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Comparison: Public Access TV vs Local Community Interest Programming (LCIP) |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 16 June 2003 |
Even if there were no controversy with Indy's Music Channel and Local Community Interest Programming (LCIP), it is still a long way from public access TV. LCIP was supposed to maintain some degree of community participation on cable, but as predicted, community participation has continued to decline since the end of public access TV in 1996 in Indianapolis.
Following is a summary of the major differences between LCIP and true public access television:| | True Public Access TV | LCIP as Defined | LCIP as Implemented | Channel Type | Non-commercial Cable | Commercial Cable | Commercial Low Power TV Broadcast Network | Editorial Control | Individual Producer | Cable Operators (Brighthouse Networks and Comcast) | Radio One | Monthly hours available/required | 706 hours/channel | 105 hours minimum on dedicated channel | Unknown | Local Content | 100% | 100% | Minimal | Cable Channel Ownership | Community | Cable Operators | Cable Operators (WDNI is not a "must carry" channel for cable) | Community Carriage and Cost | Open access / No cost | Unknown, except for Cable Operator's selected community service productions OR Commercial rates ("leased access") | Low-power TV market rates OR Existing community affairs programs: Amos Brown Show R.O.A.R. (Recorder on Air Report) Living in the City | Community Production Facilities and Cost | No or very minimal costs at community media center (usually do-it-yourself) | "at or below competitive market rates" | Low-power TV market rates | Bandwidth Ownership | Public (rights of way) | Public (rights of way) | Public (rights of way and broadcast spectrum) |
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