Avon Lake Community TV Could Be Killed By FCC Rule Change

AVON LAKE, OH — Community access channel ALC-TV could be on the chopping block thanks to a proposed rule change by the Federal Communications Commission. The local station is asking the public to lobby on its behalf.

"We were shocked to hear of the proposed rules changes by the FCC. It would jeopardize our ability to disseminate information to the general public related to everyday life such as emergency response to major weather events, snow plowing, leaf pickup, etc.," Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka told Patch. "It would also greatly diminish the ability to produce quality programming that our residents have learned to expect."

Local cable access channels currently derive funding from fees paid to cities by cable companies. The proposed amendment to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competitions Act of 1992 would allow cable companies to stop paying that fee. That rule change could shut down community TV across the U.S.

"The new rule will allow the cable companies to keep charging fees to the subscribers and charge the city in-kind fees for channels and/or fiber connections. If this happens Avon Lake's channels will be at risk," ALC-TV said on the city's website.

ALC-TV provides broadcasts of city council meetings, historic home tours, sit-down interviews with Avon Lake notables, and coverage of local staples like the Homecoming Parade. This year, ALC-TV was honored for its outstanding work during the 2018 Philo Festival of Media Arts Award Ceremony.

The proposed rule change by the FCC would impact local access channels nationwide. Boston's NPR station noted that Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) has also been lobbying against these changes.

“This is like a taxpayer saying to the city, ‘I am clearing my sidewalk of snow and keeping the leaves out of the storm drains, and I have also decided to take care of the trees in front of my house. So, I am counting this against the real estate taxes that I owe,’” Susan Fleischmann, executive director of CCTV, told WGBH in Boston.

Proponents of the rule change argue these local access fees may artificially increase the cost of cable in a community. Opponents retort that losing community TV could mean the death of one of the few remaining non-commercial broadcasting platforms.

ALC-TV is asking its supporters to file a letter with the FCC advocating against the rule change. To do that:

1. Download the Word template and personalize the red text.
2. Upload the letter to https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings by following the instructions on this PDF.

All responses are due by Friday, Dec. 14, 2018.

ALC-TV can be found in four places. The government access platform is channel 12 for Time Warner customers and channel 21 for WOW customers. The public access platform is channel 97 for Time Warner and channel 22 for WOW.

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