing this in the face of a new state law that takes effect July 1 that establishes a state video franchising authority. Citizens should attend and speak at the City-County Council rules and policy committee hearing at 5:30 p.m. today.

Citizens should also voice their concerns to Mayor Bart Peterson and call, write or e-mail members of the City-County Council. Supporters of a public access TV channel see this as maybe our one opportunity to make sure the committee and the council put in a requirement for such a community TV channel on basic cable in the contracts as they were 10 years ago.

The council has a rare opportunity to vote in favor of something that almost everybody in the community supports and, in addition, save educational and governmental video channels that are so vital to keeping the community informed.

Carl Kakasuleff