Clovis Supports PEG!

On Monday, November 5 the Clovis City Council passed their Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA) ordinance. This action ensures that Clovis will be a part of the statewide franchise agreement that will bring in about $100,000 a year for Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access channels and a Community Media Center (CMC). The statewide franchise agreement starts on January 2, 2008.

John Holt, the Clovis City Clerk, gave the presentation to the City Council meeting. Randy Reed, Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) chairperson, also gave a strong and persuasive statement in support of the DIVCA ordinance. The ordinance was not controversial and passed unanimously.

The Clovis City Council passed the ordinance and expects the City of Fresno to pass a complimentary ordinance so both cities can work collaboratively on PEG and CMC, using CMAC as the entity that would run and operate the project. Since the City of Fresno has not passed their DIVCA ordinance, Clovis included a provision that directs them to revisit the issue in 90 days if a compatible ordinance is not passed in Fresno. The Fresno City Council is expected to discuss their DIVCA ordinance on November 27, 2007.

Holt said that Comcast had contacted his office earlier this week saying they no longer want to renew the exertions to the existing franchise agreement. It appears Comcast is waiting for the state franchise agreement to be implemented and no longer wants to renew the old contract. There was no representative from Comcast or AT&T at last night’s Clovis City Council meeting. AT&T has indicated their interest in providing video service within the City of Clovis.

Supporters of PEG are taking the time between now and November 27 to lobby the Fresno City Council to adopt a DIVCA ordinance that will provide funding the full 1% for PEG access and a CMC. They are lobbying to make sure each council member is not only in agreement with supporting this DIVCA ordinance, but also that they support CMAC as the entity that will oversee PEG.

For background information on the struggle to bring Public Access TV to the Fresno/Clovis area see: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/24/18455824.php

To find out what media democracy activists are doing to get the Fresno City Council to pass an ordinance in support of Public, Education, and Government access channels, see: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/07/18458873.php