Contact: Norman J. Liss
Tel: 914-793-4503
Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access Protests TCI's
Decision to Eliminate the Public Access Channel
The Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA) has
formally protested TCI's recent decision to eliminate the public access channel
(Channel 8) on which programming time is provided to the communities it serves.
TCI's decision goes against the entire concept of public access that is at the
heart of the arrangements cable TV companies make with individual communities.
TCI provides cable service in Westchester County, New York.
In a letter to TCI (see attached), WATPA urges the company to reconsider this
decision and restore public access programming. WATPA, a non-profit
organization of citizens focused on the County's information infrastructure and
access to it, is very concerned with TCI's decision to eliminate this valuable
public service.
WATPA's position is that public access channels are a valuable part of the
Westchester community because they allow diverse groups to present
non-commercial programming that is of interest to residents. The TCI public
access channel gives Westchester citizens the opportunity to reach out to other
residents in ways only available to commercial broadcasters. WATPA will work to
create public awareness of TCI's decision, and to convince the company's
management to restore public access programming.
About WATPA
The Westchester Alliance For Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA) is a
non-profit organization of citizens from across Westchester County focused on
the evolving information age. In a world in which knowledge about these issues
is fast changing and sometime's difficult to locate, WATPA is a source of
objective expertise to the people of Westchester County.
WATPA is dedicated to serving the community by:
** Being a resource for the public at large, officials, and the news media who
want to understand how the people of Westchester County can benefit from the
information age.
** Finding ways to accelerate the growth of inter-connected networks within the
county.
** Ensuring the public's access to those networks regardless of their social or
economic circumstances.
** Providing a forum for discussing public policy issues relating to business,
government and educational access to communications/information "highways" in
Westchester.
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Attachment
January 10, 1996
Mr. Miles Rich
TCI Cable of Westchester
609 Westchester Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Dear Mr. Rich:
It has come to the attention of the Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications
and Public Access (WATPA) that TCI has decided to eliminate the Public Access
channel on which programming is provided on Channel 8 to all the communities it
serves.
This TCI Public Access channel has been a valuable part of the Westchester
community for years. It allows diverse groups to prepare non-commercial
programming that is of interest and value to various segments of the community.
TCI Public Access provides them with the opportunity to reach out through this
one central Public Access channel in a manner they are precluded from through
the very nature of commercial television.
This decision by TCI goes against the entire concept of Public Access that is at
the heart of the arrangements that cable systems make with individual
communities.
WATPA, a county-wide membership organization of citizens concerned with the
county's information infrastructure and public access to it, is very concerned
with TCI's decision to eliminate this valuable public service to the communities
it serves. We urge TCI to reconsider this decision and restore Public Access
programming.
Sincerely,
Norman Jacknis
Chairman
Westchester Alliance for
Telecommunications & Public Access