Management of Austin's
Public Access Television Channels, Facilities and Programming
Public Access Television: Background
- Community-oriented content is not well sustained by market-driven
media. Since 1970, community activists have pushed to help fill the
demand for such content, giving rise to Public Access television.
The vision has always been about providing and protecting free-speech
"soapboxes" for our electronic age.
- The FCC's 1972 rulings set up the framework for securing public
access channels from cable companies. Requirements were established
for cable companies to provide channel space and support for public,
educational and government access channels.
- After several legal and legislative challenges, the free speech
mission of public access was reaffirmed and institutionalized by the
Cable Act of 1984. It prohibited cable operators from interfering
with access content and absolved them of any liability for it.
Access in Austin
- The public access channels were originally managed by Austin Community
Television, one of the first and most prolific community television
organizations in the country.
- The current manager is ChannelAustin (aka Public
Access Community Television), a group with extensive public access
and television production experience.
- The City owns the public access studio. The video production equipment
is owned by the City of Austin and Time Warner Cable.
- Contract funding is established via the City's cable television
franchise with Time Warner Cable: the cable company makes quarterly
payments to the City in support of public, educational and government
(PEG) access TV through a $0.35 per month charge to Austin's residential,
non-bulk cable subscribers.
- The current contract goes for six years (2-year initial, with
two 2-year extensions). The 2011 expiration coincides with that of
the current Time-Warner franchise.
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