Save Access

Your Public Access Television channels, and all Public Access centers like it around the nation, are in jeopardy because telephone companies and cable companies are weakening the regulations that caused Public Access centers to be created to serve local communities. This page covers the fight to keep your public access channels in operation.

The AT&T U-Verse Problem

An immediate problem is AT&T's attempt to bypass the regulations that require a Cable TV provider to make Public Access channels easy to view. Unlike current Public Access channels, on U-Verse:

• Channels are not accessed by "surfing" channels like it is for other channels; several pages of Menus must be navigated, with many choices to select before reaching a channel
• Resolution of public access channels is one quarter the resolution of other channels
• Closed Captioning is not provided on any public access channels
• It takes about a minute to work through the menu structure to select a public access channel. You have to go through that process again if you switch your channel away from the public access channel.

Here is a demonstration showing what a U-Verse viewer has to go through to see a Public Access Channel.

A Good Summary of Challenges Faced by PEG

Barbara Popovic is the Executive Director of Chicago Access Network TV.  Her statement to the The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services is clear and forceful. Her oral testimony is available in hardcopy.

KCBS Channel 5 coverage of AT&T Consumer Controversy

KCBS Channel 5 did  a recent story about the controversy shaping up over AT&T's inadequate implementation of public access channels in their U-Verse Television offering, and what California state agencies are doing about it.

Anna Eshoo's remarks to the House Telecommunications Subcommittee

Rep. Anna Eshoo's district largely coincides with the Media Center's service area. She made some comments to open the hearings of the Telecommunications Subcommittee in January.

Links for More Information

For the latest in National news on the fight to Save Public Access, visit the following links

• SaveAccess.Org
  
• California Division of Rate Payer Advocates
  A division of the California Public Utilities Commission has issued a Consumer Alert against AT&T's UVerse, warning consumers about the diminution of public access channels in that product.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on PEG Access TV
  In September 2008, the House Subcommittee heard grievances against AT&T for relegating PEG access to an inferior level of service. AT&T chose not to be represented at the hearing. The entire hearing is available on this blog page.
• Press Release from Alliance for Community Media regarding harm to PEG
  This Press Release announced bipartisan support for PEG operations during the House Appropriations Subcommitee on Finance Services and General Government, and asked the FCC to investigate whether ATT and other operators are in compliance with the Cable Act of 1984.
• Consumer Alert against AT&T Uverse issued by California DRA
  The California Division of Ratepayer Advocates, of the California Public Utilities Commission also submitted a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee advising them that AT&T's provisioning of PEG channels violates state law.

Take Action!

Let everyone know you are NOT okay with degradation of Public Access Television. If you are unhappy with the accessiblity of your public access channels, or if you are concerned that Public Access may slowly go away because of the gradual erosion of laws that created Public Access TV, complain to your cable TV operator, to the PUC and to your state and federal legislators.