Save Access

from: Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor to Fight Cable Switch

December 19, 2007
By Tom Gantert

Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, sponsored a resolution that calls on the Legislature to amend the state law to require cable providers to keep offering its public access and government channels in their customary channel slots.

from: Grand Rapids Community Media Center

Grand Rapids’s GRTV & LiveWire Being Booted to Digital Tier

December 20, 2007

I am sad to note that as of January 15th, GRTV (channel 25) and LiveWire (channel 24) will no longer be seen on basic cable TV but instead on channels 917 & 916. Invoking their new options made possible by the State Uniform Video Franchise Act, Comcast has decided to put all community cabel access channels in the State of Michigan in the 900 tier of their digital cable service.

from: Media Mouse

Community Access Channels Moved from Basic Cable in Michigan

December 18, 2007

Today, the Grand Rapids Community Media Center (CMC) announced that Grand Rapids’ public access channels, GRTV and LiveWire, will no longer be offered as part of Comcast’s “basic” cable package. They will now only be available to digital subscribers. Comcast made the decision under options it was granted in last year’s State Uniform Video Franchise Act and has moved all community access channels in Michigan to the 900 tier of their digital cable service.

from: MLive.com

Comcast public channels go digital
Friday, December 07, 2007
By Dave Alexander
dalexander@muskegonchronicle.com with Chronicle News Service reports

Just like George Jefferson of 1970s sitcom fame, Muskegon area public access television channels "are movin' on up."

from: Grand Rapids Press

Comcast pushes public access into digital tier
Friday, December 07, 2007
By Chris Knape

GRAND RAPIDS -- Some Comcast subscribers may be seeing black next month when a handful of their channels move out of their regular lineup.

On Jan. 15, the Grand Rapids area's largest cable provider will shuttle its public access, education and government broadcasts from analog cable channels 24-28 to its digital system somewhere around channel 900.

from: Times Herald

Comcast wrong to fiddle with public access

State law harms communities' ability to watch local government

Just when television broadcasts of the new Port Huron City Council's sessions promised to be interesting, Comcast soon will make them more difficult - and eventually more costly - to see.

from: Times Herald

Comcast stations to shut down
Municipalities are left scrambling to produce broadcasts

By SHANNON MURPHY
Times Herald

Local municipalities, such as Port Huron and Marysville, have been scrambling this week to make sure their city council meetings still will be broadcast on public access channels next year.

from: Romeo Observer

Uniform cable agreement
changes channel on WBRW

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

You'll have to exercise your thumb a bit more to get your local public access news coverage.

Letters were recently sent to residents in Bruce and Washington townships and the Village of Romeo, stating that Channel 6 will be known as Channel 902 as of Jan. 15. This is caused by the Michigan Uniform Video Service Local Franchise Agreement. Under the agreement, providers must re-submit up to 2-percent of their gross revenues to fund public access programming.

from: Detroit News

Monday, November 26, 2007
Clinton Twp.
Public access channel change riles officials
They say the move would make it difficult for residents to find community programs.
Steve Pardo / The Detroit News

CLINTON TOWNSHIP -- Officials in the state's largest township are upset that Comcast plans to change the public access channel from Channel 5 to somewhere in the 900s.

from: Journal Newspaper

Cable cost for city will increase

October 11, 2007
Molly Tippen
Staff Writer

The cost of keeping cable television and Internet hook-ups at Romulus City Hall will increase because of the extensive cable franchising agreement signed into law last year.