Big news from the White House regarding Open Government initiatives, something that could see an effect on state and local government PEG channels. There’s also an interesting point / counterpoint argument for PEG support: Andrew Cline had an editorial out of Manchester, New England stating that he thinks it’s not needed and Mary Cardona out of Wisconsin thinks the exact opposite. Lastly, a couple of humorous news items involving Mystery Science Theatre (had no idea that started as a Public Access show) and strippers. That’s right, strippers.

White House outlines government transparency plan

The White House directed federal agencies to make the workings of government more transparent by publishing more data online and drafting plans to allow for greater public participation.
The “Open Government Directive” released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) describes the principles of “transparency, participation, and collaboration” as the “cornerstone of an open government.” [ link ]

---

Cut the cable tax: Leaner local access TV

If you live in Manchester and have cable TV, 5 percent of your Comcast bill amounts to a tax paid to the city. It’s called a “franchise fee,” but it’s a tax, and a wasteful one at that.

---

PEG channels want more support

Wisconsin’s PEG channels say changes are needed in the cable industry to keep them alive.

Legislation passed two years ago changed how cable companies are required to support Public, Education, and Government channels. Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels director Mary Cardona says it’s making it harder for them to stay on the air by ending support for many stations. [ link ]

---

CityCable Channel 11 earns international awards

Scottsdale CityCable Channel 11 programming has captured three awards in a prestigious international competition sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

The results were announced today, Dec. 8, by the association, which consists of several thousand production, marketing, communication, advertising, public relations and freelance professionals. [ link ]

---

Cost-sharing agreement over ALCo a possibility

La Porte County commissioners could take formal action on a cost-sharing agreement tonight to continue public access and government programming now provided by Access La Porte County.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie recently met with commissioners Barb Huston, Mike Bohacek and Ken Layton to discuss the idea. Layton said any agreement would depend on bid results as the city requests bids for vendors in addition to ALCo for providing the services. [ link ]

---

Cable TV Changes Coming to Dubuque

The possibility of a new cable provider in Dubuque means Mediacom is ending it’s agreement with the city. Mediacom isn’t leaving Dubuque, but it’s not required to provide all the perks. Flipping through Mediacom cable in Dubuque looks the same as anywhere else. But customers may not realize that cable follows a very detailed service agreement with the City of Dubuque. [ link ]

---

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Hits Hulu: Which Episodes Do You Demand?

Recent Saw sequels and Diane Keaton projects validate that film mockery is necessary to our lives. A real shame, because the practice was mastered, patented, and cemented in time on the finest cult TV show of the 1990s, Mystery Science Theater 3000. Beginning as Twin Cities public access programming in 1988 before expanding to The Comedy Channel (which became Comedy Central) and ending its run on Sci Fi, MST3K followed a space-traveling adventurer — first creator Joel Hodgson, then Michael Nelson starting in ‘93 — who was forced to watch terrible movies with his snappy robot pals. [ link ]

---

Error puts strippers on public access TV

Viewers expecting to see the latest local meeting on their public access channel got an eyeful recently when Cablevision played a tape of nude dancers accidentally. The mistake affected customers in parts of Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam and Orange counties.

Hopewell Junction resident George Morton returned home from Palm Sunday Mass and turned on his television to see a striptease contest. [ link ] (The comments to this short article are pretty funny)