Community television stations around the country are being threatened by Telcos and media giants. Stand
up for your community's right to produce and broadcast local television.
Description
The Community Television Network is a great resource for the people of Portland. The station offers training on everything
you need to know to produce your own television. They offer a variety of classes, some for as little as ten dollars. Any citizen
of Portland hoping to work in the media can learn a great deal and gain experience volunteering at the station. However, PEG
access stations around the country are struggling to keep there funding. Are we in danger of losing such a valuable part of
our community here in Portland?
Interpretation
I'm very interested in Community Television. I find it hard to believe that such a valuable resource to the community
could be threatened by media corporations. The people involved are so truly passionate about preserving democracy by making
sure the people have a voice through community television. I want to share the following reply I received from a message I
sent Tony Vigue, President of the Board of Directors of CTN and Manager of South Portland Community Television.
Tony Vigue, Manager
South Portland Community Television
25 Cottage Road
South Portland, Maine 04106
Phone: 207-767-7615 Fax: 207-767-7620
Email: spctv@southportland.org
Web Site: www.southportland.org
Hi Aaron,
Let me try to answer your questions within your text below
***From: Aaron Woodbury [mailto:thegreatnoon@gmail.com]
***Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 10:21 AM
***To: Vigue,Anthony
***Subject: Re: Franchise Info request
***Hi Tony. Thanks for getting in touch with me. I'm trying to put together a project on CTN and PEG access stations.
I've been reading and seeing a lot about the phone companies getting into television and undermining the franchise agreements
PEG stations rely on. I'm trying to find out all I can and I know anything you can contribute would be a great help. I don't
know exactly where to go with this project and I'm definitely running short on time.
Be sure to visit www.saveaccess.org and www.ourchannels.org lots of good info on both.
In 2006 and 2007 more than 10 bills were brought before congress by the telecoms to try to re-write telecom laws and weaken
local control. All were defeated. So the telcoms went to plan B. - lobby the FCC (see below)
***Is community television here in Maine at risk?
We're not dead yet. There are a couple of challenges that may impact us soon however and I will describe them briefly
here.
In Dec of 2006 and in March of 07 three Republican (the majority - all 5 are political appointees) at the FCC came out
with two "Rulings" at the request of the Telco Lobby and Microsoft (they make the software for the set top boxes
that the Telco's use). These rulings eased franchise requirements and make it easier for the Telcos to get into the video
to the home business. One of the most objectionable parts of the ruling says that telco's (and now cable operators due to
the March ruling) can SUBTRACT the cost of maintaining the city's I-Net from the Franchise fees. Hard to believe that 3 politically
appointed people could change laws that were put in place over the last 30 years by representatives of the people. (Congress)
The loss of franchise fees would hit us hard as most access centers are funded by a portion of the franchise fees. Naturally
these rulings have been formally appealed in the 5th circuit (I think) court by several municipal groups and advocates of
Public Access stations. The rulings on these appeals were suppose to come out last fall, then this Spring, now they are saying
Summer. Meantime as you say, everyone is delaying or dragging their feet until the outcome is known.
***I understand many states have already sided with telephone companies and some PEG stations have closed because of it.
Yes, there are about 20 states now that have adopted some kind of statewide franchise law. This is the Telco's plan "C".
If they could not get a national franchise change to suit them, they will do it state by state like the Terminator, they just
keep coming back. Unlike us, they have unlimited funding. And sadly, yes, there have been a couple of stations that have had
to "go dark" as they say in the biz. NATOA (www.natoa.org) and the Alliance for Community Media (www.ourchannels.org)
are presently conducting a survey to find out what harms have been done under the new statewide franchise laws. Already they
have found that telco prices have gone up significantly instead of down as they promised. So what else is new?
H.R. 5252 was passed by the House in 2006. It stalled when it reached the Senate and never became law. The telcos are now
after the states and the FCC.
Analysis
PEG access stations around the country have been under attack the last few years by telephone companies trying to get
into the business of delivering video. These telcos have been working to eliminate the franchise agreements cable companies
have been working with for decades now. They say in order to get into the business of cable and to compete they need to be
able to bypass local franchises. They seem to have no interest in the public other than their money. At least 21 states so
far have given in to the telcos. States have been selling out to these telcos with millions of dollars spent buying legislation.
Our own community station, CTN, is currently running on a contract that expired four years ago. Time Warner is holding out
hoping they won't have to continue the franchise agreement. Cable companies are saying if the telcos don't need to work with
them why should they. These businesses make billions of dollars a year. Is it really so hard for them to give back to the
communities that have allowed them to thrive? The total budget of CTN in 2007 was just over $300,000. Not even all of that
was paid for by the franchise agreement. This is such a small price to pay for the use of our public right of ways. However
there are still issues around the country of PEG stations struggling with and losing financing and some have even shut down
completely.
"Politicians are cheap dates for the telcos, and these state legislative affairs treat the statehouse as cheap motels
with hourly rates." -Ha.
"We continue to be shocked at the brazen efforts of the FCC to help the already-thriving telecommunications industry
to the detriment of local governments, their first responders, and their taxpaying residents," said Elizabeth Beaty,
executive director of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA). "Hundreds, if not
thousands, of cable franchise agreements could be voided across the country as a result of the pending FCC order. This is
not competition, this is chaos," Beaty said.
These quotes are from saveaccess.org. I found it a very insightful and infuriating site.
***Moe(W. Maurice Amaral, Media Specialist) told me CTN is working without a contract now, that cable companies are holding
out hoping they won't have to go through with the franchise agreements. It seems franchise agreements everywhere are expiring
now or soon and our government is just going along with big business. Just four years ago the City of Portland increased its
support of CTN. Now they seem uncertain of there funding and are even trying to raise money themselves, asking for memberships
and donations.
The City of Portland actually has better terms under their old franchise agreement than time Warner is offering under
the new one so they are operating under the terms of the old contract for now by mutual agreement.
***What other ways are our PEG access stations here funded?
From the General Fund at the town or city using straight taxpayer money no franchise fees (seldom done), also some of
the independent non-profit organizations that run the stations like Saco River Community Television, Harpswell Community Television,
CTN etc. may rely on funding from grants, donations and fundraisers.
***Anything you can share with me would be so greatly appreciated. I've only been working with CTN a few months now. It
has been a great experience and I will definitely be helping them any way I can.
Thank you, I am currently serving as President of their Board of Directors and we can use all the volunteer help we can
get.
I'm in my first semester at SMCC studying Communications and New Media. The station has been such a great place to learn
and work and has confirmed my desire to be involved in the media. Thank you for your time and anything you can contribute
to this project for my Mass Communications course.
Here is a link to a History of Public Access that you may find interesting
Tony Vigue, Manager
South Portland Community Television
25 Cottage Road
South Portland, Maine 04106
Phone: 207-767-7615 Fax: 207-767-7620
Email: spctv@southportland.org
Web Site: www.southportland.org
