The Cable Franchise Board meeting of May 15 was special in its unusually large audience. A long list of people signed up to offer public comments, with most wearing colorful buttons stating, “Indy Needs Public Access TV.” The meeting included most of the usual reports but its focus turned to the possibility that public access television could return to the city as part of Bright House Networks’ unexpected request to renew its local cable franchise agreement before the new state video franchising law takes effect on July 1.

Public Access of Indianapolis (PAI) and many of its supporters shared their experiences, information, and vision for public access TV for nearly an hour. (See “The Indianapolis Community Speaks Out for Public Access TV.”) PAI Board President Andrea Price pointed out that many groups could benefit from public access television and that Indianapolis is one of only two major U.S. cities without public access TV since its elimination in 1996. Ms Price provided a list of some 40 organizations that support the restoration of a public access channel in Indianapolis, and a stack of more than 50 comments from supportive individuals. Ms Price described previous studies and surveys supporting the need for public access TV in Indianapolis, including the Cable Franchise Board’s 1998 survey that showed that 84% of cable subscribers thought public access television valuable, and 72% thought it important. Ms. Price also talked about PAI’s own study that showed a ten-year loss of 80% of the community producers on cable TV. (Full testimomy)

No one at the meeting disagreed with the comments supporting restoration of public access TV to the city, but negotiations were just beginning, and there is much work to be done and many questions to be resolved. How is it that we find ourselves in the midst of this fast-forward push?

On April 18, at the Rules and Public Policy Committee meeting of the Indianapolis City Council, Cable Franchise Board Chair Peter Blum alerted the committee to Bright House Networks’ desire to renew their local cable franchise agreement before July 1. Chairman Blum requested the committee’s authorization to negotiate the renewal contract on its behalf, which he received unanimously. Legally, the local franchise agreement is a contract between the City-County Council and the cable operator. Once a new cable franchise agreement is drafted, the Cable Franchise Board submits it to the Rules and Public Policy Committee and then on to the full Council for approval.

Chairman Blum sees this as “an interesting opportunity for the city” to extend its present relationship with Bright House Networks, although he acknowledged that negotiations will be tough given the extremely compressed timeline required. (See “ Planned Timeline for Bright House Networks Cable Franchise Renewal Agreement.”)

Rick Maultra, Director of the Indianapolis Cable Communications Agency, which serves as advocate for cable consumers and oversees cable franchise agreement compliance, supports a new local franchise with Bright House Networks. “It is in the community’s best interest to have local consumer protections in place,” according to Mr. Maultra. “ Indianapolis has a good record in turnaround time and enforcement… [ it ] would be a continuation of meeting consumer and constituent concerns and meeting FCC standards.”

Supporters of restoring public access television are urged to contact their City County Councilors during May while the contract negotiations are in progress. Supporters are also encouraged to attend the public hearing on the proposed franchise agreement during the Rules and Public Policy Committee meeting on June 6 at 5:30 PM, in Room 260 of the City-County Building.