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Mediation Ordered In Public Access TV's Suit Against County

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

TAMPA - A federal judge has ordered mediation of a lawsuit by a public access television network against the Hillsborough County Commission over $355,000 in budget cuts to the station.

The lawsuit filed by the Tampa Bay Community Network in 2007 states that the county is trying to stymie the free speech of residents of unincorporated Hillsborough.

Today, U.S. District James Moody ordered the parties to appear before a mediator, David M. Snyder, on or before Jan. 15.

After the lawsuit was filed, the county responded that a favorable court ruling for public access could result in a spate of lawsuits from agencies that have had their budgets cut.

The network, also known as Speak Up Tampa Bay, alleges that county officials cut the network's budget to silence voices critical of Hillsborough government.

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