public access news
Location Announced for December CMBC Board Meeting
Wed., Dec. 03, 2008 /Permalink
The December board meeting for Community Media of
Baltimore City (CMBC)—the
organization that oversees the opperation of
public access TV Ch. 75—will be Thursday,
December 4, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the workplace
of board member LaNette Davis on the 25th floor
of the SunTrust Buildiing at 120 East Baltimore
Street. The meetings are open to the public
except periods when the board enters into
executive session to discuss matters pivately.
Public Access TV Operating Agreement Finally on Board
of Estimates Agenda
Mon., Aug. 11, 2008 /Permalink
The operating agreement between Baltimore City and
Community Media of Baltimore City (CMBC) is on the
agenda (pages 33-34) for this week's Board of
Estimates meeting on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at
9:00 a.m. at City Hall.
CMBC Board Meeting to Discuss Delay in Contract with
City
Thu., Aug. 07, 2008 /Permalink
After canceling last month's meeting, the board of
Community Media of Baltimore City (CMBC) will be
meeting tonight, Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 6:00
p.m., to discuss the status of the contract between
CMBC and Baltimore City, which has been delayed yet
again. The meeting will be held at a new location:
the workplace of board member LaNette Davis on the
25th floor of the SunTrust Buildiing at 120 East
Baltimore Street. Attendees should be prompt so Ms.
Davis can meet them downstairs and escort them to the
conference room.
CMBC Board Meeting Moved to City Hall
Thu., May. 01, 2008 /Permalink
Tonight's 6 p.m. meeting of the board of directors of
Community Media of Baltimore City, the
organization that will oversee public access TV
channel 75, has been moved to City Hall in the
Reeves Conference Room on the 4th floor. Usually
the monthly meetings are held at the Mayor's
Office of Cable and Communications (MOCC). The
reason for the last-minute change has not been
announced, although there has been speculation
that the move may have something to do with the
city's delay in officially transferring control
of the public access channel and it's funds to
CMBC.
Ch. 75 back on
Thu., Jun. 14, 2007 /Permalink
After six days of a black screen and then color bars,
programming was restored to Ch. 75, Baltimore City's
public access channel, this afternoon.
Today's Democracy Now! dealing with the first anniversary of the bloody crackdown on striking school teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico and Michael Moore's new documentary "Sicko" on the nation's health care system will play at 6 p.m., its regularly scheduled time.
Today's Democracy Now! dealing with the first anniversary of the bloody crackdown on striking school teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico and Michael Moore's new documentary "Sicko" on the nation's health care system will play at 6 p.m., its regularly scheduled time.
Flood damage at MOCC knocks out Channel 75
Mon., Jun. 11, 2007 /Permalink
Baltimore's public access channel, Ch. 75, has been
out since around 3 p.m. Friday, June 8 because of a
flood originating from the floor above the offices of
the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications
(MOCC). Electrical equipment was shut down to avoid
damage when water from a broken air conditioning pipe
on the third floor started rushing in and effecting
the entire back end of the MOCC's second floor
offices.
The MOCC's staff public access operator was told not to come in today, and public access producers and viewers are being told to call the MOCC at 410-396-1100 if they have any questions. The MOCC hopes to have Channel 75 opperating by Tuesday, June 12.
Update Thu., 6/14/07 11:50 a.m.: Channel 75 still down, showing only color bars.
The MOCC's staff public access operator was told not to come in today, and public access producers and viewers are being told to call the MOCC at 410-396-1100 if they have any questions. The MOCC hopes to have Channel 75 opperating by Tuesday, June 12.
Update Thu., 6/14/07 11:50 a.m.: Channel 75 still down, showing only color bars.
Baltimore public access board looking to fill two
positions
Mon., Jun. 11, 2007 /Permalink
Community Media of Baltimore City (CMBC) is seeking
nominees for two Board of Directors vacancies due to
the departure of board members Alyson A. McFarland
and Melissa Baal. CMBC is the corporation that will
run public access TV channel 75 when it moves out of
the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications. The
deadline for nominations is Sunday, July 1, and the
board nominating form can be found at the CMBC website.
Unexpected Ch. 75 Service Interruption
Wed., Apr. 25, 2007 /Permalink
Baltimore City's public access channel 75 was
down—showing a black screen—from sometime
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, until around midday on
Wednesday, April 25.
Baltimore public access corporation seeking new board
member
Wed., Apr. 11, 2007 /Permalink
According to the website for Community Media of
Baltimore City (CMBC)—the
organization that oversees public access TV channel
75—there
is an opening on the Board of Directors. The
13-member board has been
meeting since Feb. 1, 2007. The deadline for
nominations for interested candidates is
Tuesday, May 1, 2007. More information is
available on the CMBC website.
Baltimore Sun: "Verizon strikes cable TV deal"
Tue., Feb. 06, 2007 /Permalink
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Verizon
Communications Inc. and Baltimore County officials
have reached an agreement that allows Verizon to
offer cable services in competition with Comcast.
There is no mention in the article of any public access or
other public, education, and goverment (PEG)
channels being included in the deal. The
agreement, negotiated on the government's behalf
by Councilman Kevin B. Kamenetz, still needs
approval of the County Council with a vote
scheduled for March 5. Comcast has 220,000
subscribers in Baltimore County—almost
double its number in Baltimore City—but
Baltimore County does not have any public access
channels.
Mayor Sheila Dixon Sworn In
Thu., Jan. 18, 2007 /Permalink
Former Baltimore City Council President Sheila Dixon—who technically became the city's mayor yesterday when Martin O'Malley was sworn in as Governor of Maryland—ceremonially became mayor today inside the War Memorial Building across the plaza from City Hall. It is now her Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications (MOCC) which operates the government channel, TV25, and is temporarily running public access TV, channel 75, until a public access facility is available.
Initial Board for Public Access TV Selected
Fri., Dec. 22, 2006 /Permalink
At their December 14, 2006 meeting, the
Board of
Incorporators of the organization
that will oversee public access TV in Baltimore
City finalized its selection of the 13 individuals
who will make up the initial board of that
organization, to be called Community Media of Baltimore
City. The list of board members will
be posted here as soon as it is officially
available.
Update: According to Board of Incorporators member Greg Whitehair the nominees selected to make up the CMBC board are: Melissa Baal, V. Lee Brady, Lanette Davis, Jayfus T. Doswell Ph.D, Maresa L. Gold, Michael A. Gray, Crissa Holder Smith, Helen Holton, Sandra Long, Denise M. Lowery, Alyson A. McFarland, Edgardo Nieves and Bonnie Raindrop.
Update: According to Board of Incorporators member Greg Whitehair the nominees selected to make up the CMBC board are: Melissa Baal, V. Lee Brady, Lanette Davis, Jayfus T. Doswell Ph.D, Maresa L. Gold, Michael A. Gray, Crissa Holder Smith, Helen Holton, Sandra Long, Denise M. Lowery, Alyson A. McFarland, Edgardo Nieves and Bonnie Raindrop.
FCC Grants Telcos Victory on Local Franchising Rules
Thu., Dec. 21, 2006 /Permalink
On Wednesday, December 20, 2006 the Federal
Communications Commission ruled 3-2 along partisan
lines that telephone companies seeking to enter the
pay-TV market will not be bound by the same
regulations as the cable companies. While the telcos
claim that the ruling will lead to better services,
more choices and lower prices, local municipalities
will be restricted in their ability to negotiate
franchise agreements that provide for public access
channels and institutional networks or require
extending service to all houses. Also, the length of
negotiations between municipalities and telcos will
be limited to six months for new applicants or 90
days for companies with existing ties to the
municipality.
The hasty FCC ruling provides much of what the telcos sought from the C.O.P.E. bill which had stalled in Congress over the issue of network neutrality. U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ranking Democrat of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has said he will review the decision when the new Congress convenes Jan. 4. The following comment was posted on his website yesterday:
“While the FCC’s action today represents an early Christmas present for the Bell telephone utilities, it is like a lump of coal for many communities around the country.
“Today’s decision comes on the heels of a year-long legislative battle in Congress on the same set of franchising-related subjects. I fully support providing consumers with additional marketplace choices for cable service but I believe competition must be promoted in a way that also respects the important values of localism and universal service. Although Congress failed to enact any of the franchising-related proposals sought by the Bell telephone utilities into law this year, I am concerned that the FCC has acted today at the behest of the same utilities to adopt similar policies.
“Overall, I believe the haste with which the Commission has acted may lead to problematic and unintended consequences. In some instances, the Commission may be acting without clear legal authority and in others, by promulgating rules without a consistent, balanced policy for all marketplace participants. Finally, efforts in communities across the country to bolster localism through public access channels and to utilize institutional networks for important municipal functions may be put in jeopardy by novel interpretations of the Cable Act which undermine the financial basis for such services.
“I look forward to reviewing today’s decision and examining its implications for consumers, communities, and competition next year.”
See also:
FCC adopts relief for telecom companies planning TV offerings
The hasty FCC ruling provides much of what the telcos sought from the C.O.P.E. bill which had stalled in Congress over the issue of network neutrality. U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ranking Democrat of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has said he will review the decision when the new Congress convenes Jan. 4. The following comment was posted on his website yesterday:
“While the FCC’s action today represents an early Christmas present for the Bell telephone utilities, it is like a lump of coal for many communities around the country.
