A New Law Killed The Public Access Television Star?

By: Jen Smith
Fancast.com

A new law has been put into effect in California that will hurt public access programming. Passed in 2006, the law gives cable providers the option of dropping their public access in order to make it easier for phone companies to enter the cable market.

The opposition claims that the development is a serious hit to the 1st Amendment platform. Those who had access to the free studios and equipment before will now have to pay substantial fees to rent time. While this has only affected California so far, it seems that this media-minded state has set a precedent.

“The rest of the country is watching,” Ron Cooper, a public access advocate, said. “And not because it’s a good example — quite the opposite.”

Twenty other states have passed similar laws, including Texas, Nevada, Florida and Illinois.