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ACM: Getting Media Access Page 1 of 2 Getting Media Access Building Communities Through Electronic Media Throughout the country, over a million people just like you are using electronic media to build a sense of community in their neighborhoods. They've learned how to run N cameras, set lights, edit videotape, and produce top-notch television programming for their community! And all for little or no cost. The funding for media access comes from your town or county which receives "franchise fees" from cable television operators and other commercial telecommunications businesses. The payments are compensation for the use of public property. As you know, the streets of your town are public property, managed by your local government. The poles on the side of the road and the conduits below the ground are also managed by your local government. These "rights-of-way" and "pole attachments" are leased to cable television and other telecommunications companies. Only 10% to 15% of the communities in the country have media access. Every community with cable TV receives franchise fees but not every local government uses those funds for providing public, educational, or governmental (PEG) access services. Unfortunately, no federal law requires local governments to fund media access for their citizens even though public property is used for private gain. Local governments can provide or prevent media access. The decision for providing your community with media access rests with your local government's contract with your local cable company. All cable companies pressure local governments to give the cable companies total control over the cable channels and programming. Local government officials and staff members often give in to the cable companies, especially if they have not conducted a community needs assessment. Here are the steps for gaining media access in your town: 1. Research cable television franchise agreement, ordinances, and compliance. First, go to your town hall and get a copy of the cable television franchise agreement. The critical information to look for is whether (1) the original franchise agreement included PEG access; (2) the terms or conditions for establishing PEG access; and (3) the expiration date of the current franchise agreement. You'll also need to find out if your local government has passed any ordinances dealing with cable television or telecommunications since the agreement was signed. Finally, you should research any reports on how well the cable television operator has complied with the terms of the agreement. 2. Get to know the people responsible for overseeing the cable TV company. You'll need to find out who is responsible for negotiating and overseeing the franchise agreement in your town. Usually it's a staff attorney under the direction of a cable television or telecommunications commission. Find out how citizens get appointed to the commission and when the next seat opens up. You may want to get yourself on the commission or support another candidate who is an advocate for community media. 3. Build a coalition of community organizations. Local neighborhood groups, civic organizations, schools, cultural communities, religious groups, and other non-profit organizations have the most to gain from community media and can be powerful allies. Contact the Alliance national office for partners with chapters in your town. 4. Encourage your local government to devote funds to community media. Use your coalition to encourage your local government to devote some or all of the franchise fees to community media and to force the cable television operator to provide one or more channels. 5. Get connected with the Alliance for Community Media! The Alliance Bookstore has many publications and videos to help you, the Alliance national office can provide legal and organizing advice, Alliance members in nearby Regions and Chapters can provide advice and attend your meetings, and Alliance Meetings and Conferences will provide you with more skills and contacts! With your leadership and the Alliance's assistance, you can help build your own community through electronic media! http://www.alliancecm.org/index.php?page_id=14 10/31/2006