“Today’s decision comes on the heels of a year-long legislative battle in Congress on the same set of franchising-related subjects. I fully support providing consumers with additional marketplace choices for cable service but I believe competition must be promoted in a way that also respects the important values of localism and universal service. Although Congress failed to enact any of the franchising-related proposals sought by the Bell telephone utilities into law this year, I am concerned that the FCC has acted today at the behest of the same utilities to adopt similar policies.
“Overall, I believe the haste with which the Commission has acted may lead to problematic and unintended consequences. In some instances, the Commission may be acting without clear legal authority and in others, by promulgating rules without a consistent, balanced policy for all marketplace participants. Finally, efforts in communities across the country to bolster localism through public access channels and to utilize institutional networks for important municipal functions may be put in jeopardy by novel interpretations of the Cable Act which undermine the financial basis for such services.
“I look forward to reviewing today’s decision and examining its implications for consumers, communities, and competition next year.”
See also:
FCC adopts relief for telecom companies planning TV offerings
Public Access Ch. 75 Down for Repairs
Wed., Nov. 22, 2006 /Permalink
According to the Mayor's Office of Cable and
Communications (MOCC), Baltimore City's public access
TV channel, Ch. 75, will be down Friday, November 24,
2006 for technical repairs. The office will be open,
but no programming will be broadcast that day. The
schedule should resume on Saturday.
New Deadline for Nominations for Public Access Board
Members: Wednesday, November 15
Fri., Nov. 10, 2006 /Permalink
The Board of Incorporators for
Baltimore City's soon-to-be public access corporation
has reopened the nomination process to find
additional board members for Community Media
of Baltimore City (CMBC)—the
organization that will oversee Channel 75. At the
time of this posting the nomination form was not
available on the CMBC website, so it is being
posted for download here (this form does not show the
correct deadline—it should be Wednesday,
November 15, 2006).
Baltimore Sun: "Audit faults cable TV fees
verification"
Thu., Nov. 02, 2006 /Permalink
According to an article in the November 2, 2006
Baltimore Sun, a city auditor's
report shows that between July 1,
2004 and June 30, 2005
the Mayor's Office of Cable and
Communications (MOCC) did not obtain
the proper financial records to verify that the
franchise fees owed by the cable companies to
the city, as specified in the cable franchise agreements, were
received.
Board of Incorporators Likely to Reopen Public Access
Board Nominations
Wed., Oct. 11, 2006 /Permalink
Baltimore City's public access TV Board of Incorporators
(BoI) will likely reopen the nomination process
for three to five positions on the board for
Community Media of Baltimore
City, the organization that will run
public access, according to an email dated October
10, 2006 from Bunnie Riedel, a
consultant hired to facilitate the proccess of
forming the organization, to the BoI members.
The Nominating Committee of the BoI has agreed unanimously on eight board candidates for the 13 board positions. Four candidates were eliminated and a decision could not be reached on two candidates. The BoI still has to accept the recomendations of the committee at their next meeting, scheduled for either October 23 or 25. A new board nomination form attached to the email indicates a deadline of October 27, 2006.
Update 10/23/06: The next Board of Incorporators meeting will be Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12 p.m. at Sojourner-Douglass College, 500 N. Caroline St.
The Nominating Committee of the BoI has agreed unanimously on eight board candidates for the 13 board positions. Four candidates were eliminated and a decision could not be reached on two candidates. The BoI still has to accept the recomendations of the committee at their next meeting, scheduled for either October 23 or 25. A new board nomination form attached to the email indicates a deadline of October 27, 2006.
Update 10/23/06: The next Board of Incorporators meeting will be Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at 12 p.m. at Sojourner-Douglass College, 500 N. Caroline St.
MOCC Holds Meeting for Public Access Producers
Thu., Sep. 28, 2006 /Permalink
Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at 6
PM, executive director Marilyn
Harris-Davis and two other staff members of
the Mayor's Office of Cable and
Communications (MOCC) held an informational
meeting for public access TV producers in Baltimore
City that was attended by six producers - a low
turnout possibly affected by gridlock in the area
from the filming of the Bruce Willis movie Live
Free or Die Hard.
Harris-Davis announced that the goal is to have the board for the public access corporation in place by the beginning of December 2006 and to have the facility open by March or April of 2007. The location of the facility has not been decided, but the public access Board of Incorporators (BoI) is considering, among other options, Sojourner-Douglass College at 500 North Caroline Street and may hold the next BoI meeting - scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2006 - at Sojourner-Douglass (UPDATE 10/10/06: That BoI meeting will take place at Sojourner-Douglas and will be held either Monday, October 23 or Wednesday, October 25.)
Harris-Davis also asked the producers to spread the word that MOCC is doing a massive cleanup on October 14, 2006, so they need producers to pick up any tapes or DVDs they have left with the MOCC. For questions about this, call the MOCC at 410-396-1100.
Harris-Davis announced that the goal is to have the board for the public access corporation in place by the beginning of December 2006 and to have the facility open by March or April of 2007. The location of the facility has not been decided, but the public access Board of Incorporators (BoI) is considering, among other options, Sojourner-Douglass College at 500 North Caroline Street and may hold the next BoI meeting - scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2006 - at Sojourner-Douglass (UPDATE 10/10/06: That BoI meeting will take place at Sojourner-Douglas and will be held either Monday, October 23 or Wednesday, October 25.)
Harris-Davis also asked the producers to spread the word that MOCC is doing a massive cleanup on October 14, 2006, so they need producers to pick up any tapes or DVDs they have left with the MOCC. For questions about this, call the MOCC at 410-396-1100.
Ch. 75 Not Available to Many Baltimore City Comcast
Subscribers
Tue., Sep. 19, 2006 /Permalink
Some Baltimore City Comcast cable TV
subscribers are reporting that for about two weeks
they have been unable to receive Channel
75, the public access channel, which is
included with all cable packages, even the most basic
$10/month package.
According to a Comcast customer service representative the problem affects all subscribers with a digital cable box. The representative was not sure what percentage of the 115,000 or so city subscribers this represents, but said that Comcast is in the process of trying to switch all subscribers to these digital boxes. The representative also suggested that subscribers with digital cable boxes can access Ch. 75 by bypassing the digital cable box and plugging the cable directly into a cable-ready TV set.
The problem does not affect the government channel, Channel 25, which is also broadcast out of the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications.
More information about this problem will be posted at www.baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org as it becomes available.
Update 9/27/06: One subscriber with a digital cable box claimed that he does not think he lost access to channel 75. Efforts to find out from Comcast exactly what happened and how many were affected have been unsuccessful. As of 9/22/06 at 10:45 am Eugene Bennett, Comcast's liaison to the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications (MOCC) was not aware that the interruption had occurred. The MOCC as of 9/27/06 was also unaware.
According to a Comcast customer service representative the problem affects all subscribers with a digital cable box. The representative was not sure what percentage of the 115,000 or so city subscribers this represents, but said that Comcast is in the process of trying to switch all subscribers to these digital boxes. The representative also suggested that subscribers with digital cable boxes can access Ch. 75 by bypassing the digital cable box and plugging the cable directly into a cable-ready TV set.
The problem does not affect the government channel, Channel 25, which is also broadcast out of the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications.
More information about this problem will be posted at www.baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org as it becomes available.
Update 9/27/06: One subscriber with a digital cable box claimed that he does not think he lost access to channel 75. Efforts to find out from Comcast exactly what happened and how many were affected have been unsuccessful. As of 9/22/06 at 10:45 am Eugene Bennett, Comcast's liaison to the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications (MOCC) was not aware that the interruption had occurred. The MOCC as of 9/27/06 was also unaware.
MOCC to Hold Meeting for Public Access TV Producers
Sun., Sep. 17, 2006 /Permalink
The Mayor's Office of Cable and
Communications (MOCC) has posted a message
on the Community Media of Baltimore
City (CMBC) website announcing an
informational meeting for producers of public
access TV shows. Here is the text of the
message:
"CALLING ALL PUBLIC ACCESS PRODUCERS
What: Community Media of Baltimore City Producers Information Meeting
When: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at 6:00pm
Where: Mayor’s Office of Cable & Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Please RSVP by Monday, September 25th to Rebecca Jessop at 410-396-1100."
"CALLING ALL PUBLIC ACCESS PRODUCERS
What: Community Media of Baltimore City Producers Information Meeting
When: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at 6:00pm
Where: Mayor’s Office of Cable & Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Please RSVP by Monday, September 25th to Rebecca Jessop at 410-396-1100."
August 11 Board of Incorporators Meeting Cancelled
Thu., Aug. 10, 2006 /Permalink
The Baltimore City public access Board of Incorporators
meeting scheduled for Friday, August 11,
2006, 1 p.m. at the Mayor's
Office of Cable and Communications (MOCC)
has been cancelled because the air conditioning is
not working, according to an email consultant
Bunnie Riedel sent to board
members, some MOCC and city staff, and others on
Wednesday. The meeting has been rescheduled for
Friday, September 15, 2006 at 1
p.m., also in the MOCC's conference room at 8
Market Place, suite 200.
COPE Bill Passes in House 321-101
Fri., Jun. 09, 2006 /Permalink
See www.saveaccess.org and www.alliancecm.org for details.
