Home · Elected Officials · Research · Issue History Keep Us Connected (KUC) is committed to protecting the public's interest in Illinois state video franchise law. KUC advocates for equal treatment of public channels and urges the Illinois Attorney General to enforce Illinois' Cable and Video Competition law of 2007. That law prevents any company from delivering PEG channels with inferior signal quality and functionality to that of commercial channels. Click here for KUC Members>> Sign up to receive Keep Us Connected action alerts.  LATEST UPDATE Local and National Groups Seek Action from Illinois Attorney General May 24, 2012 Illinois' Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 protects the public's channels, known as public, educational and government (PEG) access channels. But AT&T continues to thumb its nose at the law, preventing viewers from easily finding and using the channels and excluding the public's programming from its program guides. Local governments and PEG centers are seeking enforcement to protect the only channels devoted entirely to local community use. more>> This video demonstrates AT&T's failure to deliver basic functionality for public, educational and government (PEG) access channels on its U-Verse system. A petition challenging that discriminatory treatment is pending at the FCC. Click here or on image to watch video.  RESEARCH Study Shows Public's Cable Channels at Greatest Risk April 5, 2011 The Alliance for Communications Democracy (ACD) and the Benton Foundation released results of a nationwide study on public, educational and government (PEG) Access showing that public access cable channels have been the hardest hit by a wave of funding cuts and closures across the country in recent years. The primary causes are new state franchising laws and decisions of local governments. more>> Cable subscribers expect equal treatment for public channels December 28, 2010 Recent survey results show that over 85% of Chicago cable subscribers say it's important that community channels are easy to find and record. more>> Viewing trends point to the inadequacy of AT&T's PEG product October 26, 2010 AT&T subscribers can't record local community programming or view PEG channels in HD. more>> Illinois NATOA report refutes AT&T technical excuse November 1, 2010 This independent engineering report finds no technical reason for AT&T's discriminatory treatment of PEG. more>>  NATIONAL  Alliance for Communications Democracy defends PEG access nationally.  Alliance for Community Media represents PEG access nationally. ISSUE HISTORY AT&T Criticism Mounts May 24, 2011-- AT&T is facing mounting criticism from PEG advocates calling for the company to change how it delivers public channels to subscribers so that visually impaired and blind people can access them. CAP Act introduced in support of Public channels May 6, 2011-- In a showing of bi-partisan support for the community, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-OH) yesterday introduced the Community Access Preservation (CAP) Act of 2011 (H.R. 1746). AT&T refuses to prioritize the public On AT&T's U-Verse, Porn is easier to find than PEG channels Public's Cable Channels at Risk Study Shows Public's Cable Channels at Greatest Risk PEG Closures Subject of Nationwide Benton Study November 24, 2010 - The Alliance for Communications Democracy announced a Benton Foundation grant to study the causes and extent of funding cuts and closures of PEG channels in the United States. ACM Points to FCC's Failure to Act on PEG Petition November 1, 2010 - The Alliance for Community Media points out failure of FCC to act on PEG petition for over 22 months. Rep. Serrano holds FCC to task June 10, 2010 - Communications Daily reports on the Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in which Chair Jose Serrano (D-NY) confronts the FCC's failure to resolve AT&T's discriminatory treatment of public channels. Future of Media - Strengthen PEG Access May 13, 2010 - The Alliance for Communications Democracy calls for FCC to enforce laws. PEG Access local example for FCC December 21, 2009 - FCC Chairman Genachowski heard testimony from small business owners, city officials, and content providers at the FCC's Broadband Field Hearing held in Chicago. FCC Holds Off Deciding PEG Petitions Against AT&T, Comcast November 24, 2009 - The FCC is continuing to hold off deciding on three petitions against AT&T and Comcast over the companies' digital carriage of PEG channels. AT&T offers closed captioning on PEG, but only on request November 17, 2009 - AT&T designed its Illinois system to make closed captioning available on commercial channels, but not on its Channel 99 PEG product. AT&T Responds to Public Pressure November 10, 2009 - AT&T is planning to reverse its attempt to place CT-N, Connecticut's public affairs channel, on Channel 99, a program application that is widely known to be inferior to commercial channel carriage. Genachowski Hopes FCC Will Deal With PEG Carriage Soon October 6, 2009 - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski says he hopes the commission will be able to deal with the issue of