Across the county, public access television stations – one of the last forms of free, local and accessible media available to Americans – face the threat of being defunded by the end of this year, as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission quickly moves to adopt a rule change that would permanently strip them of funding under pressure from big cable corporations.

The proposed FCC rule change (Docket NR 05-311) would allow corporate cable providers to cut or eliminate the funding they’re now legally required to provide to public access stations and community media centers nationwide under the Cable Act of 1984.

[THE GEEKY DETAILS: Specifically, the cable providers would be allowed to reclassify certain services and charge back in-kind fees against the funds they typically provide public access stations. They will not be held accountable for how much they charge. This would lead to a potentially catastrophic bill for public-access stations that could wipe them out.]

Such a rule change is in direct opposition to the spirit of the Cable Act, which protects and funds public access stations, even as cable providers fight to keep public access programming off their cable guides and off the air. It also strikes at the heart and soul of our democracy, which thrives when voters are able to get access to media and make informed decisions.

Public access stations broadcast and stream, (via cable operators and the web), local town and government meetings, educational programs and events, and allow communities across the nation to hold and participate in their own public forums, unmediated and unfiltered – one of the very last platforms to do so. These unique programs are not just free to all, they allow many communities to stay connected with one another and informed about the world in which they live. In rural areas, this is especially important, as traditional media outlets consolidate or fold, and voters struggle to stay informed on local issues.

Without public access television stations, a large swath of our nation’s public life would be destroyed, without any replacement.

Please join us in telling FCC Chairman Ajit Pai not to bow under the pressure of Big Cable, to safeguard our public forums, and to vote to preserve our proud, democratic tradition of public access TV, throughout our nation, for the benefit of all.

“The erosion of democracy over decades has been accompanied by transfer of wealth and power upward, and increased corporate dominance in every area, including media. Community public access media remains a rare vestige of democracy, even as its existence is threatened.”

–The Colorado Sun

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Read more:

New England Public Radio:

https://www.nepr.net/post/fcc-rule-change-could-limit-funding-public-access-programs#stream/0

WGBH:

https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2018/11/12/an-fcc-rule-change-could-put-an-end-to-local-access-tv-stations

Rutland Herald:

https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/officials-public-access-facing-challenges/article_14cbf977-f558-53f3-a65f-d719aaddb2e0.html

The Colorado Sun:

https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/16/public-access-media-denver-michele-swenson/

Cincinnati Enquirer:

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/12/21/community-cable-television-stop-fcc-rule/2373562002/

Brattleboro Reformer:

https://www.reformer.com/stories/fcc-proposal-could-hurt-bctvs-bottom-line,557852

The Berkshire Edge:

https://theberkshireedge.com/fcc-is-at-it-again-proposes-changes-to-benefit-big-cable-harm-local-access-channels/

Patriot Ledger:

https://www.patriotledger.com/news/20190215/will-fcc-rule-change-ruin-community-cable-tv

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SEND A LETTER TO THE FCC (template below):

You can write directly to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai at: ajit.pai@fcc.gov 

You can also cc his fellow commissioners and the White House at:  

Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner - Mike.O’Rielly@fcc.gov

Brendan Carr, Commissioner - Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov

Geoffrey Starks, Commissioner - geoffrey.starks@fcc.gov

Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner - Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov

The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

*LETTER TEMPLATE:
 
Date:
The Honorable Ajit V. Pai
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission 455 12th Street, Southwest
Washington, DC, 20544

Dear Chairman Pai,

I am writing to implore you to maintain the current FCC regulations regarding Public Access Television and the Cable Providers obligation to fund them. It is imperative that local access channels continue to be funded and I strongly oppose the current proposal included in the FCC’s September 25, “Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in 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 05- 311.”

The intent of the 1984 Cable Act was to provide secure funding for Public, Educational, and Government programming for the community. PEG access in our community is essential to our way of life and is a hub for communication, community services and an informed electorate.

By defining “franchise fee” in an overly broad fashion to include “in-kind” support, the FCC’s proposals will shift the fair balance between cable franchising authorities and cable operators and will force communities to choose between franchise fees and PEG channels, – something that was never the intent of the Act.

We appreciate your consideration and hope you will protect PEG channels in our community and others by choosing not to adopt many of the proposals in the “Further Notice” mentioned above.
 
Sincerely, [Your Name]

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Thank you for helping us save America's freest form of public media!