8/5/2019
The FCC passed its Third Report and Order on Cable Franchising on Thursday – and while the results of the 3-2 vote were not surprising, the statements coming from the majority members of the Commission were at times alarming, arrogant and disingenuou
7/29/2019
Late last week Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) issued a letter opposing the FCC’s proposed rules on cable franchising because of the costs that will shift to local governments that rely on Institutional Networks.
7/22/2019
This Thursday 7/25 is the deadline for ex parte comments and letters to the FCC about the proposed rules on cable franchising that we expect will be voted on August 1. That means we just have a few days for members of Congress to express their conce
7/16/2019
I’m just getting back from a very fulfilling and exciting week at the ACM National Conference in Portland, OR.
One of the highlights for me was the conversation with Jesse Hardman of Listening Post Collective, Andrea Faye Hart of City Bureau and
7/9/2019
We’re already beginning the action at the ACM National Conference with the Emerging Leaders Institute kicking off this morning.
7/1/2019
We're a week away from the ACM National Conference in Portland, OR. Here's a couple quick notes as we count down the days to #ACMPDX:
6/24/2019
There is a strong possibility that the FCC will issue an order in the cable franchise rule-making at its August 1, 2019 meeting. We will know the agenda of the meeting sometime during the second week of July, and if the item will be heard at that me
6/17/2019
The US Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh ruled Monday morning that a private operator of a public access channel was not a state actor for the purposes of First Amendment restraint on speech, and remanded the case to Dist
6/10/2019
In case you missed it, Free Press President & CEO Craig Aaron gave a stirring defense of community media and called out the FCC's action in the FNPRM of cable franchising at last week's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the state of the video mark
6/4/2019
Some good news from Maine this past week: LD 1371, an anti-discrimination bill that protects PEG Access channels has passed out of the Legislature with overwhelming support and now awaits approval by the state's governor. The bill has been champione
5/20/2019
One of the great benefits of gathering with colleagues at the ACM National Conference is the informal learning that takes place. This year in Portland, we'll continue the process with our Birds of A Feather sessions.
5/13/2019
Congratulations are due to the winners of the ACM Foundation's scholarship to the Emerging Leadership Institute taking place at this year's ACM National Conference in Portland, OR. The Foundation will be supporting travel costs and education costs fo
5/6/2019
Is your station involved in an outreach project for the 2020 Census? Or are you partnering with local and state government to get information about the Census out to the communities you serve?
4/30/2019
I hope you're beginning to plan your time at the ACM National Conference in Portland OR (#ACMPDX) - Early Bird Registration for the conference is open now. There are a few things you should know about this year's Conference.
4/22/2019
Another week, another letter from Congress to the FCC about their not-so-kind "in-kind" rule making.
4/15/2019
Kudos to Erich Archer of 1623 Studios in Cape Ann, MA for producing a great video asking Congress to stop the FCC's FNPRM on so-called "in-kind" services. Erich produced the video to share with communities across the country, so please use it on you
4/8/2019
Last Monday saw an extraordinary gathering of PEG operations in Massachusetts at a listening session and press conference with US Senator Ed Markey.
Senator Markey has been a stalwart supporter of community television and localism throughout his C
4/1/2019
I had an interesting conversation with Bart Hawley of new member JTV in Jackson, MI.
The station operates on three cable systems in an area south of Lansing, MI. Jackson County is mostly rural, but Jackson is a city of some 30,000 people. Like
3/25/2019
To date, we have almost 7,000 letters to Congress asking members to express their concern or disapproval of the FCC's proposed rules changes for so-called "in-kind" support. As of last week, four more House members sent letters to the FCC .
3/21/2019
A big thank you to all the ACM members who came together in Washington DC last week for our Day on the Hill. Volunteers made visits to Congressional offices in MA, MN, IL, CA, WA, PA, OH and NY - asking Senators and Representatives to support commun
3/11/2019
WE'RE LOOKING FOR LEADERS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY MEDIA
The ACM Foundation is opening up the scholarship competition for the Community Media Emerging Leaders Institute which will be held July 8 and 9 just prior to the ACM National Confe
3/4/2019
This last week, two more members of Congress issued letters to the FCC expressing disapproval and concern about the Commission's proposed "in-kind" rules. Rep. Anna Eshoo of California and Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts wrote letters to Chairman
2/25/2019
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in MCAC v Halleck this morning. I stood in line for four hours this morning in 50 MPH wind gusts and chilly temperatures along with ACM members Tony Riddle from Brooklyn, Gretjen Clausing and Antoine Haywood
2/18/2019
The ACM Board of Directors will be meeting in Washington, DC on Thursday, March 14th and we are coordinating a Day on the Hill for the Board and all ACM members on Wednesday, March 13th.
We are setting up Hill visits to see members of the House an
2/11/2019
There is an excellent article in the Colorado Sun today on the potential impacts of the FCC's rule-making on franchise fees on local cable channels, and the effects on governmental transparency could be devastating in some communities.