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NATOA Files Comments on PEG in the FCC Future of Media Proceeding

Today, NATOA filed comments in the FCC’s Future of Media Proceeding.  The Future of Media project was undertaken by the FCC “to help ensure that all Americans have access to vibrant, diverse sources of news and information that will enable them to enrich their families, communities and democracy.”

In its comments, NATOA addressed the problems facing PEG channels today, most notably: state franchise legislation, the Commission’s Section 621 Report and Order, the delay in acting on the pending PEG Petitions, and current industry actions, highlighting especially AT&T’s improper treatment of PEG on its U-Verse system.  NATOA’s comments also address some specific questions asked by the FCC about the state of PEG channels now and in the future including removing obstacles to increase the effectiveness of PEG channels. 

NATOA also strongly rejects any move to push PEG channels to an Internet-only distribution because so many members of the community lack access to high-speed internet or the knowledge of how to access PEG content online.  Furthermore, such a move would deny PEG channels access to the most common viewers for any program – channel-surfers.  NATOA highlights the value, importance, and uniqueness of PEG channels in filling a need in our nation’s communities.  We also discuss many of the ways in which the value of PEG channels could be improved if some of the obstacles and threats were removed.   

 

NATOA hopes that the FCC will evaluate this information and act on the pending PEG Petitions that would help preserve PEG channels in the future. 

The full text of NATOA’s filing is available here.