As subscribers of traditional cable services are “cutting the cable cord” to receive internet delivered video service for identical or substantially identical programming, Public, Education and Government TV has lost over $1.3 million dollars in funding. As small businesses, this lost funding is leading to staff reductions as PEG struggles to continue to provide the same level of service.

Further these same certificated companies that are authorized to occupy our public streets and highways in perpetuity are migrating their programming offerings to be internet delivered to avoid costs, taxes and the limited regulations required of them. In sum, the funding of community access is really the only public benefit that these companies provide.

As the pandemic has demonstrated, community access tv has become a major source of local news, town meetings, education and school events, and matters of community interest for Connecticut residents.  We need your help and legislative support to allow us to continue to meet the needs of our communities.

Can CT Legislate? Yes! It’s not federal and all statutes are subject to legislative change, correction, amendment, repeal or substitution.  There’s no prohibition to changing terms of licenses established by statute, no legislature may bind a subsequent legislature. 

Guest Times:

00:43 - Senator Derek Slap
00:58 - Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw
01:44 - Senator Paul Cicarella
02:38 - OCC Staff Attorney Burt Cohen
04:19 - Representative Maria Horn
05:29 - Representative Peter Tercyak
05:51 - Representative David Yaccarino
06:28 - Representative Robin Comey
08:23 - Senator Will Haskell