More on the Community Access Preservation Act (CAP)...
In her press release, Rep. Baldwin stated, "Local access channels bring unique voices, perspectives, and programming to television. The nature of television programming is changing, as are the methods in which that programming is delivered. These changes should not come at the expense of the diversity and vibrancy of local voices."
WAPC applauded the proposal in an October 9 press release saying it believes the CAP Act would resolve problems that have arisen because federal cable law, new state video franchise laws, and recent FCC decisions have not been working successfully together to safeguard local community-based PEG channels and that Wisconsin PEG stations would benefit from the CAP Act in several ways.
More on LRB 0945/7, the Cable Consumer Repair Bill for Wisconsin...
With co-sponsors Reps. Christine Sinicki and Jeff Smith in the Assembly and Senators Kathleen Vinehout and Mark Miller, Rep. Hebl has introduced needed cable reform to Wisconsin for the benefit of the people of our state.
This bill improves statewide cable franchising to make the system fairer for union workers, consumers, local governments, rural areas, and public access channels.WAPC has written a a summary of the legislation and has addressed a November 17 informational meeting on the bill. The bill is divided into sections, with the following sections most relevant to PEG:
- 26 - PEG stations are to be on a tier viewable by 100% of cable subscribers
- 27 - Operators are required to pay for any necessary change in the format of the PEG signal.
- 28 - Operators are required to pay for transmission equipment; operator pays for the first 200 feet of a moved transmission line (clarification).
- 29 - PEG channels shall be provided with the same accessibility, functionality, and quality as that provided to local commercial TV stations; PEG shall be carried within 10 channels of a local commercial TV station; PEG channels shall be viewable by every subscriber without additional service or equipment charges; PEG shall be transmitted without material degradation
- 31 - Municipalities may set a video service provider fee up to 5% by ordinance.
- 36 - Municipalities may set a PEG fee up to 1% by ordinance beginning 1/1/11.
- 37 - PEG fees may be used to support PEG channels (deleted the words "access facilities").