Your Opinion Needed at next Cable Franchise Board Meeting on June 16, 2003

At issue is whether Indianapolis' cable TV operators meet their contractual obligation to provide 25 hours per week of programming FROM local religious, charitable, literary, cultural and public health organizations. by carrying the Indy Music Channel, WDNI-65.

Most of the hours they count as Local Community Interest Programming (LCIP) on the Indy Music Channel are (surprise!) music video shows. WDNI is now owned by corporate radio giant, Radio One, and shown on Channel 99 on Comcast and Channel 20 on Bright House Networks. Recently, WDNI attempted to cut-back the programming of one of its very few community affairs programs, the Amos Brown show, to add even more music video shows. The dwindling number of local religious programs shown on Sundays pay for airtime.

Should the Indy Music Channel be on cable TV? Absolutely! There are enough available channels for the Indy Music Channel, and other low power broadcasters like Sister Sue Jenkins' locally-owned, WKOG-TV 31 Catholic TV (still fighting to get on cable), AND a channel for REAL community interest programming to all be on our cable systems. Of course, we believe the most effective form of community interest programming is through a community-run public access TV channel, which CAN be established by the City immediately in the name of  "public interest." (See  "How  Indianapolis CAN have a public access TV channel -- now.")

But is the Indy Music Channel sufficient for Local Community Interest Programming? The cable operators, Bright House Networks (formerly Time Warner) and Comcast -- happy to no longer provide public access TV, happy to get out of almost all production requirements for the community, and happy to resolve the pressure of getting this low power TV station on cable -- say "Yes" and that from what they have heard, the community is satisfied!

The community must deliver a resounding "No!" to the Cable Franchise Board, Bright House Networks and Comcast.

Please voice your opinion and ask to be on the LCIP Advisory Committee at the next Cable Franchise Board Meeting on Monday, June 16, 2003 at 2:30 PM in Room 260 of the City-County Building. 

We need every community-minded individual and group to stand with us in demanding programming that serves our needs and accountability for cable franchise contracts awarded in the name of community interest.  Please distribute this note and the attached flyer as widely as you can.

For additional information, call 335-5272 or visit our web site at http://www.indyaccess.org.