LA City Attorney To Intervene At Hearing on Closing Public Access Cable Channels?

Los Angeles, CA (December 2, 2008) Producers and community activists are mustering forces to rally support to save public cable channels and studios in Los Angeles, at a full City Council hearing to be held to be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 10 a.m., City Council Chambers at 200 No. Spring Street, 3rd Floor.

CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE FOR INJUNCTION?:
According to David R. Hernandez, President of the L.A. Public Access Coalition (LAPAC) the group is calling for the City Council to continue public access channels and studios, as is, and have requested City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to seek a Court Injunction under the authority of California Business and Professions Code 17200 to prevent closing down fourteen public access studios and channels on December 31, 2008 that are currently under operation of Time Warner Cable, until such time as the City has provided alternative and equal facilities in their place.

PUBLIC STUDIO CLOSURE UNETHICAL?:
In a letter dated November 30, 2008 Hernandez contends “the action of closing fourteen public access studios offends public policy, is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous and causes substantial injury to consumers who will be prevented from viewing independent programs on the City Public Access channels”. Read letter here. http://www.fulldisclosure.net/HernandezLetterToDelgadillo.pdf

COUNCIL TO SEIZE CONTROL OF PUBLIC CHANNELS?:
On November 22, 2008 the Council Committee on Information Technology Agency (ITA) approved a recommendation to consolidate all the public access channels into four government controlled channels sending it to the Council.
9 min Video URL: http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Blogs/61.php

STATE LAW CREATED LOOPHOLE:
The plans to close all public access operations by December 31, 2008 currently operated by Time Warner, stem from 2007 legislation (DIVCA) establishing a State Franchising system under the California Public Utilities Commission whereby cable operators pay a franchising fee to Cities in leiu of operating and maintaining access studios and channels.

L A PUBLIC ACCESS COALITION TO TESTIFY AT HEARING:
David R. Hernandez
Shane Devins, Producer
Missy Woodward, Producer Critter Crusades
Sally Hampton, Civic Activist
Dr. Dan Wiseman, Producer Your Neighborhood Council
Charlie Mount Classic Arts Showcase
Leslie Dutton, Producer, Full Disclosure Network
Michael Cohen, Producer
Dr. Susan Block, Producer
Charlotte Laws, Producer
Elaine Brown, Producer
Lady Cage-Barile, Producer
Keith Hardine, Producer
(Partial listing)

Contact Information

David Hernandez

Producer

Los Angeles Public Access Coalition

Contact via E-mail