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Board urges state and federal reform on public-access funding after DIVCA cut; adopts nonbinding resolution
Summary
The board adopted a nonbinding resolution calling on state and congressional delegations to reform laws governing public education and government (PEG) cable access funding after the state Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act shifted franchise authority and threatens local PEG operations
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on March 3 adopted a nonbinding resolution asking the city's congressional and state legislative delegations to reform laws governing the use of public education and government (PEG) cable access funds.
The item grew out of public hearings and advocacy by local media access groups after the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA) allowed cable operators to opt into a statewide franchise, removing some local franchise provisions that supported PEG operations. Speakers and supervisors warned that local operational funding will expire for providers that choose statewide franchising and noted a loss of support that, under prior cable franchises, had provided hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Supervisor Mercarimi (pronounced "Merkarimi" in some comments) introduced the resolution and said the city must press Sacramento and Congress to preserve operational and programming funds for public access. Department of Technology staff said the city opposed DIVCA and secured a franchise extension with Comcast that preserves PEG funding only until January 2010; operators that opt into statewide franchises may no longer provide the same local operational funding. Zane Blaney, executive director of Access SF, told the board that the provision of operational money for public access expires June 30 of the current year for operators that move to statewide franchises.
The board adopted an amendment correcting a date reference and then passed the underlying resolution on a unanimous roll call (11 ayes). The adoption is nonbinding; the resolution asks federal and state lawmakers to restore or preserve local funding mechanisms that support PEG programming and operations.
Supervisors and community speakers said public-access channels provide civic and cultural value and that the city should explore all options, including local funding, advocacy, and creative partnerships to sustain programming.
The resolution now goes into the board's files as a policy statement; staff and advocates said next steps will include outreach to the city's federal and state delegation and to local cable operators about possible legislative or contractual remedies.
