Save Access

from: VCAM Blog

Threats to public access?

On October 31st, the FCC made some decisions concerning media ownership and franchising rules that could adversely affect public, educational and government access centers nationwide. It’s one more push towards a cliff that PEG centers have been inching closer to over the last several years. Basically, the FCC is attempting to remove rules that permit local franchising authorities (in this case, the Vermont Public Service Board) from requiring cable companies to set aside funds for PEG services.

from: Toward Freedom

I Want My Community TV: Public Access Television Faces Threats

Written by Megan Tady
Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Imagine you know a thief is going to pilfer your television in the middle of the night? Most likely, you would take action to stop it – lock your doors, hide your TV, or in one last ditch effort for revenge, at least hide your remote. Imagine you knew that in the broadest of daylight, corporations and government were going to pinch not your television, but the only TV channels that give you, the citizen, a voice and a hand in local programming? Well grab your bat, because there’s someone at your door.

from: USa Today

FCC Bans Exclusive Cable Deals at Apartment Complexes

November 1, 2007
By David Lieberman

Trying to promote pay-TV competition and keep prices in check, the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to wipe out deals giving cable operators exclusive access to apartments, condos and other centrally managed real estate developments.

from: Lasar's Letter

FCC’s New Cable Rules — One Step Forward, One Step Back?

From Lasar’s Letter, November 1, 2007
By Matthew Lasar

Media reform groups offered mixed reviews at best to the Federal Communications Commission’s latest moves on cable competition and video franchise authority.

from: Washington Times

FCC’s Three-Ring Hearing

November 1, 2007
By Kara Rowland

The nation’s media regulator wants to relax limits on ownership of radio, television and newspaper outlets, but the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission was greeted yesterday by a gale of testimony overwhelmingly opposed to the idea.

from: Washington Post

Critics Turn Out to Protest Media Consolidation

From Washington Post, November 1, 2007
By Frank Ahrens

Even though the media landscape has changed radically since the last time the Federal Communications Commission tried to alter its media-ownership rules, a hearing at the FCC yesterday showed that the debate remains as heated as ever.

from: FCC

Commissioner Adelstein's Dissent on FCC Video Franchise Ruling

STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN
DISSENTING

Re: Implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 as amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, MB Docket No. 05-311, Second Report and Order

from: FCC

Commissioner Copps Dissent on FCC Video Franchise Ruling

STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER
MICHAEL J. COPPS, DISSENTING

Re: Implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 as amended by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, Second Report and Order (Oct. 31, 2007).

Note: Finally - someone that sees both sides of today's events in Washington. Thanks Harold for seeing the darker side of this FCC Halloween!

from: Media Access Project

MAP Reacts to FCC Cable Franchising Decision

October 31, 2007

Media Access Project Senior Vice President Harold Feld issued the following statement in response to the FCC’s actions on cable franchising and exclusive contracts.

from: Washington Times

Protesters in Costume at FCC Hearing

“We just think everyone should get one [radio station] before some get two.” Pete Tridish, Prometheus Radio Project

October 31, 2007
By Kara Rowland

It was Halloween outside the Federal Communications Commission today as protestors, many clad in costumes, demonstrated outside the agency’s D.C. headquarters to decry media consolidation.