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HELP PCT: WRITE TO THE PUC

Posted by Martin Anaya on September 17, 2024 at 1:30pm

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SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEDIA!!

WHAT:

OFIRST TIME in 15 years by the California Public Utilities Commission (which regulates cable)  is listening to the COMPLAINTS of CABLE CUSTOMERS. Many of YOU CALLED IN by phone to give your FEEDBACK!

NOW: 

Now we're asking our community to write to the commission to demand that the Nation's oldest Community Media Center be seen on the HD spectrum of cable!

WHY:

Currently, your Community Media TV (AKA P.E.G. TV channel) is NOT being seen on the HD tier of Cable! Even worse, Cable companies like COMCAST and AT&T make it HARD to even FIND the P.E.G. channels. (P.E.G. stands for Public, Education, and Government TV).

WHAT TO SAY:

All you have to do is write a short NOTE to the P.U.C. and say the following:

  • PEG channels MUST be supported financially. Every Cable Company is charged PEG fees for the purpose of supporting PEG channel activity. It is VITAL that these funds are used for the purpose they were intended, to support PEG channel activities. They must go to these uses and not be redirected by Cable companies, cities, or any other entities. 
  • My local Community Channel is Pacific Coast TV (PCT)  is currently being displayed on cable via outdated quality, even though PCT delivers our programming in high definition resolution.
  • This makes it HARD to find my local TV channel because both our local providers (ATT and Comcast) effectively hide our local channel from view.
  • When I can find the channel, the image is COMPLETELY SUBSTANDARD.
  • According to state law, community PEG channels are required to be delivered to subscribers in the same format as every other station. A Cable company should not downgrade the channel signal quality of community channels.

HOW TO WRITE IN:

 Go to www.cpuc.ca.gov/docket and enter R.23-04-006 in the "Proceeding Number Search" field. Once you find it, click on the public comment tab to enter your thoughts about the importance of getting PCT onto HD!

NOTE:

  • PEG channels like PCT play a crucial role in government transparency efforts by covering local government meetings and proceedings. They are vital sources of local news and civic engagement and played a critical role in the COVID pandemic by delivering hyper-local government, public health, public safety and educational information.
  • The deliberately substandard treatment of PEG channels represents serious harm to California customers. The Commission should address it as part of the customer service requirements it adopts. 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT of PCT, YOUR COMMUNITY MEDIA VOICE!

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Keep Community Media On TV

Posted by Martin Anaya on June 2, 2022 at 9:30am
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Hello friends!
We need your immediate help to ensure that AB2635, the bill that would require High Definition PEG channels, passes through the CA Assembly and onto the Senate.  
While we were successful getting the bill through two Assembly committees, when it went to the floor on May 2nd it failed to get enough votes and was pulled for reconsideration. Only 18 members voted yes, 18 voted no, and 41 members DID NOT VOTE.  Why? Because the cable industry is feeding them lies. 
The cable industry says that having PEG channels in HD would cause cable rates to go up because new fiber lines would need to be built statewide, HD transmission equipment would cost large amounts of money, and there would be a monthly cost to transmit HD signals. This is all outrageous, but the cable industry is going to get away with it unless we act NOW! 
Here’s what you can do:

1. Call your Assembly Member and encourage strong support for AB2635.  Here's the contact info and how each member voted on May 2nd: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rI2cnR_ILAOricaeW4r2tlm0bAaFDVWQ/view?usp=sharing
2. Send an email to Assembly Members using Media Alliance's "Take Action" page. This page has helpful "Facts vs Myths" for dispelling the cable industry lies. https://takeaction.salsalabs.org/AB2635MythFact/index.html. 
(Also, here's proof that HD PEG channels did not increase cable rates in Oregon: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bP7VZhWnroDNzkdNRE6ULfJLdbuPKmgW/view?usp=sharing)
3. Send this letter of support to your Assembly Member and the persons listed at the top of the letter. Encourage other elected officials or government officials to send the letter also.
We all will benefit if AB2635 passes… but we need your support NOW!
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