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Public Access Return Stalls

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

Updated: 01/14/2008 11:58 pm

TAMPA - An attempt to get residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County back on the public access channel appears to be stalled as the county and the network bicker over funding.

The dispute has its origins in the county's decision last year to eliminate the $355,000 subsidy it had given to Tampa Bay Community Network. County Administrator Pat Bean and the commission said they had to cut the funding because of budget reductions.

Since then, Bean has asked network executive director Louise Thompson to allow those who don't live in the city the same access to produce programming as Tampa residents.

Thompson says she will put non-Tampa residents back on the air if she can charge them for studio and equipment use.

The two sides have been bickering over the matter for months. Last week, Bean wrote she wouldn't accept Thompson's fee-based offer.

The funding cut means viewers in unincorporated Hillsborough County see programming produced by city residents but not by those who live in unincorporated areas. Tampa continues to subsidize the channel.

County Bought Truck For Station

In October, Bean asked Thompson whether the station wanted to keep a $300,000 video production truck the county bought for the station in 2001. Bean said the network could offer monetary or nonmonetary payment for the vehicle, appraised at $55,000.

One form of nonmonetary compensation Bean would consider, she wrote, would be allowing non-Tampa residents to have "equal opportunity to produce shows."

Thompson offered to charge county residents fees. Also, she wants the county to guarantee a dedicated public access channel. The issue of the truck remains unresolved.

Deputy County Administrator Wally Hill said the county opposes the plan.

"That's contrary to the proposal we made to her," Hill said. "We would be seeking equal access under the same terms and conditions as residents in the cities."

Hill also said the county hasn't decided whether to guarantee the channel will continue to exist.

'A Silly Offer'

The county can pull the plug on the channel at any time, Thompson said.

Thompson said she can't formally respond to Bean's letter until she meets with her board. Her initial reaction, though, was, "It's a silly offer.

"If they want us to follow the same terms and conditions as the city of Tampa, they should pay us the same as the city is doing," she said.

The city gives the network a $540,000 subsidy.

When the county cut funding last year, Thompson argued the decision was a violation of free speech rights.

The issue has landed in court.

Public access TV long has been a controversial issue in the county. In 1992, commissioners criticized two shows for foul language and adult content. Years later, then-Commissioner Ronda Storms tried to get the county to adopt community standards for public access shows. In 2002, the board voted to cut Speak Up Tampa Bay's budget because, commissioners said, some programming was obscene.

Speak Up Tampa Bay is the nonprofit group that manages the Tampa Bay Community Network.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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