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In The News

Telegraph Herald

Public access shows true TVvariety
No rules: The people who use the free service determine the content

by ANN FRIEDMAN
No restrictions.

That's the bottom line when it comes to public-access television.

"It's pretty much considered to be a designated public forum, almost
like a public park or street corner," said Merrill Crawford,
cable-franchise administrator for the city of Dubuque.

Public-access television does not adhere to network rules. It is not
regulated by the cable company or the city of Dubuque. The content is
determined by the people who use the services. And it's free.

The result is programming as varied as the people who produce it.

"We get all kinds," said Jim Barefoot, public-access coordinator for
Mediacom Communications Corp.

The city of Dubuque and Mediacom are negotiating a cable-contract
renewal for the first time in 20 years.

The fate of public access rests on these negotiations, which will
determine the amount of funding and channels that will be allotted for
public-access television.

Crawford said the city allows the cable company to use public property
to lay cable lines and "in exchange for that right, the city negotiates
various items of value back to the community."

It is Barefoot's job to determine how the cable company's community
funding will be spent. Armed with an equipment budget of between $30,000
and $40,000 a year, Barefoot and his co-worker, Tim McClain, keep the
community television studios operating.

"They do whatever they can to help people get programs on the air," said
Tom Barton, who hosts a public-access show about investment strategies.

Mediacom provides all the necessary equipment, training and facilities
to create a show. The only cost to public-access users is their time.

"It takes awhile to do a really nice production," McClain said.

Jules Hansel knows about time commitment first-hand. He has been
producing his public access show, "The Rich Years," for the past 14
years. Creating the show is a part of his job at Scenic Valley Area
Agency on Aging.

"The goal is to produce TV that people enjoy watching and get some
messages across to the senior citizens as well," Hansel said.

Hansel dons his trademark sunglasses to tape "The Rich Years" twice a
month. The show airs weekly on Channel 45.

"It's an excellent way to get a message out," Hansel said.

One of Hansel's guests went on to create a show of her own. Jill
Rokusek, known as "The Hat Lady," broadcasts between 25 and 30 hat shows
a year.

"I delight in doing shows for the seniors," Rokusek said.

She said that although mainly senior citizens enjoy her show, she likes
the variety of programs on Channels 44 and 45 that appeal to almost
everyone.

"It's good for all ages. It can be anything people want to contribute,"
Rokusek said.

Brian Lowe is fully aware that he can broadcast just about anything on
public access. His first show, "Candle," was an hour-and-a-half-long
shot of a burning candle, while Lowe sang and played a keyboard in the
background.

"Some people think it's spiritual, some people think it's funny. I let
them decide," Lowe said.

His current show is aptly titled "Compleetly Pointless Clips."

"Pretty much I just film my friends goofing off," Lowe said.

Lowe said he thinks public access is gaining popularity.

"Lately, I'm seeing more and more kids in there," he said.

The kids he is referring to are high school students Tony Becker and Dan
White, who have a show called "The Rock Hour."

"We get requests for it all the time," McClain said.

One of the features of public-access television is viewers can call the
studio and request any program to be aired at any time.

"It features whatever Dubuque is interested in," Rokusek said.

Although it's good for the community, the wide variety of programs on
public access can pose a threat to the cable operator, Crawford said.

"There's a potential for things to be said or performed that the public
would find offensive," Crawford said.

And, he added, if people are offended by programming, their first phone
call is to the cable company.

"The cost and lack of specific controls are what make a cable operator
nervous," Crawford said.

No matter what the outcome of the negotiations, Crawford said
public-access television isn't going anywhere soon.

"It's held in trust for people to be able to use," he said.

Barefoot and McClain hope that's exactly what the Dubuque community will
do.

"A little organization with no money can get the word out. All it costs
you is your time," Barefoot said.

Copyright 2001 Telegraph Herald