We ain’t the only ones fighting town hall over Public Access
Thanks to the RT reader who passed along this ABC Nightline video. Apparently we aren’t the only ones having trouble with Public Access Cable TV. In Los Angeles, the city government wants to control the channel, and free speech advocates are protesting.
About halfway through, be sure to catch the footage of Illinois State Senator Obama on a local public access cable TV show. Public access may not be grand and glorious, but it’s an independent medium worth preserving, a place where everybody can have their say, whether they are in power in not.
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Hmmm….I’m picturing the blonde, any blonde, sitting on the bed interviewing John DeCaro over such an issue, while Ralphie boy hangs in the rack.
Seriously - someone should contact that ABC reporter. With the money these goons are stealing, and the 2M they hid and spent in the school trying to slime this thing through, this would make a better story than the woman in CA. Plus, I’d love to see her rubbing the crystal skull!
thanks for finding this story.
Public access channels are under assault all over the country. and have been for a few years now. The Espostio’s and Auberger’s of the world are out to silence public access. The interesting question raised on this video is with one government-run channel in LA one speaker notes who gets to decide who is on public access. Who sets the agenda and who has control over the channel.
The situation in California concerns changes that are being made to the franchise system and are likely to effect NYS in the future.
A couple of years ago there was an attempt in Congress to end the local franchise system which requires that a cable company to negotiate with the local municipality permission to run cable in the area. John McCain was one of he leading sponsors of a bill to deregulate cable entirely and create a national franchise giving any company permission to run anywhere without local franchise agreements. This would leave local franchise payments and money for public access in limbo. Promises were made but as you will see never meant to be kept.
The national franchise system was defeated but the cable companies have had more luck at the state level. A number of states have passed bills creating statewide franchises. They have deregulated on the state level. In each case promises were made about maintaining franchise funding and public access but in state after state these have turned out to be lies.
In California following the passage of the state wide franchise the cable companies have closed down previously mandated facilities they provided for public access. IN Michigan and Florida cutbacks and planned moves of access off basic cable to higher tiers. In Texas shutting down of strong local access facilities. I could easily go on.
IN addition AT&T is currently under suit for providing second rate bandwidth to access and other public channels . I could go on. Local political leaders often just go along.
We need to show support save public access here and everywhere. IT will be gone before we know it.
The Obama clip was interesting. From what I have read here, it seems like our leaders would not want to let a young candidate Obama on the air. He might have said something irresponsible.
Irresponsible=criticism of existing leaders
Apparently our west side republican leaders think candidates do not have any free speech rights
Come to think of it, have you ever seen any members of our town boards on the air except during meetings. I can not recall any
Hey DiCaro. do town board members in Gates have free speech What would Ayn Rand say?
Wedgie brings up a point I can comment on. In the past I know that a couple of town board members and county legislature members wanted to do shows on access but were told by their bosses in no uncertain terms that they would not be allowed. Only the top dogs are allowed to speak or to appear in an official capacity
party discipline is one thing party muzzling is another.
We have folks in power who want to define very narrowly (and in a way that benefits them) the range of “acceptable” or “respectable” opinion. They will pressuring anyone who does access to conform with their ideas.
I haven’t seen Supervisors Espostio or Auberger on access for some time now. Are they afraid to come on?