When Will Public Access TV Come to Fresno?

When Will Public Access TV Come to Fresno?
By Mike Rhodes

Efforts to establish Public, Education, and Government (PEG) programing on the cable network in Fresno have been underway for over six years now. What happens in the next month or two will determine whether or not individuals and community groups will have an opportunity to produce and broadcast programs on Comcast cable.

With a new statewide franchise agreement about to take affect on January 1, 2007, all the City of Fresno would have to do is adopt an ordinance to accept the money from Comcast and PEG access would be guaranteed. With the money from the franchise agreement we could establish a Community Media Center where there would be equipment and studios available for producing Public Access programs. These programs could be about the activities of a community group, a cultural presentation by one of this areas many ethnic groups, a talk show about local politics, or just about anything else you could imagine.

The funding from the state franchise agreement would also pay for a government channel which would broadcast the Fresno City Council meetings. Other possible programs include an interview with the City Manager, an inside look at the planning commission, exploring the exciting world of budget hearings, and anything else that has to do with local government. The government channel will be our spotlight on local government.

The education channel can provide distant learning opportunities, homework help, or a live broadcast from a school sports, music, or cultural event.

Unfortunately, there are forces that do not want the public to have a voice on a public access channel. Jerry Duncan supports the government and the education channels but he is opposed to the public access channel because he believes that if the public wants air time, they should pay for it. Duncan sees no problem with Big Government exercising their free speech rights on the cable network to get their message out but he does not want community groups and individuals to have the same opportunity.

Bob Waterston, when the issue of PEG access came before the Board of Supervisors almost two years ago, was even more direct. He said “what if the board of supervisors voted against the use of medical marijuana or the needle exchange program and we had other groups out there that disagreed with us...does that mean they could go on one of these channels we gave them and talk about anything they want?”

There is a genuine concern by elected officials that a program on the Public Access channel could be used to criticize them or their favorite projects. Another theme that comes up regularly with elected officials is the fear that a “fringe group” will produce a program to spread their unorthodox ideas. Advocates for Public Access argue that it is OK, even healthy, to have different opinions on TV - in fact it is important for a democracy to allow and encourage different points of view to be heard. If a library had a book that you disagreed with, the answer is not to shut down the library - it is better to encourage people to think and respectfully disagree than to cut off all debate.

Currently mayor Alan Autry is considering whether to direct the city manager’s office to introduce an ordinance to accept the state franchise agreement, which would include PEG funding. I have been told that it is possible that he will not include PEG funding in the ordinance because he is concerned that the 1% franchise fee would be burdensome for taxpayers. Autry has every intention of accepting the 5% franchise fee that would go directly into the general fund of the city. He is only concerned that the 1% for PEG access would be a burden to taxpayers. Go figure.

Community groups and individuals that are in support of PEG access might want to contact the mayor and let him know how they feel. You can contact mayor Autry by phone (559) 621-8000 or email Mayor [at] fresno.gov .

If mayor Autry does not direct staff to include PEG funding in the ordinance, then supporters should contact their city council member to encourage them to introduce an ordinance that includes language inclusive of PEG access. Contact information for all city council members is available at http://www.fresno.gov/Government/CityCouncil/Default.htm .

The ordinance needs to be introduced and approved before the end of the year. The time to act is now!

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