Access Tucson: January 21 - Survival Update

During the seventies when the big cable companies began to lay cable across the country, our government's intent was to protect localism and diversity of viewpoints by requiring these companies to pay "rent" for using our public rights of way by providing the resources for Public, Educational and Government Access. So why is this intent slowly eroding across the country. What happened? Jay April, President and CEO of Akaku: Maui Community Television gives us the facts and tells us his own experience of erosion here.

Remember, like public safety, public education and public parks, public access television is something that's mandatory for a healthy society. Money and politics should never disrupt the free flow of ideas, discussion and debate. This is core to our identity and citizenship.

Newly elected United States Senator Scott Brown from Massachusetts understands the importance. For the last three years as Massachusetts State Senator, Brown produced The Beacon Hill Report, a monthly cable show cablecasting on his district's local cable access networks--all twelve of them. Imagine twelve different communities in one district, each with their own access center. Brown used this free exposure to stay in touch with his constituents and to answer their questions on the air.

Historically, many municipal, state and national leaders like Ted Kennedy, Jim Kolbe, Jon Kyl and most recently Scott Brown have produced their own cable shows. Their use of public access to advance their core set of beliefs and serve their constituents is a valuable lesson that perhaps Tucson's Mayor and Council need to learn.

However on January 12, 2010, the Mayor and City Council cut all remaining fiscal year funding to Access Tucson. The City Manager said he would bring a proposal back by February 23, 2010 to allow for the continuation of Access Tucson and Tucson 12. We have been meeting with the Assistant City Manager regarding this.

At the January 14, 2010 meeting of the Access Tucson Board, our Executive Director Sam Behrend was directed to come back to the board with a variety of scenarios for going forward.

These scenarios will be considered by the Board at their next special Board meeting next Wednesday, January 27, 2010.

Please watch for updates from Access Tucson. We have heard from many of you offering support as well as offers to assist us in getting through this terribly difficult time. We will call upon you via this email newsletter as soon as we have a focused, coordinated request for your help. Thank You!

What people are saying....

"Access Tucson is the future. It is a model program. Think about how much television has fallen into the control of large corporations. Public access television is one of the only ways that the common man or woman can have a voice." --D.H.

"Access Tucson has touched so many lives in Tucson. It has been an excellent forum for free speech for hundreds of political, artistic, educational, religious and charitable organizations. Several groups have used Access' studios to inspire our youth and keep kids off the streets. My kids and I have personally benefited from Access Tucson. Access Tucson is one of the great things about living in Tucson." --J.S.

Girls in Control B "Access Tucson is too important to the Tucson community to shut its doors. It provides valuable training in the media industry thus creating a more skilled workforce in Tucson. Access cable also provides a different voice in media that lies outside the conglomerate interests of Comcast and Cox cable. To take Access Tucson away is to silence one of the only media alternatives in Southern Arizona. This is shortsighted. We need elected officials who are willing to help protect us and our voices." --J.R.

"For most of the years I have lived in Tucson, I and everyone I know has relied on Access Tucson for its comprehensive local programming, for involvement in Tucson's very diverse culture, and for personal involvement in a city that we are all very invested in. Access Tucson has always, since its inception and still today, provided critical links to all facets of Tucson life. There is no organization like it, and to lose those links would severely hinder individual and group support and involvement in a very singular, compelling city." --K.M.

"I am tired of seeing every positive thing that distinguishes Tucson from any other place on earth pitted against the fear card of public safety. Every City Manager has been tempted to just take all the cable revenues and dump them in the General Fund. If you want to see a really dangerous city, un-fund every cultural venue." --M.A.O.

Tucson Rodeo Parade "I have been a resident of Tucson and the Tucson area for over 35 years. I believe Access Tucson contributes to the unique spirit we have in Tucson - a spirit quite different than what you find in the Phoenix area. Our community is very fortunate to have such a high quality, nationally recognized public access television service. The excellence of this service has been the result of years of dedicated hard work by many individuals and a strong commitment by city government to allow it to not merely survive, but indeed thrive. If we lose Access Tucson, we all lose an important part of our identity as a community that values free access to the ideas of all of the people." --R.M.