Community Television - Gone?

Dear Viewers,
You may have heard that there will be additional choices regarding who may provide cable television service in the near future. Telephone companies are poised to deliver services that are traditionally offered by cable operators. There is no doubt that these services would make healthy competition possible among the cable operators and telephone companies.
For over two decades, Queens Public Television (QPTV) has received tremendous support from the cable operators in Queens and shares its success with them. What you need to know is that an aggressive attempt is underway to change laws regarding franchising requirements at local, state, and national levels. These laws are part of the Federal Communication Act.
The proposed draft telecommunications legislation would effectively exempt the regional Bell operating companies and cable operators from the need to obtain municipal franchises. What this means is if legislation is passed, local franchise obligations and fees paid by the cable operators to the municipality might be reduced or totally non-existent. Local access television channels such as QPTV may no longer receive the same level of funding or funding may become non-existent.
The New York City Council passed Resolution No. 136-A, calling on New York's congressional representatives to oppose any legislation that would dismantle the local franchises that pay for Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access Television. QPTV strongly supports the current franchise system.
Since its inception in the early eighties, QPTV has trained borough residents who are interested in producing community television programs. QPTV has provided thousands of content providers with an outlet for their programs. In addition to individuals, QPTV, in its 24-plus years, has accommodated hundreds of not-for profit organizations that serve tens of thousands of community residents. By doing so, QPTV reaches beyond the 400,000 basic cable subscribers in Queens.
The residents of Queens have become reliant on QPTV to deliver this diverse programming. The idea of community television was created in order to give people a voice. It is the modern day equivalent to town criers on their soapboxes. It's democracy at its finest.
As our community changes each day, with diversity from around the globe, the one constant is the desire and need to communicate. The sharing of ideas, cultural traditions, and empowering information offers community residents an opportunity that is not only unique, but one that might not otherwise be found in mainstream media outlets.
With that in mind, contact your local, state and federal representatives and ask them to continue their support of the current franchise system. Get out and ask 3 people, to ask 3 people, to ask 3 people to support community television. In other words, let your voices be heard. Or they could be silenced and community television . . . will be gone!
- Daniel Leone, Executive Director, Queens Public Television