►
Description
Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference to oppose a proposition from cable companies to the FCC that will make PEG stations more expensive to operate and jeopardizing local community media.
A
A
A
We
thank
we
thank
everyone
for
coming
here
today
and
my
special
thanks
to
our
speakers.
Today,
Medford
Mayor
Stephanie,
Puccini,
Burke
to
jeff
Beckwith,
executive
director
and
CEO
of
the
Massachusetts
Municipal
Association
Melinda
Garfield,
president
of
mass
access
and
executive
director
of
the
Westwood
Media
Center.
A
This
morning,
I
had
the
pleasure
of
speaking
with
an
incredible
group
of
leaders
about
the
importance
of
public
educational
and
governmental
television,
also
known
as
peg
or
cable
access.
Television
from
Falmouth
to
Framingham
Pittsville
to
Provincetown
Boston
is
here.
Worcester
is
here,
Springfield
is
here
all
the
way
down
to
the
smallest
communities
in
Massachusetts.
A
Everyone
here
wants
to
make
sure
that
everyone
in
their
community
have
their
voices
heard,
and
this
was
an
opportunity
for
their
voices
to
be
heard
because
of
what
is
going
on
at
the
Federal
Communications
Commission.
In
this
era
of
media
globalization
and
consolidation,
peg
stations
give
viewers
critical
information
about
their
communities
and
offer
an
important
platform
for
local
residents.
A
Massachusetts
residents
watch
peg
channels
to
monitor
local
city
council
meetings,
receive
the
latest
news
from
nearby
college
campuses,
hear
about
critical
emergency
alerts
with
220
Pegg
organizations
in
Massachusetts
alone,
producing
anywhere
from
20
to
100
hours
per
week
of
programming.
Peg
channels
connect
us
to
our
communities
and
they
enrich
our
lives.
Every
single
day
of
the
year
last
November,
when
I
hosted
a
congressional
hearing
in
Merrimack
Valley
following
the
explosions
that
affected
homes
and
businesses
in
Lawrence
and
Andover
and
not
end
over.
A
It
was
the
local
cable
access
channels
that
stayed
and
then
rebroadcast
the
hearings
and
all
of
the
follow-up
that
was
going
on
in
those
three
communities
because
they
are
local.
Even
though
we
have
statewide
media
organizations,
they
cover
all
351
communities,
these
local
cable
access
channels.
They
cover
the
communities
that
they
in
fact
are
responsible
for
and
they're
the
ones
that
people
turn
to
during
crisis.
A
They
are
the
ones
that
people
turn
to
to
find
what
the
local
activity
is
that
could
affect
their
families
lies
that's
what
happened
up
in
Lawrence
and
end
over
and
not
end
over
when
all
the
Boston
channels
pull
out
the
cable
access
channels
are
still
there
to
give
the
continuous
information
about
what
is
going
on
in
the
community.
Well,
today,
community
television
faces
an
existential
threat.
A
The
Federal
Communications
Commission
has
proposed
a
rule,
change
that
would
allow
cable
companies
to
shirk
their
obligation
to
the
communities
where
they
operate
under
current
law,
towns
and
cities
across
the
country
and
the
Commonwealth
are
permitted
to
require
as
part
of
the
cable
franchise
agreements,
the
cable
operators
meet
demonstrated
community
needs
by
setting
aside
channels
for
peg
stations.
Yet
the
FCC's
current
proposal
would
allow
cable
operators
to
assign
a
value
to
these
channels
and
then
subtract
that
amount
and
the
value
the
operator
places
on
any
other
in-kind
contributions
from
the
franchise
fees.
A
We
should
be
exploring
ways
to
expand
and
not
subtract
that
the
ways
that
the
local
residents
have
to
learn
about
their
communities-
and
we
do
know
that
local
newspapers
increasingly
don't
have
the
resources
that
they
used
to
have,
but
we
can't
allow
for
the
local
cable
access
channels
to
lose
the
revenues
they
need
in
order
to
ensure
that
that
flow
of
information
continues
into
the
homes
of
everyone
in
every
community
in
our
state.
