ACCESS BASICS

Q. What is access?
A: Access can be subdivided into public access, educational access and government
access. The term "PEG access" is called "public, educational, and government use"
under the Cable Act.

Public access consists of video programming and other electronic information
produced, directed, and engineered by community volunteers. (For convenience, all
types of information carried on PEG channels will be referred to as “programming,”
although PEG channels are used to carry video information, data, video text, and
voice communications.) In the case of public access, the programming is developed
or acquired by nonprofit community groups, neighborhood organizations, social
service agencies, and individual citizens. It focuses on many aspects of community
life, ranging from the services and activities of community organizations to the
opinions and beliefs of individuals in the community.

Educational access is developed or acquired by school or college employees,
students, and school volunteers. It typically focuses on distance learning, school
activities, and information that the school/college wants to get out to the community
or share among schools.

Government access is created or acquired by local government employees, elected
officials, and volunteers. It typically focuses on information about services provided
by local, State, and regional governments, issues faced by local governments, and
public meeting coverage. Government access is also used for other purposes, such
as providing training to City employees or exchanging information between City
agencies and other institutions.

The content of the material carried on PEG access is determined by the individuals,
groups, or organizations that produce it. There is also "institutional" use or
institutional access. Institutional use typically involved the transmission of
information among public buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, and other
similar institutions. The residential subscriber may not receive the transmission.
This institutional use can be thought of as a subcategory of PEG access
Access program content is controlled by the group, organization, institution, or
individual that produces or provides a program. PEG access is typically
noncommercial in that there are no commercial advertising spots and there are
typically no so-called "infomercials" run on PEG access. Access channels
sometimes do carry PBS-style credit for underwriters. Programming on educational
channels may include credit classes for a fee that must be paid in order to obtain
academic credit

Q: Why do communities include access requirements in cable franchises?
A: Both the Cable Acts of 1984 and 1992 permit local governments to include and
enforce requirements for PEG access equipment, facilities, services, and support in
a franchise. The Acts explain the purposes of access well:

"Public access channels are often the video equivalent of the speaker's
soap box or the electronic parallel to the printed leaflet. They provide
groups and individuals who generally have not had access to the
electronic media with the opportunity to become sources of information in
the electronic marketplace of ideas."

These federal laws also permit local government to require institutional networks that
can be used by local community institutions

Q: Is the goal to produce programming of a certain type?
A: No. The goal is to create a sort of "electronic park" where everyone can be a
provider as well as a recipient of information, and where everyone can participate in
public debate electronically. Cable companies often argue that access channels do
not get ratings the way an ESPN gets ratings. That misses the point of the PEG
channels. In some ways, PEG channels are meant to allow an electronic dialogue
and exchange of information. There may be a limited number of people interested in
any particular dialogue, but the availability of the channels means that there is an
opportunity for voices to be heard. As a result, a very typical pattern for a wellsupported
access channel is that relatively few people will be watching at any particular time, but that over a period of time, a large number of people will tune in to
the channel.

For example, access channels expand the ability of community residents to be more
active participants in government and educational meetings by cablecasting City
Council and school board meetings. One would not be surprised if the viewership
level of any one particular meeting would be low when compared to many other
television channels. But the fact that the program is carried means that, as particular
issues become part of the agenda, viewers with an interest in that issue can view the
public debate and participate in it. Over time, many subscribers will watch. Further,
the availability of the channel means that those who could not participate "live" may
be able to participate by watching a rebroadcast of a particular event. It also means
that programmers can target programming to reach particular segments of the
community that need help. For example, one of the problems confronted by social
service agencies is outreach: a shelter for battered women may wish to produce an
access program about their services, and finds this to be a more efficient way to
reach the public than available alternatives. From a community's standpoint, the
issue is not "will this attract the same number of viewers that watch HBO," but is
instead "will this allow members of the community to work together more effectively."

For more on this report visit http://www.wftvmedia.org