Verizon cable deal in Anne Arundel Co. to provide 5
public access channels
Thu., Jun. 01, 2006 /Permalink
The Baltimore Sun reports that the pending
franchise agreement for Verizon
to provide cable TV in Anne Arundel
County would provide five public access
channels (this probably means PEG channels), 5%
of cable revenue to the county, and free cable
service to schools, libraries, fire and police
stations, and for other municipal uses.
Baltimore Sun: "Verizon gets cable deal in Balto.
Co."
Wed., May. 03, 2006 /Permalink
According to an article in today's
Baltimore Sun, the phone
company Verizon has reached an
agreement with Baltimore County
to build a fiber-optic network and potentially
offer cable TV to county residents in direct
competition with Comcast, but
the Baltimore County Council
still has to approve the deal with a vote
scheduled for May 15, 2006, and
a cable franchise agreement must also be worked
out between the County Council and Verizon.
Councilman Kevin Kamenetz negotiates
franchises for the council. There is no mention in
the article of provisions or funding for public
access channels.
Update 5/4/06: Tom Peddicord, secretary and legislative counsel to the County Council confirmed that there is no public access channel in Baltimore County and added, "I never get any questions about it. Maybe there's a lack of interest."
Peddicord said Verizon has been invited to submit an application to provide cable TV services, but they have not responded. Perhaps they are waiting for the COPE Act to go through.
Update 5/4/06: Tom Peddicord, secretary and legislative counsel to the County Council confirmed that there is no public access channel in Baltimore County and added, "I never get any questions about it. Maybe there's a lack of interest."
Peddicord said Verizon has been invited to submit an application to provide cable TV services, but they have not responded. Perhaps they are waiting for the COPE Act to go through.
Public Access TV and Internet Neutrality Under
Imminent Threat from COPE Act of 2006
Sat., Apr. 29, 2006 /Permalink
The euphemistically named Communications
Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of
2006, a federal bill backed by the telecom
industry, passed in the House Commerce Committee
42-12 and is being fast-tracked for a full House vote
as early as the week of May 8, 2006!
This overhaul of telecommunications law could be more
devestating to community interests then the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
To take action now and get more information, go to these sites:
www.saveaccess.org
www.mnn.org/saveaccess
The bill text, formally introduced May 2, 2006 as HR5252: Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006
To take action now and get more information, go to these sites:
www.saveaccess.org
www.mnn.org/saveaccess
The bill text, formally introduced May 2, 2006 as HR5252: Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006
URGENT: Comment Online to FCC Monday, Feb. 13th to
Help Save Public Access TV!
Mon., Feb. 13, 2006 /Permalink
File Your Comments with the FCC by Feb. 13th.
Very Important!
Your community cable channels (Public, Educational, Governmental) are under threat by pending legislation in the House and Senate. Take Action!
Please take a brief moment to go to the following FCC web page and fill out the comment form, making sure to type a message in item 7 that Public Access TV is important to you and you want the FCC to protect “local video franchising”:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload?hot_docket=1010700930%7C05-311%7CImplementing%2BCommunications%2BAct&Send=Continue
If you would like more information or talking points go to:
http://mnn.org/saveaccess/
Your community cable channels (Public, Educational, Governmental) are under threat by pending legislation in the House and Senate. Take Action!
Please take a brief moment to go to the following FCC web page and fill out the comment form, making sure to type a message in item 7 that Public Access TV is important to you and you want the FCC to protect “local video franchising”:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload?hot_docket=1010700930%7C05-311%7CImplementing%2BCommunications%2BAct&Send=Continue
If you would like more information or talking points go to:
http://mnn.org/saveaccess/
Amy Goodman, Un-Embed the Media! tour in Baltimore
Fri., Apr. 15, 2005 /Permalink
When: 4/15/2005 7:30 PM - 4/15/2005 9:00 PM
Where: Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223
Amy Goodman, Un-Embed the Media! tour in Baltimore
Friday, 15 April 2005
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Organizers: Baltimore Grassroots Media & Unity United Methodist Church
Amy Goodman, internationally acclaimed journalist and host of the nationally broadcast daily radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, brings the Un-Embed the Media! tour to Baltimore.
She will be discussing the role of the media in the context of a nation at war, comparing corporate-owned media with the work of independent media. She presents a compelling argument for the importance of independent media to foster dialogue that is vital to a healthy democracy.
Democracy Now! is an award-winning, national, daily radio and TV news hour, pioneering the largest public media collaboration in North America. It is broadcast on Baltimore cable TV Public Access Channel 5, Monday-Friday at 6 p.m. (and repeats the next day at 8 a.m.) as well as nationally on over 300 radio and TV stations in North America, including Free Speech TV, channel 9415 of the DISH network (satellite TV), Link TV, channel 375 Direct TV and channel 9410 DISH network. The show also can be viewed at www.democracynow.org.
A frequent and dynamic guest on shows such as MSNBC's Hardball and on CNN, Goodman is also the author of the best-selling book, The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media that Love Them (Hyperion Press, paperback release April 2005). Part first person on-the-ground reporting, part old-fashioned muckraking, the fast-paced 350-page expose chronicles the lies of politicians and the corruption of media monopolies.
Goodman has clearly struck a nerve with the American public. Last year, she spoke to sold-out crowds during her 100-city tour that swept the country. The Exception to the Rulers has appeared on many bestseller lists, including in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense National, and Amazon.com. The editors of Publishers Weekly chose The Exception to the Rulers as one of the Top 50 Nonfiction books of 2004, and Booksense.com chose it as the top non-fiction book of the 2004 Election Season.
Goodman's reporting has won rave reviews:
"Hard-hitting, no-holds barred brand of reporting...fierce and tireless."
-Publishers Weekly
" [W]hen National Public Radio sounds as safe as a glass of warm milk, Democracy Now! retains a jagged and intriguing edge. "
-Washington Post
"Amy Goodman has carried the great muckraking tradition of Upton Sinclair, George Seldes, and I.F. Stone into the electronic age."
-Howard Zinn, historian and author, A People's History of the United States
Location:
Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223
Cost: free
Where: Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223
Amy Goodman, Un-Embed the Media! tour in Baltimore
Friday, 15 April 2005
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Organizers: Baltimore Grassroots Media & Unity United Methodist Church
Amy Goodman, internationally acclaimed journalist and host of the nationally broadcast daily radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, brings the Un-Embed the Media! tour to Baltimore.
She will be discussing the role of the media in the context of a nation at war, comparing corporate-owned media with the work of independent media. She presents a compelling argument for the importance of independent media to foster dialogue that is vital to a healthy democracy.
Democracy Now! is an award-winning, national, daily radio and TV news hour, pioneering the largest public media collaboration in North America. It is broadcast on Baltimore cable TV Public Access Channel 5, Monday-Friday at 6 p.m. (and repeats the next day at 8 a.m.) as well as nationally on over 300 radio and TV stations in North America, including Free Speech TV, channel 9415 of the DISH network (satellite TV), Link TV, channel 375 Direct TV and channel 9410 DISH network. The show also can be viewed at www.democracynow.org.
A frequent and dynamic guest on shows such as MSNBC's Hardball and on CNN, Goodman is also the author of the best-selling book, The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media that Love Them (Hyperion Press, paperback release April 2005). Part first person on-the-ground reporting, part old-fashioned muckraking, the fast-paced 350-page expose chronicles the lies of politicians and the corruption of media monopolies.
Goodman has clearly struck a nerve with the American public. Last year, she spoke to sold-out crowds during her 100-city tour that swept the country. The Exception to the Rulers has appeared on many bestseller lists, including in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense National, and Amazon.com. The editors of Publishers Weekly chose The Exception to the Rulers as one of the Top 50 Nonfiction books of 2004, and Booksense.com chose it as the top non-fiction book of the 2004 Election Season.
Goodman's reporting has won rave reviews:
"Hard-hitting, no-holds barred brand of reporting...fierce and tireless."
-Publishers Weekly
" [W]hen National Public Radio sounds as safe as a glass of warm milk, Democracy Now! retains a jagged and intriguing edge. "
-Washington Post
"Amy Goodman has carried the great muckraking tradition of Upton Sinclair, George Seldes, and I.F. Stone into the electronic age."
-Howard Zinn, historian and author, A People's History of the United States
Location:
Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223
Cost: free
Comcast absorbing Flight Systems, only other cable TV
service in Baltimore
Sat., Jan. 01, 2005 /Permalink
Deal revealed on Board of Estimates agenda,
December 22, 2004
In yet another example of media consolidation, Comcast is absorbing Flight Systems, the only other cable TV company serving Baltimore City residents. Flight Systems (www.fscv.net) serves an area around the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore Grassroots Media had referred to Flight System's cable franchise contract with Baltimore City as an example of a city negotiating for more than the 5% franchise fee for public, educational and government (PEG) access opperational expenses. Under the contract Flight Systems was required to pay an additional 2% of their revenues for PEG. BGM provided this as evidence against the city law department's claim that it was not possible to do this with the recently negotiated Comcast contract.
From Board of Estimates' Agenda - December 22, 2004 (page 5):
"Mayor's Office of Cable and Communication - Consent Agreement
ACTION REQUESTED OF B/E:
The Board is requested to approve and authorize execution of a
consent and agreement for the transfer of ownership of the
Flight Systems Inc. d/b/a Flight Systems Cablevision (Flight)
cable franchise to Comcast of Baltimore, L.P. (Comcast).
AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SOURCE:
N/A
BACKGROUND/EXPLANATION:
Flight no longer desires to operate its franchise and has
enterered into an asset purchase agreement with Comcast pursuant
to which Comcast will acquire Flight's franchise (subject to the
Board's approval). Comcast will also assume all of Flight's
liabilities under its franchise, irrespective of when such
libilities might have arisen.
Comcast will operate the franchise as part of its own franchise,
which was recently renewed and which covers the area currently
served by Flight.
The agreement has been reviewed pursuant to FCC regulations and
the provisions of the City Cable Franchise, which require
Comcast and Flight to submit financial and legal documentation
to the City to assure that the transferee (Comcast) is capable
of meeting its requirements under the City Franchise granted to
Flight Systems.
(The consent and agreement has been approved by the Law
Department as to form and legal sufficiency.)"
In yet another example of media consolidation, Comcast is absorbing Flight Systems, the only other cable TV company serving Baltimore City residents. Flight Systems (www.fscv.net) serves an area around the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore Grassroots Media had referred to Flight System's cable franchise contract with Baltimore City as an example of a city negotiating for more than the 5% franchise fee for public, educational and government (PEG) access opperational expenses. Under the contract Flight Systems was required to pay an additional 2% of their revenues for PEG. BGM provided this as evidence against the city law department's claim that it was not possible to do this with the recently negotiated Comcast contract.
From Board of Estimates' Agenda - December 22, 2004 (page 5):
"Mayor's Office of Cable and Communication - Consent Agreement
ACTION REQUESTED OF B/E:
The Board is requested to approve and authorize execution of a
consent and agreement for the transfer of ownership of the
Flight Systems Inc. d/b/a Flight Systems Cablevision (Flight)
cable franchise to Comcast of Baltimore, L.P. (Comcast).
AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SOURCE:
N/A
BACKGROUND/EXPLANATION:
Flight no longer desires to operate its franchise and has
enterered into an asset purchase agreement with Comcast pursuant
to which Comcast will acquire Flight's franchise (subject to the
Board's approval). Comcast will also assume all of Flight's
liabilities under its franchise, irrespective of when such
libilities might have arisen.
Comcast will operate the franchise as part of its own franchise,
which was recently renewed and which covers the area currently
served by Flight.
The agreement has been reviewed pursuant to FCC regulations and
the provisions of the City Cable Franchise, which require
Comcast and Flight to submit financial and legal documentation
to the City to assure that the transferee (Comcast) is capable
of meeting its requirements under the City Franchise granted to
Flight Systems.
(The consent and agreement has been approved by the Law
Department as to form and legal sufficiency.)"
Baltimore Sun article: City Council approves Comcast
contract
Tue., Dec. 07, 2004 /Permalink
Comcast completes city-assisted heist of public TV
assets
Tue., Dec. 07, 2004 /Permalink
12-year deal provides some funding for public access, but has major flaws
Monday night, December 6, 2004, as expected, the Baltimore City Council voted overwhelmingly 16-1 with two abstentions to approve a new 12-year cable television contract that allows Comcast use of city rights of way to continue making huge corporate profits by providing cable television.
Councilman Kwame Abayomi called for a special "roll call" vote, where the actual votes of the council members are given one-by-one, and was applauded by the capacity crowd for his lone no vote. The final decision was met with loud hissing from the audience prompting Council President Sheila Dixon to exclaim, "Excuse me! We will not be disrespected."
With the contract the city turns over four of its available public channels, worth an estimated $77,000,000, to Comcast in exchange for a $570,000 "training grant." In a letter to Baltimore Grassroots Media, copied to council members earlier in the day, Anthony Riddle, the new executive director of the Alliance for Community Media, reveals that this is an even bigger loss in terms of bandwidth now that Comcast is digital.
The training grant is part of a side agreement with Comcast, which the language of, community television advocates warn, contrary to claims of elected officials, does not guarantee any money for public access. There is no money in the actual contract for public access operations or hiring of staff to run public access.
The contract does add a 50-cent per month "pass-through" fee to cable subscriber's monthly bills to fund equipment for public, education and government (PEG) access channels, one third going to each. However, the amendment that specifies the thirds is unclear about what will happen to the public access portion before the public access corporation is formed. The 50-cent charge is expected to total $705,000 per year with about $235,000 for public access capital expenses.
In a letter to council members, Richard Turner, executive director of Montgomery Community Television, has pointed out a false assumption made during the negotiations, that this pass-trough could only be used for capital expenses. In fact it could have been used for operational expenses as well (see chart: Public Access Funding Forecast).
And a last-second amendment added to the bill without opportunity for public scrutiny specifies that the mayor will appoint a 13-member board to form the public access corporation. This was an abrupt change from the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications' oft-stated plan to allow citizen groups, such as Baltimore Grassroots Media, to submit proposals for running public access.
The mayor already controls the government access channel, 21, which can be used to promote his agenda, and according to Marilyn Harris Davis, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Cable and Communications, which runs channel 21, the channel has a $1,700,000 annual budget.
Council President Dixon had critical words for public access supporters who don't get cable, "The frustrating part for me in doing all the battling is that the people who came to testify don't even have cable, and so in order to increase that fifty cents beyond the seven hundred thousand you got to make a commitment to having cable in order for you to pay into it...I'm not marketing...'cause you know they're competing with - what is it? - Direct TV and a whole host of things. You know I already told my children they might not even have cable...sorry that I got so emotional on that point."
However many of the public access supporters who testified do get cable, and anyway, public access channels where people can show their own programs, is something Comcast is required to make available for all citizens, not just cable subscribers, in return for the hundreds of millions of dollars Comcast is allowed to make in the city.
According to state board of election data, Dixon has received at least $5,350 from Comcast and its executives this election cycle.
With the council meeting still going on, smiling and laughing Comcast executives were seen exiting a room adjacent to the council chambers where they were meeting with city negotiators, presumably to formalize the agreement.
City Council poised to lock city into bad 12-year
cable deal
Mon., Dec. 06, 2004 /Permalink
National public access experts to warn city
council to delay vote
Monday, December 6, 2004, at 5 PM, the City Council is scheduled to take its final vote on the Comcast cable contract, bill 04-1504. Many insiders have said it is a done deal. Community television and free speech advocates are trying to delay the vote so critical shortcommings can be addressed.
Friday, Baltimore Grassroots Media (BGM) received, for the first time, the text of a side agreement between the city and Comcast for a $570,000 training grant, the source of promised public access operating funds. However, the agreement letter does not indicate that the $570,000 will go to public access, only that it will go to the City, where it could be used for the Mayor's Government channel 21 that already has a $1.7 million annual budget. Currently the public's channel 5 has no budget. The letter is pre-dated December 6, 2004 and is not signed.
What the letter does clearly spell out is that the $570,000 is in return for the city turning over four cable access channels to Comcast and putting strict limitations on the activation of the remaining four available channels. Why the loss of the four channels is even mentioned in the letter begs explanation, since this is already part of the proposed contract. Ken Crooks of Comcast has said his company wants to avoid setting a precedent where they are seen as giving too much to community television. But what BGM has heard from experts around the country is that Baltimore is about to set a precedent by agreeing to one of the worst deals for public access anywhere.
When the city of San Jose, California tried to get more cable access channels, Comcast refused arguing, "each channel is worth approximately $21.6 million over a ten-year franchise term." Adjusted for Baltimore City, the value of the four lost channels over the 12-year contract is $77 million, or 135 times $570,000.
Friday night, BGM held a public forum on the public access situation in Baltimore. In attendance were several experts on public access from around the country who are sending a letter to City Council President Sheila Dixon to urge her to delay the vote on Monday. They are Richard Turner, Executive Director of Montgomery Community Television, Anthony Riddle, former Executive Director of public access facilities in Atlanta, Minneapolis and New York City, and former National Chair for the Alliance for Community Media, and Steve Ranieri, Executive Director of Community Cable Channel 27 TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Turner also raised the important point that the 50-cent pass-through, that the proposed contract stipulates can only be used for capital expenses, need not have been limited to capital expenses. In fact it could have been designated for operating funds. There is currently no provision for operating funds for public access in the contract. Without operating funds public access cannot hire any people to run public access.
Also in attendance was Tom Kiefaber, owner of the Senator Theatre, who offered to put a message up on the marquee of the theater and send a mass email out to 10,000 supporters. The marquee reads "STOP THE COMCAST CABLE CONTRACT! BILL 04-1504 NEEDS PUBLIC SCRUTINY CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON."
The League of Women Voters has also sent a letter to Sheila Dixon and the other council members urging them to reject the contract.
The missing memorandum of understanding (MOU) Council President Dixon and Councilman Curran delayed the previous vote over has still not been issued by the Mayor's finance department. It is supposed to guarantee that $430,000 would be directed from the city to public access.
Letter of agreement between Comcast and Baltimore City:
December 6, 2004
Ms. Marilyn Harris-Davis
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Ms. Harris-Davis:
This letter is to confirm the agreement that has been reached between Comcast of Baltimore City, L.P. ("Comcast") and the City of Baltimore (the "City") with respect to Public, Educational and Governmental ("PEG") Access. The term of this agreement shall be twelve years, beginning on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date").