This
access
is
worth
fighting
for.
It's
worth.
A
Protecting
and
that's
why
I
have
led
a
letter
to
the
Federal
Communications
Commission,
with
10
of
my
senatorial
colleagues
and
I
personally
spoken
to
the
FCC,
urging
it
to
cease
any
rulemaking
that
would
damage
peg
channels.
The
FCC
should
work
for
communities,
not
powerful,
cable
companies.
That
is
what
they
are
sworn
to
do.
A
That
is
what
the
contract
says
that
they
want
to
do
in
a
community
to
serve
the
community,
and
so
that
is
what
the
federal
that
is,
what
the
Federal
Communications
Commission
should
be
all
about,
and
so
a
movement
across
the
Commonwealth
in
the
country
is
growing
and
echoing
this
call,
and
together
we're
saying
loud
and
clear
that
community
television
must
be
preserved
in
here
representing
the
elected
officials
of
all
351
cities
and
towns.
I
give
you
the
great
mayor
from
the
city
of
Method
Stephanie,
which
he
needs
Burke
welcome.
Madam
mayor.
C
Good
morning,
everyone
I
want
to
thank
Senator
Markey
for
convening
this
amazing
group
of
people
this
morning,
so
that
we
could
really
hear
from
the
people
that
know
what's
really
going
on
in
our
cable
access
channels.
You
guys
are
amazing,
and
you
had
some
wonderful
comments,
that
I'll
share
a
little
later.
The
FCC's
proposed
rulemaking
seeks
to
cap
the
current
franchise
fee
at
5%.
However,
it
looks
to
offset
the
payment
by
in-kind
items
such
as
market
value
that
they
determine
such
as
peg
channel
capacity.
C
This
offset
could
be
detrimental
to
local
cable
services
that
include
government
education
and
public
access
funding
is
needed
to
staff
the
operations
of
these
centers
that
provide
education
to
the
public
on
how
to
use
the
equipment
how
to
stream
live
to
social
media
as
well
as
developing
community
programming.
Just
last
week
in
the
city
of
Medford,
we
held
a
two-hour
hearing
on
our
Medford
square
revitalization,
who
was
there
from
gavel-to-gavel.
C
It
was
a
public
access
channel
that
recorded
the
entire
event
and
then
the
people
that
are
unable
to
come,
whether
they're
working
two
or
three
jobs
or
can't
leave
their
home
they're
able
to
see.
What's
going
on
in
their
community
and
how,
then
they
can
lobby
for
certain
things
that
going
on,
but
I
want
to
share
a
couple
of
the
comments
that
I
heard
a
little
earlier
in
the
last
two
hours.
This
is
the
last
bastion
of
net
neutrality.
They
speak
for
the
voiceless,
the
Cape
Verdeans,
the
Haitians,
all
the
minority
segments
of
our
community.
C
These
stations
are
promoting
bringing
safety
nets
to
these
communities
and
allowing
their
voices
to
be
heard,
so
they
could
better
connect
with
our
cities
and
towns.
Youth
programming,
after-school
summer
programs,
we
at
Medford
high
school
also
have
day
classes
in
our
Center,
so
our
kids
are
becoming
wanting
to
become
part
of
the
creative
community
of
our
of
our
state.
Community
News,
better
educate
the
community.
When
all
is
said
and
done,
our
cable
channels,
a
big
job
that
they
do
is
commute,
is
really
educating
our
members
not
trying
to
sway
them
one
way
or
another.
C
It's
to
educate
them
so
that
they
will
make
sound
choices,
whether
it
comes
to
elections
or
referendums
or
cpa
going
on
a
ballot.
It's
to
bring
information
to
the
public
to
your
home.
So
you
can
watch
it
at
your
convenience
and
a
couple
of
other
things,
freedom
of
speech.
Where
else
do
you
get
the
freedom
of
speech,
but
on
these
cable
channels
we
see
it
firsthand
in
our
city
and
I
know
across
the
state?
We
experience
it
where
it's
really
you're
able
to
say
what's
on
your
mind
and
nobody,
nobody
says
you
can't.
