Discuss Patt Morrison's Jan. 8 Op-Ed column.

Phil Part 3 (650 Character limit) We got problems in our country, and now is not the time to be removing the last place that public oversight can be heard. Forget your .00401K, how's your Constitution doin lately? hmmmmm? Phil, Producer of Sacxtra! TV (A late night Music TV show on Access Sacramento) Interesting how there is a 650 Character limit to their feedback on latimes.

Phillip Caine @ 8:47 AM PST, Jan 9, 2009

Phil Part 2 (650 Character limit) So now, because it's inconvenient for the Cable Co's and Telco's bottom line to promote freedom of speech, instead they have resorte to seed (moderated, one-sided) feeder stories, propaganda, and strategically timed lobbying and legislation to REMOVE YOUR RIGHTS. It's at the point now that if your not making a profit, you are not a member of the press.. So what does a press pass mean exactly these days? Who authorizes it? Cops? Hmm, I wonder what Amy Goodman and others would have to say about that.

Phillip Caine @ 8:47 AM PST, Jan 9, 2009

Phil Part 1 (650 Character limit) Without public access all you have left is fascist corporate controlled media. And the Alphabet channels (fascists) have NOT done a wonderful job at protecting our Constitution, Electronic Voting Machine Rigging, Health, War Crimes, and economy. In fact they have become the mouthpiece of the oath breakers propaganda.

Phillip Caine @ 8:47 AM PST, Jan 9, 2009

Public Access runs the gambit between the weirdly amateurish to the quirky homespun, to the very professionally produced entertainment or community news. A Democratic society should welcome Public Access Television and not try to find ways to click the "off button" on those channels which speak to us all. Local governments and politicians slick finger plenty of your money in many intrusive ways and they need not abscond what little monies it costs to produce Public Access programming in order to top off their government swag.There is no better bang for your penny than Public Access Television where YOU the viewer can be on TV too.

Charlie T @ 7:17 AM PST, Jan 9, 2009

State law says 1% of gross from cable operators must support access programming. How will LA use that extra $5 million/year? City says budget deficit means no support for public access, but it already spends $3.8 million/year for government Channel 35 & $600,000 for education channel 36. Some of that could be re-allocated, yielding long overdue improvements to public access, if managed by a nonprofit. LA’s past decision to let cable companies "manage" public access has been a disaster: lack of respect for it, narrow community involvement, & now a shutdown of studios and programming. I agree: "Rather than junk it, we should try to improve it."

Van @ 9:06 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

Public access in the age of YouTube? What a waste of tax dollars. It made sense when TV broadcasting was rare and mysterious but it's a ridiculous waste of money today. If people need to broadcast their doings and thoughts, let them start a blog.

Rachel @ 8:38 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

Without Sacramento's public access I wouldn't have made my first film or enjoyed its successful premiere. I wouldn't have had access to the equipment, the crew or the actors who helped turn my ideas into a short comedy. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to write, direct and produce our up-coming,weekly sitcom. And I never would've had the audacity to form my own production company, lease our own studio or begin paying our cast and crew. In fact, without the support of Access Sacramento, I would be just another builder in a depressed housing market instead of a busy filmmaker making ripples in our local economy while entertaining the world.

Gary Nyland @ 7:01 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

I support public access. Maybe there are some wacky shows and many oddball religious shows, but it is a way for people to comminucate and share thier messeges and ideas. And for every so many oddball shows, there is one that may speak to you, and mean something to you and your communty; something main stream media would never cover. It doesn't care how pretty or famous you are, or if you have money and power. It is there for YOU to use. So, please, if you care about your rights to public access please write something and state your support and share this information with others. --Michelle Access Sacramento

Michelle Barbaria @ 2:59 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

Patt, you said, "it'll be the state Public Utilities Commission, not your hometown, that will regulate and set the conditions for the new video-delivery contracts." That’s not correct under state law. The phone and cable companies convinced the California Legislature to carve out only a small role for the CPUC, essentially to only granting, transferring, and renewing video franchises. The CPUC has no "power to set the conditions for the new video-delivery contracts." Bottom line: the conditions for new video franchises are controlled by the Legislature, not the CPUC. --Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq. Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C.

Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq. @ 12:17 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

Public Access nurtures a democratic process by ensuring and providing and opportunity for everyone on a non-discriminatory basis to share news, informations, cultural experience, religious and philosophical points of view, personal stories. In other words adds to a free flow of information which is vital to community and economic development. Access stations are a community media resource, very different from commercial TV. Programming is TV BY FOR AND OFF THE PEOPLE reflecting the interest of the community while also providing tangible strategic opportunities benefiting all. SAVE PUBLIC ACCESS.

Mauro @ 12:02 PM PST, Jan 8, 2009

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