As you know, Comcast and the City have discussed their mutual interest in improving the quality of PEG access programming available to Baltimore City cable subscribers. Currently, only four channels of the twelve that have been available to the City are used for PEG programming. We have jointly concluded that if Comcast were to provide the City with a technology training and development grant to assist it in training members of the public in using facilities and equipment for television production and for developmental purposes, the City and the Mayor's Office of Cable Communications ("MOCC") could more effectively focus on the creation and provision of robust and attractive programming on a reduced number of PEG channels, particularly with regard to enhancement of public access programming.
Accordingly, Comcast agrees to provide the City with a technology training and development grant in the amount of $570,000. In exchange, the City agrees to accept a reduction in the number of PEG channels it is entitled to program from twelve to eight and to limit the activation of additional PEG channels above the currently operating four channels to one in any twelve month period. The technology training and development grant is payable as follows: $80,000 in the first year of this agreement, $70,000 in the second year of this agreement, $60,000 in the third year of this agreement, and $40,000 each year for the following nine years of this agreement. Annual payments will be made in quarterly installments, simultaneously with Comcast's quarterly franchise fee payments to the City, beginning with the first quarterly payment due following the Effective Date. These payments made pursuant to this letter agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other commitments, fees or taxes owed by Comcast to the City, whether pursuant to the Franchise Agreement between Comcast and the City or otherwise.
If this letter correctly reflects your understanding of the agreement we have reached, please countersign the enclosed copy in the space provided.
Sincerely,
COMCAST OF BALTIMORE CITY, L.P.
By________________________________
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and accepted by:
THE CITY OF BALTIMORE
By_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date: _________________
cc: Robert Jacobs
Michael Parker
Rosetta Kerr-Wilson
Angela Patrick
Ralph Tyler
Donald Huskey
Elizabeth Harris
Ernest Crofoot
Linda Barclay
Cedric Crump
Barbara Adams
Monday, December 6, 2004, at 5 PM, the City Council is scheduled to take its final vote on the Comcast cable contract, bill 04-1504. Many insiders have said it is a done deal. Community television and free speech advocates are trying to delay the vote so critical shortcommings can be addressed.
Friday, Baltimore Grassroots Media (BGM) received, for the first time, the text of a side agreement between the city and Comcast for a $570,000 training grant, the source of promised public access operating funds. However, the agreement letter does not indicate that the $570,000 will go to public access, only that it will go to the City, where it could be used for the Mayor's Government channel 21 that already has a $1.7 million annual budget. Currently the public's channel 5 has no budget. The letter is pre-dated December 6, 2004 and is not signed.
What the letter does clearly spell out is that the $570,000 is in return for the city turning over four cable access channels to Comcast and putting strict limitations on the activation of the remaining four available channels. Why the loss of the four channels is even mentioned in the letter begs explanation, since this is already part of the proposed contract. Ken Crooks of Comcast has said his company wants to avoid setting a precedent where they are seen as giving too much to community television. But what BGM has heard from experts around the country is that Baltimore is about to set a precedent by agreeing to one of the worst deals for public access anywhere.
When the city of San Jose, California tried to get more cable access channels, Comcast refused arguing, "each channel is worth approximately $21.6 million over a ten-year franchise term." Adjusted for Baltimore City, the value of the four lost channels over the 12-year contract is $77 million, or 135 times $570,000.
Friday night, BGM held a public forum on the public access situation in Baltimore. In attendance were several experts on public access from around the country who are sending a letter to City Council President Sheila Dixon to urge her to delay the vote on Monday. They are Richard Turner, Executive Director of Montgomery Community Television, Anthony Riddle, former Executive Director of public access facilities in Atlanta, Minneapolis and New York City, and former National Chair for the Alliance for Community Media, and Steve Ranieri, Executive Director of Community Cable Channel 27 TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Turner also raised the important point that the 50-cent pass-through, that the proposed contract stipulates can only be used for capital expenses, need not have been limited to capital expenses. In fact it could have been designated for operating funds. There is currently no provision for operating funds for public access in the contract. Without operating funds public access cannot hire any people to run public access.
Also in attendance was Tom Kiefaber, owner of the Senator Theatre, who offered to put a message up on the marquee of the theater and send a mass email out to 10,000 supporters. The marquee reads "STOP THE COMCAST CABLE CONTRACT! BILL 04-1504 NEEDS PUBLIC SCRUTINY CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON."
The League of Women Voters has also sent a letter to Sheila Dixon and the other council members urging them to reject the contract.
The missing memorandum of understanding (MOU) Council President Dixon and Councilman Curran delayed the previous vote over has still not been issued by the Mayor's finance department. It is supposed to guarantee that $430,000 would be directed from the city to public access.
Letter of agreement between Comcast and Baltimore City:
December 6, 2004
Ms. Marilyn Harris-Davis
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Ms. Harris-Davis:
This letter is to confirm the agreement that has been reached between Comcast of Baltimore City, L.P. ("Comcast") and the City of Baltimore (the "City") with respect to Public, Educational and Governmental ("PEG") Access. The term of this agreement shall be twelve years, beginning on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date").
As you know, Comcast and the City have discussed their mutual interest in improving the quality of PEG access programming available to Baltimore City cable subscribers. Currently, only four channels of the twelve that have been available to the City are used for PEG programming. We have jointly concluded that if Comcast were to provide the City with a technology training and development grant to assist it in training members of the public in using facilities and equipment for television production and for developmental purposes, the City and the Mayor's Office of Cable Communications ("MOCC") could more effectively focus on the creation and provision of robust and attractive programming on a reduced number of PEG channels, particularly with regard to enhancement of public access programming.
Accordingly, Comcast agrees to provide the City with a technology training and development grant in the amount of $570,000. In exchange, the City agrees to accept a reduction in the number of PEG channels it is entitled to program from twelve to eight and to limit the activation of additional PEG channels above the currently operating four channels to one in any twelve month period. The technology training and development grant is payable as follows: $80,000 in the first year of this agreement, $70,000 in the second year of this agreement, $60,000 in the third year of this agreement, and $40,000 each year for the following nine years of this agreement. Annual payments will be made in quarterly installments, simultaneously with Comcast's quarterly franchise fee payments to the City, beginning with the first quarterly payment due following the Effective Date. These payments made pursuant to this letter agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other commitments, fees or taxes owed by Comcast to the City, whether pursuant to the Franchise Agreement between Comcast and the City or otherwise.
If this letter correctly reflects your understanding of the agreement we have reached, please countersign the enclosed copy in the space provided.
Sincerely,
COMCAST OF BALTIMORE CITY, L.P.
By________________________________
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and accepted by:
THE CITY OF BALTIMORE
By_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date: _________________
cc: Robert Jacobs
Michael Parker
Rosetta Kerr-Wilson
Angela Patrick
Ralph Tyler
Donald Huskey
Elizabeth Harris
Ernest Crofoot
Linda Barclay
Cedric Crump
Barbara Adams
Letter to City Council members from Turner, Riddle
and Ranieri
Sun., Dec. 05, 2004 /Permalink
Urges council members
to consider delaying vote on Comcast contract until
fixes are made.
LetterFromTurnerRiddleRanieriToCityCouncil.pdf
LetterFromTurnerRiddleRanieriToCityCouncil.pdf
12/5/04 letter from Anthony Riddle to Baltimore
Grassroots Media
Sun., Dec. 05, 2004 /Permalink
Highlights problems
with Baltimore City's proposed contract with Comcast.
TonyRiddleLetter.pdf
TonyRiddleLetter.pdf
Senator Theatre marquee prior to Dec 6th vote
Fri., Dec. 03, 2004 /Permalink
Tom Kiefaber, owner of the
Senator Theatre, graciously put a message up on
the marquee of the theater before the City
Council's Dec. 6th vote.
Letter of agreement between Comcast and Baltimore
City
Fri., Dec. 03, 2004 /Permalink
Comcast will provide a $570,000 training grant in
exchange for the City giving up four cable access
channels worth, by Comcast's estimates, about $77
million.
December 6, 2004
Ms. Marilyn Harris-Davis
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Ms. Harris-Davis:
This letter is to confirm the agreement that has been reached between
Comcast of Baltimore City, L.P. ("Comcast") and the City of Baltimore
(the "City") with respect to Public, Educational and Governmental
("PEG") Access. The term of this agreement shall be twelve years,
beginning on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date").
As you know, Comcast and the City have discussed their mutual interest
in improving the quality of PEG access programming available to
Baltimore City cable subscribers. Currently, only four channels of the
twelve that have been available to the City are used for PEG
programming. We have jointly concluded that if Comcast were to provide
the City with a technology training and development grant to assist it
in training members of the public in using facilities and equipment for
television production and for developmental purposes, the City and the
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications ("MOCC") could more effectively
focus on the creation and provision of robust and attractive programming
on a reduced number of PEG channels, particularly with regard to
enhancement of public access programming.
