ALC-TV seeks residents’ support in FCC fight

The city of Avon Lake is asking residents to take a stand for community television.

The Federal Communications Commission, the agency responsible for oversight of local television, is considering an amendment to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competitions Act of 1992 which could threaten Avon Lake Community Television.

The new rule would allow cable companies to continue charging fees to subscribers while charging the city in-kind fees for channels or fiber connections, presenting potential risks for ALC-TV’s three channels, providing awardwinning coverage of government meetings, local church services and original educational programming known as PEG channels.

According to the draft letter addressed to FCC officials, the city stands in opposition to the tentative conclusions in the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, citing the potential impact on the Avon Lake community.

“This benefit for people was what was intended when Congress set up the Cable Act. PEG access does not solely benefit a local government or franchising authority; it benefits and strengthens the community as a whole,” the letter read.

Avon Lake Digital Media Director Barb Cagley underscored local concerns and the impact on residents’ ability to stay informed.

“The department is concerned but not surprised,” Cagley wrote in an email. “The cable companies, especially Charter (who owns Spectrum), have been looking for ways to diminish their support of cable access channels across the country ever since I took this job.

“What I am most concerned about is how easy it will be to wipe-out all our funding and how quickly it could happen.”

In efforts to reach out to the community, ALC-TV producers are submitting comments in addition to city staff and members of City Council.

“We have reached out on social media and getting some support,” Cagley said. “I think like anything that is part of our daily lives, we don’t appreciate it unless it is taken away from us.

“Our seniors will feel our loss the most and they are about 70 percent of our viewers.”

On Nov. 26, Council passed a resolution formally opposing the FCC proposal, citing the potential setbacks to local programming and civic engagement in Avon Lake.

The city receives about $350,000 annually from cable companies through franchise fees which help produce local programming along with helping cover maintenance costs and an additional portion going directly to ALC-TV and the city’s digital media department.

Interested residents may submit letters to the FCC with a template and instructions available at https://www.avonlake.org/ announcements/?action=s how&id=814.

The deadline to submit letters is Dec. 14.