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from: KC Community News

Students testify before legislature against cable bill

Bill could jeopardize award-winning Channel 18
By: Natalie Shelton
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 4:13 PM CST

With the future of Liberty school district’s KLPS Channel 18 made uncertain by a proposed Missouri bill, high school students traveled to Jefferson City last week to testify before a House committee against the measure.

Fourteen students helped crowd a hearing room already packed with opposition of Senate Bill 284, known as the Video Franchise Bill.

Liberty school officials are concerned the bill will alter or eliminate free cable access in schools and also jeopardize the future of Channel 18 and other public education and government channels across the state.

Cable and phone representatives have told area legislators that PEG channels are not in peril. However, a St. Louis-area legislator proposed an amendment to the bill that would allow five exemplary cable programs, Liberty and Blue Springs included, to keep what they had from the cable companies. Some said the measure indicated that school channels could be in danger.

“People say Channel 18 is not in trouble, but in all reality we are,” said Liberty High School senior J.D. Irwin, who testified before House members. “The bill says they have the option to get rid of us.”

Irwin said if the districts were able to keep the channels, it might be with a hefty price tag of $100,000 to $200,000 annually.

“That kind of money is unreal for a school district, even one that is as well-off as Liberty,” he said.

When he testified, Irwin asked the legislature to make PEG channels required on the basic tier of cable offering rather than on a premium package, have the bill mandate at least one educational channel in each service area as long as an educational institution is willing to host it, and like other states, require 1 percent of revenue be devoted to PEG channels.

Students Alix Wiggins, Vincie Spero and Kelli Zech also testified.

“I think our students really made an impact on the House members at the hearing,” said Ann Bertoldie, who teaches the broadcast journalism program. “As we were leaving, the committee chair stopped testimony for a moment to note that the students from Liberty were leaving and if each person giving testimony were as �eloquent and succinct’ as they were the hearing process would go more smoothly.”

Irwin said Channel 18 was an “educational asset we can’t afford to lose” and also one of the few high school broadcasting programs in the country that prepares students for jobs right out of high school.

Channel 18 won the Pacemaker award as the nation’s top student telecast in 2004 and was voted America’s No. 1 high school football telecast for 2006-2007.

“It’s an unparalleled, unmatched experience,” Irwin said. “Without Channel 18, I really wouldn’t have known what I was going to do with my life.”

Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.