UPDATE: Missing Millions, A T & T , PEG Cable-Video Channels

DAVID R. HERNANDEZ

President Los Angeles Public Access Coalition

www.savepublicaccess.wordpress.com

Los Angeles CA The Los Angeles Public Access Coalition members who attended the February 3, 2009 City Council meeting are reporting the closed session resulted in a unanimous vote to delay legal action against A T & T for thirty days, while negotiations continue regarding delivery of City Public Educational and Government (PEG) channels.

MISSING FUNDS NOT ALWAYS LOCATED?:
The missing AT &T Franchise Fees, reported by Full Disclosure Network last week, have been located, according to the Information & Technology Agency. The funds had been transferred to the wrong city account but have purportedly been located. A recent City Controller audit of LA Government run channels 35 and 36 found reimbursment for production costs provided from proprietary agencies such as DWP, CRA, LAPD Commission, Harbor Dept. had "not always transferred" to the ITA account, with no mention of final disposition (see page 37 audit report)

VIDEO: MISSING MILLIONS IN FRANCHISE FEES?
Watch Video news report (six min) revealing public concern and distrust ABOUT City use of multi-millions in cable-video franchise fees.

PUBLIC CHANNELS MANDATED:
Franchise fees paid for 25 years to the City by cable operators are now collected from ATT, Verizon and other telecom companies who are competing for video delivery to consumers. Fees come from gross revenues collected from monthly subscribers paying for cable and video channels, that by law are to include public access (PEG) channels.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MULTI-MILLION$ CABLE & VIDEO OPERATOR FEES?

Los Angeles CA The Full Disclosure Network® presents a video news report (six minutes) covering public testimony at a City Council Committee meeting on Information & Technology Agency held on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. The video reveals public concerns and distrust as to how the City has been using multi-millions in cable and video franchise fees. Among those testifying in the video at the public hearing are:

• David R. Hernandez, President L.A. Public Access Coalition
• Arlene Peck, Journalist- Public Access Producer

PUBLIC CHANNELS MANDATED: Multimillions of dollars in Franchise fees have been paid each year to the City by Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications and now ATT, Verizon and other telecom companies. The fees are from gross revenues from monthly subscribers who pay for an array of cable and video channels, that by law are supposed to include public access (PEG) channels.

COUNCIL TO SUE ATT ON PEG CHANNEL DELIVERY? The City Council Committee meeting on Information & Technology Agency has sent two measures to the full City Council to decide on Tuesday February 4, 2009. Here is report on committee action that recommends the Council abolish the board of Information Technology Commissioners and to file legal action against ATT (see report here) for non-compliance in providing DIVCA required public access video channels.