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Bright House Snubs Civic Good

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2007

Bright House Networks has moved Tampa City Hall and the county commission meeting room to a dead-end street at the edge of town.

Not really, but the result is the same for viewers who suddenly can't find their government meetings on television.

The network this week relocated publicly funded channels from the familiar low numbers to the 600s. To access those new channels, many viewers will have to rent a digital box for $1 a month. The easiest thing to do is forget the box and watch something else.

The unfortunate move was made possible by a legislative decision to franchise cable service statewide instead of through individual jurisdictions. Tampa and St. Petersburg are suing Bright House under federal law to try to make it keep the channels available as part of its minimum-service package, but the best solution is to change the law at the state level.

The franchise bill, championed by Rep. Trey Traviesa of Tampa, has promoted competition, as promised. But the results have reduced cable customers' access to their governments. The move suggests that without local oversight, the cable companies will ignore the public's will and do whatever they want.

We hold Traviesa responsible for this unexpected outcome. He should step up and make amends.

Just because a county commission meeting can't compete with a sexy commercial channel is no justification for exiling it to the digital hinterlands.

Often, when cycling through channels, a viewer will hear a snippet of debate from a local board and stop to watch. Those who devote a little time discover issues and personality traits that make their votes on Election Day much more informed.

To banish the humble stations to slots far above the typical viewer's channel-surfing range slams shut a wonderful window of public access that modern technology has made available.

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