Accordingly, Comcast agrees to provide the City with a technology
training and development grant in the amount of $570,000. In exchange,
the City agrees to accept a reduction in the number of PEG channels it
is entitled to program from twelve to eight and to limit the activation
of additional PEG channels above the currently operating four channels
to one in any twelve month period. The technology training and
development grant is payable as follows: $80,000 in the first year of
this agreement, $70,000 in the second year of this agreement, $60,000 in
the third year of this agreement, and $40,000 each year for the
following nine years of this agreement. Annual payments will be made in
quarterly installments, simultaneously with Comcast's quarterly
franchise fee payments to the City, beginning with the first quarterly
payment due following the Effective Date. These payments made pursuant
to this letter agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any
other commitments, fees or taxes owed by Comcast to the City, whether
pursuant to the Franchise Agreement between Comcast and the City or
otherwise.
If this letter correctly reflects your understanding of the agreement we
have reached, please countersign the enclosed copy in the space
provided.
Sincerely,
COMCAST OF BALTIMORE CITY, L.P.
By________________________________
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and accepted by:
THE CITY OF BALTIMORE
By_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date: _________________
cc: Robert Jacobs
Michael Parker
Rosetta Kerr-Wilson
Angela Patrick
Ralph Tyler
Donald Huskey
Elizabeth Harris
Ernest Crofoot
Linda Barclay
Cedric Crump
Barbara Adams
December 6, 2004
Ms. Marilyn Harris-Davis
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications
8 Market Place, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Ms. Harris-Davis:
This letter is to confirm the agreement that has been reached between
Comcast of Baltimore City, L.P. ("Comcast") and the City of Baltimore
(the "City") with respect to Public, Educational and Governmental
("PEG") Access. The term of this agreement shall be twelve years,
beginning on January 1, 2005 ("Effective Date").
As you know, Comcast and the City have discussed their mutual interest
in improving the quality of PEG access programming available to
Baltimore City cable subscribers. Currently, only four channels of the
twelve that have been available to the City are used for PEG
programming. We have jointly concluded that if Comcast were to provide
the City with a technology training and development grant to assist it
in training members of the public in using facilities and equipment for
television production and for developmental purposes, the City and the
Mayor's Office of Cable Communications ("MOCC") could more effectively
focus on the creation and provision of robust and attractive programming
on a reduced number of PEG channels, particularly with regard to
enhancement of public access programming.
Accordingly, Comcast agrees to provide the City with a technology
training and development grant in the amount of $570,000. In exchange,
the City agrees to accept a reduction in the number of PEG channels it
is entitled to program from twelve to eight and to limit the activation
of additional PEG channels above the currently operating four channels
to one in any twelve month period. The technology training and
development grant is payable as follows: $80,000 in the first year of
this agreement, $70,000 in the second year of this agreement, $60,000 in
the third year of this agreement, and $40,000 each year for the
following nine years of this agreement. Annual payments will be made in
quarterly installments, simultaneously with Comcast's quarterly
franchise fee payments to the City, beginning with the first quarterly
payment due following the Effective Date. These payments made pursuant
to this letter agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any
other commitments, fees or taxes owed by Comcast to the City, whether
pursuant to the Franchise Agreement between Comcast and the City or
otherwise.
If this letter correctly reflects your understanding of the agreement we
have reached, please countersign the enclosed copy in the space
provided.
Sincerely,
COMCAST OF BALTIMORE CITY, L.P.
By________________________________
Name:
Title:
Agreed to and accepted by:
THE CITY OF BALTIMORE
By_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date: _________________
cc: Robert Jacobs
Michael Parker
Rosetta Kerr-Wilson
Angela Patrick
Ralph Tyler
Donald Huskey
Elizabeth Harris
Ernest Crofoot
Linda Barclay
Cedric Crump
Barbara Adams
Baltimore Chronicle article: City Council Considers
Contract Amendments for Public Access TV
Tue., Nov. 30, 2004 /Permalink
City Council Postpones Comcast Vote
Tue., Nov. 30, 2004 /Permalink
Final vote held up one week to get city guarantee of
Public Access funds
At the Monday, November 29, 2004 Baltimore City Council meeting a motion was passed to postpone voting on the 3rd and final reader of the proposed Comcast cable TV contract until the following Monday's meeting to give the city more time to meet the council's demand for a memorandum of understanding committing an additional $430,000 over 12 years for Public Access operating revenue.
Councilman Curran put forth the motion saying, "I'm going to make a motion to hold for one week so we can get etched in stone the agreement between our financial department and this body concerning the funds that's going to go to cable access. The intent is there and we just need to have the language reflect the intent of the council to make sure that cable access gets the needed funds, the additional [$430,000]. So the intent is there. We just need to have it done in a timely fashion. So I'm going to give the administration the benefit of the doubt. So I'm going to make a motion that we hold [Bill 04-]1504 for one week."
By "cable access" it is assumed he meant "public access."
The motion was seconded by council Vice President Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake (according to a 11/8/04 Sun article, Rawlings Blake has the support of the mayor and, "Under the city charter, the council appoints the vice president. But the council typically defers to the mayor, approving his choice for the post. That's because the vice president traditionally serves as the mayor's floor leader, drumming up support for his legislative agenda.")
At the Monday, November 29, 2004 Baltimore City Council meeting a motion was passed to postpone voting on the 3rd and final reader of the proposed Comcast cable TV contract until the following Monday's meeting to give the city more time to meet the council's demand for a memorandum of understanding committing an additional $430,000 over 12 years for Public Access operating revenue.
Councilman Curran put forth the motion saying, "I'm going to make a motion to hold for one week so we can get etched in stone the agreement between our financial department and this body concerning the funds that's going to go to cable access. The intent is there and we just need to have the language reflect the intent of the council to make sure that cable access gets the needed funds, the additional [$430,000]. So the intent is there. We just need to have it done in a timely fashion. So I'm going to give the administration the benefit of the doubt. So I'm going to make a motion that we hold [Bill 04-]1504 for one week."
By "cable access" it is assumed he meant "public access."
The motion was seconded by council Vice President Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake (according to a 11/8/04 Sun article, Rawlings Blake has the support of the mayor and, "Under the city charter, the council appoints the vice president. But the council typically defers to the mayor, approving his choice for the post. That's because the vice president traditionally serves as the mayor's floor leader, drumming up support for his legislative agenda.")
Baltimore Sun article: O'Malley says Comcast
agreement was the best deal for the city
Wed., Nov. 17, 2004 /Permalink
Baltimore Sun article: Cable panel urged mayor not to
back Comcast deal
Tue., Nov. 16, 2004 /Permalink
Fate of Public Access TV to be Decided in Six Days
Thu., Nov. 11, 2004 /Permalink
Barring an unlikely reversal at next
Wednesday's Board of Estimates meeting the final
decision now rests with the City Council where they
will vote the contract up or down at a meeting the
following day
Yesterday was a rough day for public access TV advocates in Baltimore City. The Board of Estimates voted to approve the proposed Comcast contract, with some last minute amendments slipped in, ignoring compelling testimony about serious flaws and a written request from Baltimore Grassroots Media (BGM) to postpone the decision one week so the amendments could be considered by BGM and others and so that a request by City Council President Dixon to BGM for a sample public access budget could be fulfilled and considered by the board.
Barring an unlikely reversal at next Wednesday's Board of Estimates meeting the final decision now rests with the City Council where they will vote the contract up or down at a meeting the following day, Thursday, November 18, 2004, at 12:30 PM in the council chambers.
One of the last-minute amendments would totally restructure the way public access would be managed. In an abrupt switch from the city's oft-stated plan to issue a request for proposals from independent groups to run public access, the amendment specifies that the mayor would appoint a 13-member board to work with his administration to form the public access entity. The Mayor already controls the Government Access channel with its $1.3 million budget. Why should he also be given control of the Public Access channel?
In another weird twist Comcast agreed in a separate document, not made available, to pay an additional $430,000 to Youth Works Summer Employment Program with the understanding that the city would direct this same amount to public access. This would bring the total training grant to $1 million to be doled out over the proposed 12 years of the contract. However, the mayor later said that he could not guarantee directing the $430,000 to public access.
We were told Comcast insisted on this shell game so as not to set a precedent where they would be seen giving too much to public access. This is ridiculous. There is already a precedent in Washington, DC where their 2002 cable contract directs 1.33% of Comcast's gross revenue, in addition to the 5% franchise fee, to the public access corporation. In Baltimore this would amount to $1.15 million per year for public access.
Comcast is acting like their agreement to give a relatively tiny amount is so wonderful, but it is not even in the contract, and it was negotiated in exchange for the city giving up four of our current 12 cable access channels to Comcast. Comcast's own estimates put the value of these four channels over the 12 years of the contract at $77 million! Why would the city give up these valuable public assets for so little?
Please write letters to newspapers, call in to radio shows and email or call your council members (http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/members.htm) to tell them to vote this proposed contract down because:
1. The contract does not even come close to providing adequate funding for Public Access as other cities have. DC public access had 2003 revenue of $2 million, most of it from the cable contract.
2. The proposed contract gives four of our current 12 cable access channels to Comcast, who values these channels at $77 million over the 12 years of the contract, in exchange for almost nothing!
3. The length of the contract is too long in this rapidly changing industry and according to Jeff Chester, Director of the Center for Digital Democracy, there have been calls for a "nationwide campaign to advocate for a new federal policy that ensures that communities can effectively benefit from the digital age, and that monopolies like Comcast are required to operate in a more open and democratic fashion."
4. At their October 13, 2004 meeting the Mayor's Cable Communications Advisory Commission unanimously voted to oppose the proposed contract.
