FCC gives us National Franchising

On Wednesday, Dec 20th the 3 republican members of the FCC ignored the passionate pleas from the two democrats and gave the telephone companies exactly what they want. Cities across the country will have only 90 days to offer a franchise to competitors of cable. All in kind services, PEG money, INETS, channel space, and cable drops will have to come out of the 5% franchise fees at whatever the new provider wishes to charge. If a city and a new competitor cannot agree on a franchise within the 90 day period the provider may start business without a franchise.

What this means for us is significant reduction of funding and no guarantee that existing PEG channels will be carried on new cable or telephone video services. It lets new providers begin to operate a network simply by refusing to do anything for 90 days until the mandatory time table is up. Then existing cable companies will claim it is an un-level playing field until they get out of franchise obligations as well. If this happens it is the end of Public Access as we know it.

Our hope survives in reports that the FCC doesn't have the legal authority to do this. This rogue commission is out of control. We need to jump on the backs of our congressional representatives and make them overturn the FCC’s new illegal ruling.

More info at www.saveaccess.org