[GPCA Updates] GREEN RELEASE Greens back local cable access providers, blast telecomm bills

[updates-admin at cagreens.org]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, October 6, 2005



GREEN PARTY TO CONGRESS: REJECT ATTACKS ON LOCAL CABLE
ACCESS TV

Greens support local cable access providers, and call S.
1394, S. 1504, and R. 3146 giveaways to corporate
telecommunications lobbyists.

 
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party cable access producers today
criticized three bills in congressional committees that
would cancel local control and funding of public,
educational, and governmental cable television access.  If
adopted, the bills may cost local governments billions per
year in lost revenue.

"The cable companies and the local political machine are
already restricting access to cable by disallowing public
access," said John Atkeison, producer of the monthly show
'GreenViews' in Wilmington, Delaware.  "We pay dearly for
time now, and this legislation would make our situation even
worse."

"Here in West Chester, Pennsylvania, we don't have free
cable access," added Victoria Webb, a producer of 'GreenTV',
launched by the St. Joe Valley Greens chapter in South Bend,
Indiana.  "Why?  Because Comcast chooses not to offer it in
our area.  Remember that we, the public -- not corporate
television -- own the airwaves.  This bill would make it
that much harder for the public to have access to yet
another service that they already pay for with their tax
dollars.  We are not getting reciprocal service."

Greens warn that S. 1394, S. 1504, and R. 3146 will: 

. prevent state and local governments from negotiating cable
franchise agreements

. eliminate financial and technical support for local cable
access stations

. give public property and rights-of-way to
telecommunication corporations

. allow redlining on the basis of race, sex, age or
geographic location

. remove funding for local services such as police, fire,
emergency alert and street construction

. prevent local zoning of cellular towers

"Were it not for local community outlets, regular people
would have no voice; no recourse to communication and
information on a local level; no outlet for the creation of
programs that train, educate, and provide health education;
and no way of making themselves heard," said John Rouse,
cable access producer of 'Green Hour' in Arlington,
Virginia.  "The broadcast airwaves are among our most
precious assets, and citizen access, diversity of viewpoints
and respect for local community interests are best promoted
by local control over these resources."

Greens, noting the broken promise of cable as a medium for
public access and exchange of ideas and information, assert
that the law needs to go in the opposite direction --
towards removing the power of cable companies to restrict
access.

"Our communities rely on us for protection in what already
is a monopoly for cable providers, placing lower income
taxpayers are at a severe disadvantage," said Rebecca
Rotzler, Deputy Mayor of New Paltz, New York and co-chair of
the Green Party of the United States.  "These measures
threaten access for elderly and physically impaired
residents who participate in community events via
television.  It would be a complete shame as well as a sham
to deny them yet another right."


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Greens on the Air: Directory of broadcast and webcast
programs hosted or produced by Greens
http://www.gp.org/onair/

"Bills threaten to cut cable to local access TV programs"
By Frank Gray, The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana),
September 13, 2005
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/12632327.htm


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