from: Daily Southtown [1]

Not Just ‘a Bunch of Hooey’

May 16, 2007
By Barbara Popovic

In “Cable wars” (Insight, May 13), the Southtown reports on AT&T’s push for statewide franchising, launched with House Bill 1500 at the beginning of this year’s Illinois legislative session.

AT&T started out no differently in Illinois than it has in other states, pumping millions into its lobbying and advertising campaign to influence state lawmakers and consumers to support its interests.

But the state of Illinois isn’t following AT&T’s game plan, choosing instead to construct a bill that puts Illinois residents first. That promises to prevent what has happened in state after state where the statewide franchise battle rages.

As AT&T fires at cable and cable fires back, the ultimate risk is that the public becomes a casualty in the crossfire.

AT&T’s victories in other states have come at a hefty cost. States have abandoned the requirement that companies fund local public, educational and government (PEG) access TV channels; serve all residents; and meet customer service standards. Industry gains have become the community’s losses.

Paul La Schiazza, president of AT&T in Illinois, dismisses threats to public access channels as “a bunch of hooey.” He told the Southtown editorial board, “We are committed to the preservation” of PEG access channels.

That is essential for groups like Southwest Women Working Together, a nonprofit providing domestic violence counseling and training programs for residents on Chicago’s southwest side.

SWWT is one of hundreds of local nonprofit groups that use Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV.) Its live call-in show allows SWWT reps to immediately respond to viewers’ questions about education, housing and employment.

State Rep. Jim Brosnahan (D-Evergreen Park) has encouraged municipalities, PEG centers, consumer advocates, cable and telephone to work with the Illinois attorney general on a completely revamped version of HB 1500 that includes protections for the public.

The bill that is emerging strengthens customer service provisions, includes protections for PEG channels and reasserts local controls and enforcement.

AT&T is being given the opportunity to embrace statewide legislation that addresses community needs and interests. And the state of Illinois is poised to demonstrate for the nation how statewide legislation can emerge without undermining the public’s trust.

Barbara Popovic is executive director of CAN TV, the Chicago community access TV station.