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Public TV Funding Cut Spurs Suit

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By Anthony McCartney | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2007

Read The Lawsuit

TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Community Network has sued Hillsborough County commissioners in federal court, seeking restoration of the budget for public access television.

The lawsuit was filed this morning and alleges that county commissioners are trying to suppress the free speech rights of unincorporated Hillsborough residents. A divided board voted on Sept. 20 to cancel all county funding for the station, which broadcasts on two channels in unincorporated areas.

TBCN, also known as Speak Up Tampa Bay, has received $355,000 annually from the county for several years.

Public Access essentially ended for unincorporated residents today, with the station no longer broadcasting to those cable subscribers. The 2008 budget goes into effect today, and there is no money to pay for unincorporated residents' programming, station officials say.

According to the lawsuit, commissioners "impermissibly and unconstitutionally eliminated access only for those whose message they cannot control and with whom they disagree."

Commissioners approved spending $250,000 on The Education Channel, a station that produces educational, science, documentary and other programming. County officials had recommended cutting spending on both channels.

The suit is filed on behalf of Lawrence "Gene" Adler, who produced a show called "Racing Roundup" on TBCN. Adler is among numerous residents of unincorporated Hillsborough who now can't produce shows broadcast on public access channels.

TBCN still receives a stipend from Tampa.

The suit asks a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the county so that TBCN can continue broadcasting to residents of unincorporated Hillsborough.

According to the lawsuit, an estimated 200,000 cable subscribers live in unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. At least 46 percent of public access shows are produced by county residents, according to the lawsuit.

Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at (813) 259-7616 or amccartney@tampatrib.com.

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