Save Access

from: Examiner

Bill could affect public access channels

Area legislators updated their constituents on the goings on at Jefferson City at the Independence Chamber of Commerce's month legislative breakfast this morning.

State Senator Victor Callahan was one of three legislators who attended. Callahan, D-Independence, talked about the Cable and AT&T Bill.

Currently, cable television is provided by more than 350 separate franchise agreements with municipalities throughout Missouri. If passed, the bill would do away with all of those individual franchise agreements and allow the cable and telecommunication companies to have one franchise agreement with the state of Missouri.

The bill could hurt educational and government television broadcast to communities in the state, Callahan said. The city of Independence broadcasts many of its meetings, including its city council meetings on a channel called City 7. According to Callahan, the bill allows for funding of the public and educational channels until 2009.

"That is an issue we fought about for a long time," Callahan said. "It goes back to a duty and obligation (of cable providers to provide public information). I don't want to have the PEG channels to have bake sales or telethons."

Callahan proposed an amendment to put cable and telecommunication companies under the Public Services Commission.

"It had overwhelming support and failed 27 to 1," he joked.

While the cable and telecommunication companies say the legislation would allow for lower prices to customers because it will provide a choice, Callahan said customers still have to play by the rules.

"You just can't do away with over 530 contracts," he said.

State Rep. Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs, said the State House of Representatives is working on eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits.

The money from the tax break would not go idle in a bank account, Dusenberg said.

"Many I know would put it back into the economy," he said.

The House is also looking at tax credits for food pantries.

"In weather like this, a lot of people could benefit from that," Dusenberg said.

Dusenberg added he is impressed with Gov. Matt Blunt's plan help the unemployed keep or get health insurance.

"While it is still in its infancy stage, we are all coming together and seeing how we can help the 700,000 uninsured in the state of Missouri," he said.

State Rep. Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, agreed with Dusenberg on the plan.

"Its pretty innovative," he said. "It's really just in the conceptual form, but I think it has a lot of hope. It is really a unique system."

Reach Adam Torres at adam.torres@examiner.net or 816-350-6324.