Comcast Cable’s plan to move public access channels into a 900-level digital range were temporarily halted across the state last week due to a Michigan court ruling.
‘Late Monday, January 14, Federal Judge Victoria Roberts issued a temporary restraining order, blocking Comcast from transmitting their PEG channels digitally,? said Orion Community Cable Communications Commission Administrator Diane Griffiths, who is also Executive Director of Orion Neighborhood Television, Orion’s public access television center.
This decision was prompted after Meridian Township and the city of Dearborn filed lawsuits against Comcast.
Comcast had planned, effective Jan. 15, to move PEG (public, education, government) channels to a digital-tier. For Lake Orion, that meant ONTV public access channel 10 would become digital channel 916, government channel 20 would be digital channel 915 and education channel 22 would become digital channel 902.
For customers with analog cable, they would have to either switch to digital service or get a converter box (which Comcast plans to offer for free for one year) for each of their television sets.
According to Griffiths, Comcast claims that this will allow for more HD programming, as well as allow users all over the state to know where they can find PEG channels (as the 900 channels are universal), no matter what city they are in.
Access centers and local governments around the state took issue with Comcast’s decision, prompting some, such as Meridian Township and Dearborn, to take legal action.
The lawsuit, and the temporary restraining order halting the channel relocations, has been issued under the notion that Comcast did not adequately, and timely, notify their customers of the transition to digital channels, as well as publicize the offer of free converter box and installation.
While Orion did not take legal action against the cable provider, Griffiths said that they have closely been watching.
‘Their interests benefit everyone in Michigan, so the Cable Commission will likely provide some financial support,? Griffiths said, noting that the lawsuit come up after the Cable Commission’s bi-monthly meeting, and will be discussed at their next meeting on Feb. 14.
Griffiths stressed that the temporary restraining order is just that – temporary.
‘There is no time limit on the order,? she added. ‘After Tuesday, who knows??
She believes there is a way that the community can help.
‘If (you) want to support the community stand that public access channels are important and they shouldn’t be moved to a higher level and need special equipment (to view), contact your representatives at both the state and federal level,? Griffiths said.
A hearing was held yesterday (Jan. 22, after this paper went to press) to discuss a more permenant order to halt PEG channels moving to digital.
On a national level, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet will hold a hearing on Jan. 29 ‘to explore the provision of public, educational and government (PEG) programming by video programming providers,? according to a committee press release.
‘PEG services play an important role in promoting localism and diversity in national media policy,? said Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. ‘They provide vital and vibrant services in communities around the nation and foster civic access and involvement in the best traditions of our democracy.?