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Public Access TV agreement reachedposted 08/10/04
One channel will broadcast local government and educational programs. The other channel will carry public access programs. Previously all three shared one channel. Problems occurred when people looking for broadcasts of council or county commissioner meetings happened upon some of the more controversial public access programs. By providing two separate channels, Adelphia customers will find it easier to avoid public access if they choose. The discussions between the council and local citizens who belong to the San Juan Public Access group were lengthy. Misunderstandings on both sides and the complexity of FCC regulations prolonged the discussions. In the end, both sides appeared satisfied with the agreement. The agreement almost came undone at the last minute. During the August 5, 2004 council meeting, Andrew Seltser of SJPA objected to Councilmember Wally Gillette's interpretation of SJPA plans. Mayor Gary Boothman shouted down Seltser and ejected him from the meeting. The public access channel will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Jordan Alexander of SJPAC has been putting together the programming for the past year. People interested in using the channel do not have to go through SJPA but might find it easier. Alexander has provided technical expertise for others and wil continue to do so. Separate TV channel to be provided for public accessposted 07/16/04
One will air local governmental and educational programs and if time permits other programs of local origination. Adelphia has the legal right to edit programs on this channel. The other channel will be exclusively for public or leased public access. While Adelphia does not have any authority to control content on the public access channel. Users of the channel have to abide by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations regarding public access. Airing of more adult content has to wait until after 10 p.m. The town has been negotiating a new franchise agreement with the cable company for several months. The council asked for two channels to make it easier to separate the more controversial public access programs from the local governmental and educational programming. With separate channels, it will be easier for viewers to avoid public access TV by skipping over the channel. The draft agreement will be brought back to the council for final approval. Fate of free public access TV up in the airposted 06/23/04
Under the current franchise agreement, Adelphia is required to provide a channel for public, education, and government access (PEG). The proposed new contract drops the requirement for free public access but does require Adelphia to provide a channel for government and education programs. The agreement states: Adelphia may allow programming of local origin to air on the channel. Adelphia has the authority to control and edit content of local origination. The company does not have the same authority over public access. Town Attorney Don Eaton advised the council "As I understand it, there is no requirement for local government granting a franchise to demand public access. You can mandate it, but there is no obligation to do that." Members of San Juan Public Access TV group (SJPAT) asked the council to continue the current requirements. Randy Lindsey of Adelphia said, "First and foremost I am here for my customers. We have had several issues that crossed the line...The way it (proposed agreement) is worded takes care of everybody. I am not trying to stop freedom of speech. We are just trying to protect ourselves from some issues we had in the past." Profanity on Rant TV from British Columbia which was run on Channel 19 by SJPAT resulted in complaints to his office. Councilmember Carrie Brooks said, "I have been personally offended by several programs." Friday Harbor residents Jordan Alexander and his wife Kate Stone are the most active members of SJPAT. The group organized the taping of Board of County Commissioners and Town Council meetings. "We need support from council members. We take for granted the right to self-expression. Right now that is in jeopardy. Please help us safeguard our fragile freedom of speech," said Alexander. Lindsey and Brooks complimented SJPAT on the work the group has done covering school events, poetry readings and other local events. "We appreciated all the work they've done," said Lindsey. "There are some great things they have done for the community and for our channel." SJPAT installed two computers at Adelphia which expanded made it possible to air programs live. Alexander and Stone could operate the computers from their home. The computers were removed after the planned power outages in May. Alexander and Stone were on vacation and Lindsey could not restart the computers because he did not have the password. He has installed other computers to replace SJPAT's computers. "Where did your organization get the authority to think they are in charge of that TV station," Brooks asked Alexander. "I thought Adelphia was in charge of that channel. I didn't think you were the guru of that channel." She said what was needed were things that helped the community not programs that pushed the envelope. Alexander said, "We do put on things that help the public. I don't think it only has to be your view." Eaton said, "The real decision is whether or not to continue to mandate public access" He noted not everyone appreciates and supports what others are saying on Public Access TV. "That is the messy part of democrcay," he said. If the town dropped the public access requirement, public access would still be available. Cable companies are required to provide leased public access to anyone asking for it. "I looked at the rate sheet and it is not very expensive," Lindsey said. The council will revisit the issue at a future meeting. Hearing on cable TV franchise Thursdayposted 06/16/04
Earlier this year, Councilmember Carrie Brooks had expressed concern about some of the programming which had been aired on the public access channel. "There is a lot of garbage that shouldn’t be in our community - four letter words and tearing down every aspect of our government," she said. Mayor Gary Boothman asked Adelphia if it could solve the problem by providing two channels. One channel could be used for government and education programs. The second channel would be for public access. People who did not want to view the controversial programs could easily avoid them if they were on a separate channel. The cost of the bandwidth for two channels was too high. Town Attorney Don Eaton said, "Adelphia suggested limiting it to one channel but changing the condition from the last franchise agreement. The channel would be available for government and educational access and programs of local origination. (Previously the wording was: PEG (Public, Educational and Governmental) access.) Adelphia will be responsible to limit within constitutional limits" San Juan Public Access Television (SJPAT)has used Channel 19 to air programs from Democracy Now. Under the terms of the new agreement, the group couldn't use the channel to air the program. Randy Lindsey of Adelphia said he would review tapes before they are put on the air. Members of the public can submit programs in VHS or on CDs. The current agreement required Adelphia to provide "rent-free space for studio, office and storage facilities to be available to all PEG (Public, Educational and Governmental) access users for PEG access purposes." The cost was limited to one percent of the basic cable revenue. In 2002 it amounted to $127 per month. Lindsey said Adelphia now has studio space available at its offices on Guard Street. The draft of the new agreement says:
Lindsey said the new language gives Adelphia the tools it needs. One place SJPAT keeps "stepping over is the language issue," he said. "They are still pushing the buttons on political shows that are not allowed. The old wording had gray areas and they pushed it." Rgarding political programs, Lindsey said there are forms that have to be filled out, so Adelphia can give other political groups the same opportunity. The San Juan Public Access Consortium had set up computer equipment at Adelphia which could be remotely controlled. The equipment was removed a few weeks ago after the power outage. Lindsey said Adelphia is now providing the equipment. Jordan Alexander of SJPAT was upset the equipment was taken out while he was on vacation. SJPAT is encouraging community members to attend the 5:30 p.m. council meeting on Thursday, June 17 to express their concerns over access to use of Channel 19. Adelphia almost finished 'tearing up town'posted 12/07/01
A digital package including HBO, Starz, etc. may be available as early as next month. Adelphia's goal is to have Internet service in all of its systems and eventually dial tone. They have an agreement with OPALCO for bandwidth on the coop's fiber-optic cable. Lindsay thanked Town Administrator King Fitch and Public Works Superintendent Mike Wilks for their cooperation with Adelphia 'tearing up the town. "I know it's been tough on the town. I had a thousand 'good lucks' and I needed every one of them." he said. San Juan Island long distance restoredposted 07/26/01
Adelphia asks for permission
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