carriage of PEG channels "in the near future." U.S. House Subcommittee Examines Harm to PEG September 10, 2009 - The US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government has called a hearing to explore whether public, educational and government ("PEG") programming is in danger. AT&T skirting law that requires local cable-access stations July 28, 2009-- "At issue is not just difficulty finding local programming, but also that it cannot be programmed for recording, closed captioned, or identified through the channel guide." (Naperville Sun) Regulatory failures leave public out on a limb June 17, 2009 - "Despite many petitions and comments in the record...the FCC has failed to fix the problem," said U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, Jose Serrano. Hundreds weigh in on industry treatment of public channels April 30, 2009 - Over 770 comments have been filed with the FCC in response to Petitions for Declaratory Ruling against AT&T's U-Verse PEG product. Lawmakers Issue Call for Protections for PEG Access Spring 2009- NATOA Journal highlights efforts by Federal legislators to protect PEG access. LGBTs hurt in public-access TV cutbacks March 11, 2009- The Windy City Times reports on how segregation of PEG content by AT&T U-Verse can restrict access to public-health and creative programming for LGBT individuals. AT&T's PEG product draws fire February 11, 2009 - AT&T, wants to break into Mt. Prospect but can't, following allegations that the company violates state and federal laws regarding fair treatment when it comes to programming. Chicago Tribune's David Greising reports on AT&T's violation February 3, 2009 - AT&T's U-verse service gives short shrift to public-access programming FCC petition challenges AT&T discrimination January 30, 2009 - Illinois NATOA and CAN TV joined with a nationwide coalition in filing a Petition for Declaratory Ruling with the FCC charging that telecom giant AT&T discriminates against local public channels with its U-verse cable TV system. Multichannel News reports on Illinois Attorney General investigation January 7, 2009 - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is examining public access programming on AT&T's U-verse service to determine whether the delivery method somehow violates state law. Crain's reports on Attorney General Investigation of AT&T January 6, 2009 - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has opened a probe into whether a new type of TV service offered by AT&T violates state law. "Demand public access" publishes Illinois Times December 28, 2008 - Anything that limits free public discourse, based on how much money you have, is bad for democracy. Illinois Attorney General Investigates AT&T December 22, 2008 - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has launched an investigation of AT&T's U-Verse PEG product. Appropriations Subcommittee Asks FCC to Investigate Public Access September 30, 2008 - Members of the House Subcommittee sent a letter to the FCC asking that it investigate the treatment of public access channels in the cable television market. Lawmakers Seek FCC Action on AT&T Treatment of Public Channels September 23, 2008 - At a September 17 hearing, the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce protections for public, educational, and government (PEG) channels AT&T Deliberately Segregating Public Programming September 11, 2008 - New Report Confirms AT&T's Discriminatory Treatment of public channels is a business decision, not a technical issue "AT&T not tuned in," publishes Crain's Chicago Business August 11, 2008 - "AT&T on verge of offering TV service" (ChicagoBusiness.com, July 22) mentions the concern that AT&T is shortchanging local access channels. AT&T's PEG System fails to comply with Illinois law. August 7, 2008 - Recently, Keep Us Connected circulated Loyola University professor, Dr. Diane Schiller's Chicago Tribune letter to the editor on the sub-par treatment of public, educational and government (PEG) programming on AT&T's U-Verse system. AT&T fails the test when it comes to public broadcasting July 29, 2008 - Eric Gwinn's July 22 comparison of AT&T and Comcast in the article "Rock em, sock 'em TV providers" fails to point out how local community programs on public, educational and governmental (PEG) access channels are handled on the systems of these two providers. AT&T confirms deficiencies in its U-verse PEG system July 17, 2008 - Last week, Keep Us Connected shared the results of the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) survey assessing the affects of state video franchise laws on public, education and governmental (PEG) access around the country. Assessing the Damage July 7, 2008 - Survey shows that state video franchise laws bring no rate relief while harming public benefits. AT&T Access Plan Challenged June 5, 2008 - AT&T's plan for public access on its U-verse video service -- which the company calls "innovative" and critics call inadequate -- is being challenged in Illinois. Congressional Hearing highlights PEG Access January 29, 2008 - Subcommittee members call industry to task Join our Mailing List!