It took almost 25 years, but Philadelphia finally announced the establishment of public access television. In September Mayor John Street, members of the Philadelphia Community Access Coalition (PCAC), and Comcast announced an agreement that should launch public access TV in January 2008. The City Council unanimously passed the enabling resolutions.

“It has been a long, hard struggle, but finally the city which historically most represents the ideals of democracy and freedom will have the benefit of Public Access-the voice of community in the electronic age,” commented independent filmmaker and media activist, Dee Dee Halleck, in her blog.

Comcast is providing $1.8m for the cost of the studio and the initial equipment, while the City is subsidizing a vacant library for the community media center. Comcast is setting aside five channels, one analog and four digital, and will also provide operational funding of $500,000 per year, along with another equipment grant of $900,000 in two years.

Philadelphia’s success at this point in time stands in stark contrast to the lack of progress in Indianapolis, the recently announced closings in northern Indiana, and the steady erosion of the financial underpinnings for public access television across the country. As predicted, the statewide video franchise laws adopted by States like Indiana have caused the closure of public access television facilities in Indiana (see page 1) and in other states. Tampa Commissioners recently voted to completely eliminate the $355,000 annual funding for public access TV, while maintaining the $2m budget for government access television. San Antonio’s channel is now back on air but Houston is anticipating a catastrophic drop in funding in 2008.

When Congress failed to pass a national video franchising bill in 2006 for AT&T and Verizon, the FCC stepped in and issued rules to limit franchise fess and support for public, education and government access channels for the new market entrants. This order did not apply to states that had enacted state franchising laws. It is being challenged in court by a group including the Alliance for Community Media and local government organizations like the National League of Cities -- ironically headed by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. On October 31, the FCC voted to extend portions of its order to incumbent cable providers; it is not clear whether any of the new rules will apply to state video franchise holders.

Philadelphia’s perseverance and success are an inspiration to everyone fighting for community media, the public interest, or even net neutrality in today’s environment.