Cable Hearing Reveals Strong Support for BRONXNET
by Osjua Newton
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News
A panel from the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) assembled at Hostos Community College on January 17. They sought public testimony regarding Cablevision, the current cable company in The Bronx, for the first of several hearings throughout the city to discuss cable television franchise renewals.
As Cablevision nears the end of their 10-year agreement with the city to provide service in the borough, the 5-hour hearing was aimed at gathering feedback on four key subjects: first, whether Cablevision has been operating within the terms of its contract; second, whether their signal quality and billing were adequate; third, whether they could meet the community's future cable-related needs; and last, whether they are fiscally and technologically capable of providing services for future projects.
However, the topic most echoed at the podium was a call to increase funding and support for The Bronx based public access television network, BRONXNET.
"Certainly it was helpful for us to see how the community feels about BRONXNET," said DoITT panel member Radhika Karmarkar. She added that the topics discussed during this, and future hearings, will be considered during the negotiations.
According to the Federal Communications Commission 1984 Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act, cable companies are required to give a percentage of their revenue toward public, educational, and government programming (PEG). BRONXNET currently receives $1.4 million from Cablevision.
Although interested in hearing from those in favor of the public access network, 19th District City Councilmember Tony Avella, chair of the Zoning and Franchise Committee which oversees DoITT's franchise renewal process, said that he would like to have heard "more responses about the service of Cablevision to its customers," considering that was the objective of the hearing.
"Whoever gets the franchise will still have to fund BRONXNET," Avella said.
Patrick MacElroy, director of Media Relations for Cablevision, stated that part of its function in The Bronx is supporting public access programming like BRONXNET.
"Cablevision is proud of our long history of service in the Bronx and we look forward to working with the council during the franchise," MacElroy said.
Established in 1998 and housed within Lehman's Carman Hall, BRONXNET airs public affairs, special interests, and cultural programs relative to The Bronx community. In addition, the four-channel network (channels 67, 68, 69, and 70) serves as a television media training facility for borough residents and also provides mass communication internships for local high school and college students in The Bronx.
"BRONXNET saves lives," said Clyde Hynes, a public access director for BRONXNET and star of "The DJ Cool Clyde Show."
He added, "[BRONXNET] allows people to see things they may never know existed. It gives the community information, information that is free [and] it allows the average person to be armed with information to help themselves."
Lehman junior Karmisha Superville, who recently finished a BRONXNET internship, spoke before the panel and described her experience with, and the importance of, the station.
"For me being a student and someone who is pursuing a career in mass communications, I felt that it was needed for me to come down here and take a stand because [students] need a voice in our community," Superville said.
BRONXNET Executive Director Michael Max Knobbe, who was accompanied by several other BRONXNET members at the podium, frequently stated that the organization is a form of "community building through media."
"What we are hearing pretty steadily and with great frequency is that the work that BRONXNET does is viable, needs to be protected, and more than that, needs to be enhanced," Knobbe said.
(Editor's Note: Public hearings on cable franchise renewals end February 7 at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, but written testimony will be accepted by DoITT until March 31.)
As Cablevision nears the end of their 10-year agreement with the city to provide service in the borough, the 5-hour hearing was aimed at gathering feedback on four key subjects: first, whether Cablevision has been operating within the terms of its contract; second, whether their signal quality and billing were adequate; third, whether they could meet the community's future cable-related needs; and last, whether they are fiscally and technologically capable of providing services for future projects.
However, the topic most echoed at the podium was a call to increase funding and support for The Bronx based public access television network, BRONXNET.
"Certainly it was helpful for us to see how the community feels about BRONXNET," said DoITT panel member Radhika Karmarkar. She added that the topics discussed during this, and future hearings, will be considered during the negotiations.
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According to the Federal Communications Commission 1984 Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act, cable companies are required to give a percentage of their revenue toward public, educational, and government programming (PEG). BRONXNET currently receives $1.4 million from Cablevision.
Although interested in hearing from those in favor of the public access network, 19th District City Councilmember Tony Avella, chair of the Zoning and Franchise Committee which oversees DoITT's franchise renewal process, said that he would like to have heard "more responses about the service of Cablevision to its customers," considering that was the objective of the hearing.
"Whoever gets the franchise will still have to fund BRONXNET," Avella said.
Patrick MacElroy, director of Media Relations for Cablevision, stated that part of its function in The Bronx is supporting public access programming like BRONXNET.
"Cablevision is proud of our long history of service in the Bronx and we look forward to working with the council during the franchise," MacElroy said.
Established in 1998 and housed within Lehman's Carman Hall, BRONXNET airs public affairs, special interests, and cultural programs relative to The Bronx community. In addition, the four-channel network (channels 67, 68, 69, and 70) serves as a television media training facility for borough residents and also provides mass communication internships for local high school and college students in The Bronx.
"BRONXNET saves lives," said Clyde Hynes, a public access director for BRONXNET and star of "The DJ Cool Clyde Show."
He added, "[BRONXNET] allows people to see things they may never know existed. It gives the community information, information that is free [and] it allows the average person to be armed with information to help themselves."
Lehman junior Karmisha Superville, who recently finished a BRONXNET internship, spoke before the panel and described her experience with, and the importance of, the station.
"For me being a student and someone who is pursuing a career in mass communications, I felt that it was needed for me to come down here and take a stand because [students] need a voice in our community," Superville said.
BRONXNET Executive Director Michael Max Knobbe, who was accompanied by several other BRONXNET members at the podium, frequently stated that the organization is a form of "community building through media."
"What we are hearing pretty steadily and with great frequency is that the work that BRONXNET does is viable, needs to be protected, and more than that, needs to be enhanced," Knobbe said.
(Editor's Note: Public hearings on cable franchise renewals end February 7 at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, but written testimony will be accepted by DoITT until March 31.)
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
dh
posted 7/05/08 @ 6:18 PM EST
Good afternoon. i enjoy bronxnet and agree that they trully service the community. however, i have this one thing. who do i talk to in regards to the treatment that people get from the bronxnet. (Continued…)
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