- For Immediate Release -

December 7, 2006

Public Access Community Television (PACT)
1143 Northwestern Avenue
Austin, TX 78702
www.pactaustin.org

Proposed FCC Rules Threaten Free Expression and Democracy

Austin, TX – The Federal Commissions Commission (FCC) is set to vote on Dec. 20 on “rule-making” (FCC MB 05-311) that threatens U.S. citizens’ right to free expression, thereby further eroding a critical keystone of our democracy.

Public Access Community Television (PACT) is joining with the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) and other Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access TV stations nationwide to oppose FCC efforts to implement new video-franchising rules that would achieve what Congress failed to do for the telecommunications industry this past year.

PACT is urging its staff, Board of Directors, public access producers, advocates and supporters, and other Texas PEG stations to take immediate action to stop the FCC.

“We are telling everyone to call and write the FCC immediately,” says PACT Executive Director Linda Litowsky, “and to educate the commissioners that the access channels, as the ACM says, ‘are tools to engage our local communities in democracy. Democratic participation should be for all, not based on a company business rule.’”

Now, the City of Austin gets a 5% cable franchise fee -- 5% of gross revenues from Time Warner Cable and Grande Communications -- PLUS monies for PEG Operations and Equipment, and for the network that allows programs to be cablecast remotely. Under the FCC Proposal:

- Austin would ONLY receive a 5% franchise fee. PEG Operations or Equipment costs would be deducted from that 5%. There is no guarantee the City Council would allocate franchise fee monies for this use. Proposed rules take effect immediately.

- AT&T, Verizon, or any phone company poised to provide video would NOT be required to carry PEG access channels, would have no requirement to build-out networks to the entire City, and would have only 90 days to negotiate a new franchise with the City, after which they could operate without an agreement.

- The Local Franchise Authority – i.e. the City of Austin acting on behalf of local consumers – Loses Jurisdiction Over Video Providers if they offer services other than cable, such as Internet or phone services.

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