Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509050014
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"This is like a lot of other damn things: I don't think they ought to let them do it, but when you get down to it, it becomes a First Amendment question, and you've got to let it go," said City Councilman Jack Parrott, Roanoke's elected representative on the panel. "It doesn't mean I like it. Probably the easiest thing to do is amend public access" out of the franchise agreement.
But to Barry Forbes, public access represents freedom, one way the average Joe can get his message - whatever that is - on the vast "telecommunications highway."
Forbes is executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Alliance for Community Media, a trade association for professional staff members of public access stations, volunteer producers of shows on it, and other supporters of community media.
He counts 2,000 access channels available across the nation, which allow citizens to decide what is broadcast-worthy and to get their views on television.
Five years ago, volunteer producers across the country were pumping out about 10,000 hours of original programming per week. Now, ACM estimates that figure has more than doubled to more than 20,000 hours per week.
"That's more than all the broadcasting networks combined produce - including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox," Forbes said.
In the Roanoke Valley, the "freedom" Forbes extols is just beginning to take shape.
Only a handful of shows have been aired on Cox Cable Channel 9. "Low Budget Comedy," the first public access show to be produced in Cox's public access studio, will air later this month.
The other public access programs that have aired have been produced elsewhere. Some are religious in nature, others political. One was an animated children's show called "EIO My Goodness."
Cox also produces a few titles of its own on the Tour DuPont, the United Way fund-raising campaign and a local news show called "Good News."
To get an idea of what may wind up airing on Channel 9, The Roanoke Times took an electronic stroll on the Internet to see what is offered on some other cities' access channels.
Essentially, the programming can be divided into six or seven areas: religious, political, musical, health, humorous, local news and events, and other.
Some sound as boring as watching the grass grow. Others sound positively zany: "Two Chicks on Flicks" or "Big and Tall Eyeball Anthology."
And there are a few with politically charged titles such as "Feminist Forum: Abortion for Survival" and "Blak to Afrika."
Many of the programs are distributed via satellite to public access channels in other communities. There also are mail clearinghouses that circulate tapes.
Here's a hodgepodge of shows airing in Minneapolis; Austin, Texas; and San Francisco:
"The Bible Speaks," a talk show based on the Bible.
"Cooking With Tim," billed as "a cooking show with a dash of humor, an ounce of cooking and plenty of BS."
"Face to Face," which features blacks and whites discussing their personal and analytical views about race, culture and racism in Minnesota.
"Pro-Life Action Ministries." The program guide lists this show as "a provocative series presenting the abortion issue as seen from the pro-life perspective. To put it simply, my side is the pro-life side directly from the source, Calvary Temple Church and Operation Rescue National."
"The Squeeze and Clench Show," no description given.
"Street Corners," which is listed as "lectures based on African-American philosophy."
"The Time of Our Lives," a program for older adults by older adults.
"American Atheist News Forum," which showcases "discussion of topics that are of interest to atheists."
"GOP-TV: Rising Tide," a pro-Republican program produced by the National Republican Committee."
by CNB