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Channel Change Protests Unheeded

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By JESSICA BAIR, The Suncoast News

Published: December 8, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Customers of Bright House Networks may have trouble locating government access channels starting next week.

On Tuesday, the New York-based cable company is relocating channels 14, 19 and 20 in Pasco County from the lower basic tier to the higher digital tier. New Port Richey officials are concerned the changes will restrict residents' access to government meetings, community news and emergency information.

This week, city council members unanimously endorsed a resolution opposing the Bright House plan, and they are urging the cable provider to continue broadcasting in analog format until Feb.17, 2009, when the switch to digital is mandated by federal law.

"I don't really think there is going to be any stopping it. It's a juggernaut at this point," Councilwoman Marilyn deChant said Tuesday about next week's scheduled channel changes. "My concern is making sure citizens can access these channels."

In a symbolic move, Municipal Association of Pasco members pledged recently to send letters of protest to Bright House. The group is composed of elected officials in New Port Richey, Port Richey, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio and St. Leo.

Those officials have little power to change things, however, after the Consumer Choice Act of 2007 invalidated franchise contracts between Bright House and the cities. The legislation gives cable providers the ability to become statewide franchises.

"It's really not going to make a difference one way or another," New Port Richey Councilman Rob Marlowe said of the protests. "This is going to happen, if not now, then in February."

That hasn't stopped Hernando County commissioners, who may seek legal action if the parties do not reach a last-minute agreement.

In an effort to provide a seamless transition, Bright House has been running scrolls on the affected channels and sending out fliers with customer bills.

The company is realigning the lineup to create uniformity across its seven-county service area in West Central Florida and to provide additional programming, Ray Graber, director of government and public relations, said in an August letter.

Subscribers to limited basic and standard cable services will have to pay $1 per month for a digital converter box if they want the public, education and government access programming.

Currently, New Port Richey and Port Richey broadcast council meetings on Channel 14, known as Florida Government, while Pasco County government is on Channel 19, and the school district and fine arts programming is on Channel 20.

Those channels will change to 614, 615 and 622, respectively, on Tuesday.

For information, go to mybrighthouse.com.

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