5. There is no mention of a facility for Public Access. Other municipalities, for example Arlington Co. Virginia, specify this in the contract.
6. The proposed structure of the public access corporation shifts control from the public to the mayor.
7. The mayor's channel has a $1.3 million annual budget. It should not be more than the public channels budget.
8. Public Access needs more than one channel.
9. There has not been a fair opportunity for the public to comment on the amendments.
10. Comcast gets an exception where their failure to meet minority business goals cannot result in termination of the contract as it does with other contracts with the city.
Please CC any letters to the editor or emails you send to info@baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org and contact us with any ideas you have. Join us at our next meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 PM at Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave.
Baltimore Grassroots Media
www.baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org
Info@baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org
410-779-2184
Yesterday was a rough day for public access TV advocates in Baltimore City. The Board of Estimates voted to approve the proposed Comcast contract, with some last minute amendments slipped in, ignoring compelling testimony about serious flaws and a written request from Baltimore Grassroots Media (BGM) to postpone the decision one week so the amendments could be considered by BGM and others and so that a request by City Council President Dixon to BGM for a sample public access budget could be fulfilled and considered by the board.
Barring an unlikely reversal at next Wednesday's Board of Estimates meeting the final decision now rests with the City Council where they will vote the contract up or down at a meeting the following day, Thursday, November 18, 2004, at 12:30 PM in the council chambers.
One of the last-minute amendments would totally restructure the way public access would be managed. In an abrupt switch from the city's oft-stated plan to issue a request for proposals from independent groups to run public access, the amendment specifies that the mayor would appoint a 13-member board to work with his administration to form the public access entity. The Mayor already controls the Government Access channel with its $1.3 million budget. Why should he also be given control of the Public Access channel?
In another weird twist Comcast agreed in a separate document, not made available, to pay an additional $430,000 to Youth Works Summer Employment Program with the understanding that the city would direct this same amount to public access. This would bring the total training grant to $1 million to be doled out over the proposed 12 years of the contract. However, the mayor later said that he could not guarantee directing the $430,000 to public access.
We were told Comcast insisted on this shell game so as not to set a precedent where they would be seen giving too much to public access. This is ridiculous. There is already a precedent in Washington, DC where their 2002 cable contract directs 1.33% of Comcast's gross revenue, in addition to the 5% franchise fee, to the public access corporation. In Baltimore this would amount to $1.15 million per year for public access.
Comcast is acting like their agreement to give a relatively tiny amount is so wonderful, but it is not even in the contract, and it was negotiated in exchange for the city giving up four of our current 12 cable access channels to Comcast. Comcast's own estimates put the value of these four channels over the 12 years of the contract at $77 million! Why would the city give up these valuable public assets for so little?
Please write letters to newspapers, call in to radio shows and email or call your council members (http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/members.htm) to tell them to vote this proposed contract down because:
1. The contract does not even come close to providing adequate funding for Public Access as other cities have. DC public access had 2003 revenue of $2 million, most of it from the cable contract.
2. The proposed contract gives four of our current 12 cable access channels to Comcast, who values these channels at $77 million over the 12 years of the contract, in exchange for almost nothing!
3. The length of the contract is too long in this rapidly changing industry and according to Jeff Chester, Director of the Center for Digital Democracy, there have been calls for a "nationwide campaign to advocate for a new federal policy that ensures that communities can effectively benefit from the digital age, and that monopolies like Comcast are required to operate in a more open and democratic fashion."
4. At their October 13, 2004 meeting the Mayor's Cable Communications Advisory Commission unanimously voted to oppose the proposed contract.
5. There is no mention of a facility for Public Access. Other municipalities, for example Arlington Co. Virginia, specify this in the contract.
6. The proposed structure of the public access corporation shifts control from the public to the mayor.
7. The mayor's channel has a $1.3 million annual budget. It should not be more than the public channels budget.
8. Public Access needs more than one channel.
9. There has not been a fair opportunity for the public to comment on the amendments.
10. Comcast gets an exception where their failure to meet minority business goals cannot result in termination of the contract as it does with other contracts with the city.
Please CC any letters to the editor or emails you send to info@baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org and contact us with any ideas you have. Join us at our next meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 PM at Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Ave.
Baltimore Grassroots Media
www.baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org
Info@baltimoregrassrootsmedia.org
410-779-2184
Amendments to Council Bill 04-1504 - Comcast Cable
Franchise
Wed., Nov. 10, 2004 /Permalink
Last-second
amendments to the cable contract made just before
Board of Estimates approved contract without
oportunity for public scrutiny:
FINAL Amendments to Council Bill 04-1504 -Comcast Cable Franchise
November 10, 2004
1. On page 35 in line 6, after City's insert "statutes, ordinances and"; and on the same page in line 7, after '("WBEs")' insert "as if it were a contractor receiving funding from the City provided that enforcement of this Section shall be exclusively by way of liquidated damages and in no event shall the City seek to suspend or rescind the Franchise for any violation of this Section."
2. On page 32 in line 33, after Capital Support for Equipment and Facilities for PEG Channels. insert "A" and on page 33 after line 7 insert the following:
"B. Upon the enactment of this Ordinance, the City agrees to select and convene a Board of Incorporators (the "Board") to work with the City to create a public access entity to be responsible for the management of public access cable television programming. This Board shall consist of thirteen members appointed by the Mayor. All members of the Board shall be City residents. It shall include at least three members of the public access broadcasting community, at least two members of the Cable Communications Advisory Commission, one representative from MOCC, one representative from the Department of Law, one representative from the Council selected by the President of the Council, and five additional members as determined by the Mayor.
The Board shall develop the structure of a tax-exempt organization under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Corporation"). The Corporation shall be created by the City, and upon creation shall operate independently thereof. It shall generally serve as the public access entity for the citizens of Baltimore. It shall receive and disperse the public access portion of the PEG capital support provided for in this Section, as well as any grant for PEG purposes Franchisee may provide in connection with the grant of the Franchise, and such other funds (if any)made available to it from time to time by the City. The Corporation shall enter into an agreement (the "Operating Agreement") with the City in accordance with all standard City contractual requirements, including but not limited to provision for regular City audits, the use of generally accepted accounting and auditing principles, and an acceptable budgeting process prior to the receipt of funds from the City.
Subject to the conditions above, the City shall pay to the Corporation, or to any successor entity thereof, or to third parties on the behalf of the Corporation, one-third (1/3) of the monies collected as capital support for PEG purposes pursuant to this Section, if, as, and when collected by the City. These funds shall be extended only for capital costs for public access purposes. Prior to receipt of any funds for capital support, the Corporation (i) shall have entered into the Operating Agreement in accordance with this Section, and (ii) shall be and remain in good corporate standing with the State of Maryland. The Corporation shall apply all funds received from the City in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Franchise and the Operating Agreement."
FINAL Amendments to Council Bill 04-1504 -Comcast Cable Franchise
November 10, 2004
1. On page 35 in line 6, after City's insert "statutes, ordinances and"; and on the same page in line 7, after '("WBEs")' insert "as if it were a contractor receiving funding from the City provided that enforcement of this Section shall be exclusively by way of liquidated damages and in no event shall the City seek to suspend or rescind the Franchise for any violation of this Section."
2. On page 32 in line 33, after Capital Support for Equipment and Facilities for PEG Channels. insert "A" and on page 33 after line 7 insert the following:
"B. Upon the enactment of this Ordinance, the City agrees to select and convene a Board of Incorporators (the "Board") to work with the City to create a public access entity to be responsible for the management of public access cable television programming. This Board shall consist of thirteen members appointed by the Mayor. All members of the Board shall be City residents. It shall include at least three members of the public access broadcasting community, at least two members of the Cable Communications Advisory Commission, one representative from MOCC, one representative from the Department of Law, one representative from the Council selected by the President of the Council, and five additional members as determined by the Mayor.
The Board shall develop the structure of a tax-exempt organization under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Corporation"). The Corporation shall be created by the City, and upon creation shall operate independently thereof. It shall generally serve as the public access entity for the citizens of Baltimore. It shall receive and disperse the public access portion of the PEG capital support provided for in this Section, as well as any grant for PEG purposes Franchisee may provide in connection with the grant of the Franchise, and such other funds (if any)made available to it from time to time by the City. The Corporation shall enter into an agreement (the "Operating Agreement") with the City in accordance with all standard City contractual requirements, including but not limited to provision for regular City audits, the use of generally accepted accounting and auditing principles, and an acceptable budgeting process prior to the receipt of funds from the City.
Subject to the conditions above, the City shall pay to the Corporation, or to any successor entity thereof, or to third parties on the behalf of the Corporation, one-third (1/3) of the monies collected as capital support for PEG purposes pursuant to this Section, if, as, and when collected by the City. These funds shall be extended only for capital costs for public access purposes. Prior to receipt of any funds for capital support, the Corporation (i) shall have entered into the Operating Agreement in accordance with this Section, and (ii) shall be and remain in good corporate standing with the State of Maryland. The Corporation shall apply all funds received from the City in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Franchise and the Operating Agreement."
City Paper article: Please Stand By
Wed., Oct. 20, 2004 /Permalink
By Edward Ericson Jr.
