Public Access Television On Way Back

A three-year effort to revive public access television in Long Beach (California) should reach a successful conclusion, thanks to a grant secured by the Long Beach Community Foundation.

At its meeting next week, the City Council will be asked to authorize an agreement with the Long Beach Community Action Partnership in Long Beach for the next two years, with an option for two more years. The agreement is worth $524,472, with the money coming from fees paid by cable television providers. That money more than matches a two-year grant for $325,000 won by the Community Foundation through the Knight Foundation's Community Information Challenge Grant. The Community Action Partnership is an established nonprofit that can be the conduit for the money and to help create and manage a Public Access Digital Network.

Charter Communications used to provide a public access channel and production facilities as part of its franchise agreement with the city. But a state law passed in 2006 to address increased competition in television providers from satellite and telephone companies eliminated the requirement for that kind of public access to television. Instead, the law levied fees and distributed them back to municipalities.