PURA Issues Draft Decision On Proposed Cable Access Changes

DARIEN, CT — The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has denied Nutmeg Public Access Television’s requests to take over community-access operations from Optimum, Cox and Charter in several Connecticut cable regions, including Area 1 (also referred to as Area 9), according to a draft decision issued by the state agency on Monday.

Area 9 is operated by Optimum and contains Darien, Easton, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

PURA found that Nutmeg’s regional plan lacked sufficient operational, financial and logistical detail and would close several local studios while replacing them with one regional facility, a move the authority said was not in the public's interest.

In its conclusion, PURA said:

"Given the evidence in these dockets, the Authority cannot determine that Nutmeg should assume operational management of community access in Areas 1 and 20 from Optimum, Area 17 from Cox, and Area 19 from Charter.

"While Nutmeg’s earnestness and effort are commendable, and the Authority acknowledges the immense amount of effort the applicant put into these proceedings, Nutmeg simply failed to provide sufficient evidence for the Authority to determine that transferring operational management is in the best interests of the local communities Nutmeg seeks to serve.

"The Authority reminds the parties that much can be accomplished through engagement and negotiations and urges the parties to work together toward solutions that will improve community access for the residents of Connecticut."

PURA said the draft decision was distributed to the parties for comment, after which a final decision will be made.

"We won!" said DarienTV Program Director Jim Cameron in a news release.

Cameron is also the vice chair of the Area 9 Cable Council, a state-mandated advisory body of appointed volunteer representatives, which opposed the petitions from Nutmeg TV.

The council represents local interests in matters involving cable providers and public, educational and governmental access programming in 10 Fairfield County towns.

"The state Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA) has quashed an attempt to take over town-specific programming on Optimum cable. Our Darien-only government and community programming will continue without interruption," Cameron said.

The draft PURA ruling followed months of testimony and hundreds of public comments.

"I sincerely thank our elected officials, community groups and over 100 viewers who wrote to support our cause," Cameron added. "We appreciate their help tremendously."

DarienTV previously said the proposed changes would have made finding local government meetings and other content more difficult for residents.

Optimum, Cox, and Charter jointly opposed Nutmeg's petitions. They argued the petitions came without prior notice or outreach, and depended on the closure of six studios, including the Norwalk facility that serves Area 1, and the termination of many, if not all, employees.