A months-long campaign by advocates of public-access television bore fruit last week when the City Council agreed to delay action on a new cable-television contract with cable provider Comcast...(click here for rest of article on City Paper website)
A months-long campaign by advocates of public-access television bore fruit last week when the City Council agreed to delay action on a new cable-television contract with cable provider Comcast...(click here for rest of article on City Paper website)
Thanks to all of you who came out to the Oct 13th
Public Hearing!!
Sun., Oct. 17, 2004 /Permalink
Public hearing
regarding the Comcast franchise renewal
Over 40 people testified, most of whom made it clear that the "P" -- the People -- in PEG TV must be protected by including specifically allocated, yearly renewable funding for public access operating expenses.
Judy Lombardi, an enthusiastic public access supporter, wrote the following about what took place on 10/13:
"Baltimore Grassroots Media, as well as the majority of the people present and testifying at City Hall at the Public Hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 13th, made it clear that the "done deal" -- the new cable franchise contract that has been negotiated between the City of Baltimore and Comcast Corporation -- is not done yet!
The presentation of the facts by Baltimore Grassroots Media regarding what other jurisdictions have been able to negotiate in terms of funding for the "P" -- the People -- in PEG - was fantastic, and must continue to be a central focus of Baltimore Grassroots Media's position.
In addition we must demand -- yes demand! -- that specifically allocated funding for the "P" in PEG be part of the Comcast/City of Baltimore agreement. This is fundamental, since we know that without specifically allocated funds, public access television, which represents the People, is doomed to failure.
Democracy is dependent on access to social, political and economic facts. Yet in this age where, as so eloquently stated by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, "there is so much mass media and so little news," the facts are harder and harder to access. This is why the People -- including the people of Baltimore -- are demanding direct access to televised media, so that their voice will be heard. This is why the "P" in PEG must be fully and fairly funded. A decision to do anything less than this will hurt the City of Baltimore and its citizens, and they deserve much, much better."
Baltimore Sun coverage of the Oct. 13th Hearing
Baltimore Indymedia piece, "Oct 13: Final Hearing on Public Access TV" (many thanks to Jim George)
PowerPoint Presentation to the City Council at Oct 13th Public Hearing (requires MS PowerPoint)
Over 40 people testified, most of whom made it clear that the "P" -- the People -- in PEG TV must be protected by including specifically allocated, yearly renewable funding for public access operating expenses.
Judy Lombardi, an enthusiastic public access supporter, wrote the following about what took place on 10/13:
"Baltimore Grassroots Media, as well as the majority of the people present and testifying at City Hall at the Public Hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 13th, made it clear that the "done deal" -- the new cable franchise contract that has been negotiated between the City of Baltimore and Comcast Corporation -- is not done yet!
The presentation of the facts by Baltimore Grassroots Media regarding what other jurisdictions have been able to negotiate in terms of funding for the "P" -- the People -- in PEG - was fantastic, and must continue to be a central focus of Baltimore Grassroots Media's position.
In addition we must demand -- yes demand! -- that specifically allocated funding for the "P" in PEG be part of the Comcast/City of Baltimore agreement. This is fundamental, since we know that without specifically allocated funds, public access television, which represents the People, is doomed to failure.
Democracy is dependent on access to social, political and economic facts. Yet in this age where, as so eloquently stated by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, "there is so much mass media and so little news," the facts are harder and harder to access. This is why the People -- including the people of Baltimore -- are demanding direct access to televised media, so that their voice will be heard. This is why the "P" in PEG must be fully and fairly funded. A decision to do anything less than this will hurt the City of Baltimore and its citizens, and they deserve much, much better."
Baltimore Sun coverage of the Oct. 13th Hearing
Baltimore Indymedia piece, "Oct 13: Final Hearing on Public Access TV" (many thanks to Jim George)
PowerPoint Presentation to the City Council at Oct 13th Public Hearing (requires MS PowerPoint)
Rally/City Council Hearing
Wed., Oct. 13, 2004 /Permalink
When: 10/13/2004 4:00 PM - 10/13/2004 8:00 PM
Where: In front of City Hall (free food will be served)
Rally to Save Public Access TV followed by City Council Hearing on Cable Contract
The Baltimore City Council hearing on the proposed Comcast contract will follow the rally at 5 PM. At the hearing the city, Comcast and Public Access advocates will give presentations before the floor is opened for public comment.
After suffering a flawed 20-year cable contract, this is our opportunity to finally secure funding for non-commercial, non-governmental, free speech TV where we can create and show our own programs.
Come out to show that the people of Baltimore know how important Public Access is and that we won't be denied what other cities have.
The City's proposed contract does not provide any funding specifically for Public Access. The cable contracts of other cities provide millions of dollars for Public Access TV.
Since the City Council cannot modify the contract - they can only vote it up or down - they must reject it!
It's up us to educate and embolden our council members to do the right thing for their constituents.
Put the P in PEG! Support direct funding for Public Access TV!
More Info:
Public Access TV, cable channel 5, is the only channel covering the League of Women Voters City Council candidate forums, showing "Democracy Now!" and Baltimore's own "ROCing 'D' VOTE voter education show. It also shows local youth-produced programs, religious programs, music concerts, art exhibits, people fighting back to improve their communities, etc.
You may hear that there is funding for Public Access in the proposed contract, but this is not true. It is for Public, Education and Government Access (PEG). The Government Access (G) channel, which currently has a $1.1 million per year budget, will get to decide how the PEG money is divvied up, and are on record saying they will probably use most of it for the Government channel. In contrast, cable contracts in municipalities with vibrant public access facilities specify ongoing funding and facilities directly for the independent organizations that manage Public Access (P).
Some other problems with the proposed contract are that it reduces the number of channels available for public access and does not provide a percentage of digital bandwidth, there is no "signal input point" specified for the public access facility, and the length of the contract, though
reduced from 20 to 12 years, is still too long given the rapid changes in the cable industry.
Contact your City Council representatives (http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/members.htm) and ask them to vote NO to the proposed Comcast contract (Bill 04-1504).
For more info contact: 410-779-2184
Where: In front of City Hall (free food will be served)
Rally to Save Public Access TV followed by City Council Hearing on Cable Contract
The Baltimore City Council hearing on the proposed Comcast contract will follow the rally at 5 PM. At the hearing the city, Comcast and Public Access advocates will give presentations before the floor is opened for public comment.
After suffering a flawed 20-year cable contract, this is our opportunity to finally secure funding for non-commercial, non-governmental, free speech TV where we can create and show our own programs.
Come out to show that the people of Baltimore know how important Public Access is and that we won't be denied what other cities have.
The City's proposed contract does not provide any funding specifically for Public Access. The cable contracts of other cities provide millions of dollars for Public Access TV.
Since the City Council cannot modify the contract - they can only vote it up or down - they must reject it!
It's up us to educate and embolden our council members to do the right thing for their constituents.
Put the P in PEG! Support direct funding for Public Access TV!
More Info:
Public Access TV, cable channel 5, is the only channel covering the League of Women Voters City Council candidate forums, showing "Democracy Now!" and Baltimore's own "ROCing 'D' VOTE voter education show. It also shows local youth-produced programs, religious programs, music concerts, art exhibits, people fighting back to improve their communities, etc.
You may hear that there is funding for Public Access in the proposed contract, but this is not true. It is for Public, Education and Government Access (PEG). The Government Access (G) channel, which currently has a $1.1 million per year budget, will get to decide how the PEG money is divvied up, and are on record saying they will probably use most of it for the Government channel. In contrast, cable contracts in municipalities with vibrant public access facilities specify ongoing funding and facilities directly for the independent organizations that manage Public Access (P).
Some other problems with the proposed contract are that it reduces the number of channels available for public access and does not provide a percentage of digital bandwidth, there is no "signal input point" specified for the public access facility, and the length of the contract, though
reduced from 20 to 12 years, is still too long given the rapid changes in the cable industry.
Contact your City Council representatives (http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/members.htm) and ask them to vote NO to the proposed Comcast contract (Bill 04-1504).
For more info contact: 410-779-2184
Download BGM Petition Here!
Thu., Sep. 30, 2004 /Permalink
Show the City Council there is a broad base of
support
We are calling for City Council members to reject the proposed cable contract with Comcast (Bill 04-1504) because it lacks provisions for public access TV. We're also calling on City Council and Board of Estimates members to require that any cable franchise agreements for Baltimore City guarantee a dedicated, ongoing revenue stream to be paid directly to the non-profit organization that will manage public access TV – the Public (P) part of Public, Education and Government (PEG) Access – as well as facilities, equipment, multiple activated channels and other provisions equivalent to or exceeding those provided to the best public access TV facilities in the nation.
We need to show the Council that there is a broad base of support for public access in the community. Please print out this position and get as many supporters to sign as you can!
BGMPetition9-30-04.pdf
We are calling for City Council members to reject the proposed cable contract with Comcast (Bill 04-1504) because it lacks provisions for public access TV. We're also calling on City Council and Board of Estimates members to require that any cable franchise agreements for Baltimore City guarantee a dedicated, ongoing revenue stream to be paid directly to the non-profit organization that will manage public access TV – the Public (P) part of Public, Education and Government (PEG) Access – as well as facilities, equipment, multiple activated channels and other provisions equivalent to or exceeding those provided to the best public access TV facilities in the nation.
We need to show the Council that there is a broad base of support for public access in the community. Please print out this position and get as many supporters to sign as you can!
BGMPetition9-30-04.pdf