Rogue Valley Independent Media Center

Ashland votes for more access to FSTV

imc volunteer, 29.04.2005 10:46

Following the lead of Mayor Morrison who proclaimed last week "Independent Media Week" the Ashland Fiber Network Programming Committee Thursday evening (4/28/05) voted to make Free Speech TV more accessible for subscribers to the city owned cable television system.

FSTV will now be available at the "tier 2" Basic level of subscription for $14.40 per month. Previously staff had overextended their authority and moved FSTV to the "tier 3" Expanded Basic level which has a subscription rate of $34.83 per month. The Ashland Fiber Network has huge financial obligations and struggles to find more revenue to stay afloat.

Free Speech Television

Ashland Fiber Network

Rogue Community Access Television

"I will never vote for Free Speech TV to be on the community level", blurted out chairperson Candice Chapman during committee discussion prior to the vote that would make FSTV more available. This came much as a surprise to citizens in the audience who had just observed a training session slide show about ethics and how to run a meeting.

The power point presentation had been provided by City Recorder Barbara Christensen and Assistant Attorney Mike Reeder during the first part of the meeting. Sadly two points about ethics and running a meeting had totally missed Chapman. 1) The Chair should run the meeting from a neutral position so to make sure that all voices are heard and 2) Committee members should not be bias. Bias was defined by explaining that a person should not hold an unmovable-steadfast position and should be able to change positions when presented with new information and thoughtful deliberation. To the shock of those in the audience Chapman failed with both of these responsibilities in her leadership role as committee chair.

The other big surprise to onlookers during the meeting was the position of committee member Gary Simms who found it important to lobby for corporate media giant FOX Television. Simms stated that if the committee voted to move FSTV to the tier 2 Basic level that the same should be done for FOX, that this would be the fair and balanced thing to do. Simms clearly showed a lack of understanding of the big media picture which when considering FSTV and FOX is much better understood as a David and Goliath struggle. Fortunately after a little reality tv the committee came back to earth and clearly defeated Simms' proposal. Perhaps the committee could use another training session, one on the subject known as "media literacy."

Billionaire Paul Allen's Charter Cable has competition in Ashland and they hate it (capitalism is not about competition, you understand, in spite of what they write on the chalkboard in your business class). In the media world of consolidated ownership having a monopoly is how to control the masses (watch sports, survivor, buy things & consume). Clearly, independent media is a fly in the ointment when it comes to this monopoly scheme of power and control.

Prior to the Thursday meeting Citizen's For Democracy Now! had submitted 189 signed cards which asked the city to bring FSTV to the Basic subscription level of service. The city had received additional cards which had been mailed, but no one knew how many more had arrived through the postal service. For the Democracy Now! FSTV citizen supporters in the room witnessing this meeting it certainly did feel like democracy was happening now. The biggest winners are the citizens of Ashland. Access to information is a cornerstone of democracy.

Great job and Congratulations to the Ashland Fiber Network Programming Committee!

Past Rogue Indymedia news about FSTV:

"Free Speech TV comes to Ashland, DN! too"
http://rogueimc.org/en/2004/06/2682.shtml

"Free Speech TV under Attack in Ashland"
http://www.rogueimc.org/en/2005/02/3962.shtml

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Ashland votes for more access to FSTV