C
So
these
really
are
the
last
bastions
of
freedom
of
speech,
so
I
urge
everyone
to
fight
alongside
all
our
cable
access
providers.
Our
great
Senator
here
Jeff
will
speak
in
a
minute
from
MMA,
but
continue
to
write
your
Congress
people
to
let
them
know
that
this
is
so
important.
We
cannot
lose
this
critical
funding.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
D
The
kind
of
programming
that
allows
cable
companies
to
provide
value
and
service
to
the
community
we're
talking
about
values
of
democracy,
because
cable
company
and
cable
access
support
open
meetings.
They
support
the
selectmen
to
the
select
board
nowadays
or
councilors,
going
to
meetings
and
talking
and
making
sure
that
the
voice,
the
voices
and
the
positions
that
they
hold
are
heard
all
throughout
the
community,
and
then
that
gives
other
people
an
opportunity
to
look
in
and
decide
whether
or
not
to
get
involved
and
to
weigh
in
candidates
forums.
D
Election
nights,
local
groups
hold
fundraisers
over
1,400
individuals
and
groups
have
commented
just
from
Massachusetts
in
opposition
to
the
FCC's
proposed
rules.
One
of
those
comments
was
from
a
local
Rotary
Club
that
said
that
over
the
past
20
years
they
have
hosted
a
fundraiser.
That's
been
aired
on
their
local
cable
station
they've
raised
a
million
dollars
for
local
charities
and
international
causes.
They
would
not
have
raised
a
fraction
of
that
without
cable
access
to
essentially
involve
the
entire
community.
D
So
we're
talking
about
supporting
causes,
charities,
education,
youth,
seniors
democracy,
and
why
would
the
cable
companies
want
to
for
the
the
sake
of
saving
a
few
million
dollars
undermine
that?
Well
because
they
don't
want
to
have
to
provide
that
platform.
But
we're
saying
that
platform
is
the
cost
of
getting
access
to
the
public
rights-of-way.
Getting
access
to
the
telecommunications
industry
of
the
future.
Senator
Markey
has
been
there
from
the
beginning,
he's
the
most
knowledgeable
lawmaker
in
Washington
DC
and
in
this
nation
on
this
issue,
and
he
is
fighting.
D
He
already
has
the
entire
congressional
delegation
in
Massachusetts
lined
up
and
he's
working
with
her
colleague
his
colleagues,
but
we
all
need
to
work
with
our
colleagues
in
everyone.
We
know
in
other
states
to
make
this
movement
in
Massachusetts
a
national
movement
to
protect
democracy
and
to
make
sure
that
the
industry
is
accountable,
what
to
the
values
of
the
Act
to
our
local
communities,
into
providing
the
broadest
possible
sources
of
information
and
services
to
the
people
of
the
United
States.
Thank
you.
A
E
You
so
much
I'll
be
very
quick
because
it
was
all
encompassing
of
what
you
just
heard,
but
thank
you
again,
senator
Markey
for
creating
an
opportunity
to
make
the
public
aware
of
the
devastating
effects
the
FCC's
proposed.
Rulemaking
will
have
on
the
communities
we
serve
for
the
last
30
years.
Plus
community
television
station
have
delivered
vital
services,
helping
residents
of
Massachusetts
to
be
an
informed
citizenry,
educating,
empowering
residents
and
making
it
possible
to
get
their
messages
distributed
in
its
proposed
rulemaking.
E
The
FCC
is
attempting
to
undermine
federal
law
which
protects
free
speech
and
repays
local
communities
for
the
use
of
public
rights-of-way.
If
enacted,
the
residents
of
the
Commonwealth
face
the
real
possibility
of
losing
access
to
their
local
government
meetings.
Local
sports
community
events,
along
with
the
ability
to
take
advantage
of
what
are
now
considered
free
video
services
in
their
towns
and
cities.
Massachusetts
has
the
highest
concentration
of
Community
Media
Center's
in
the
country.
E
This
means
that
not
only
will
the
services
we
provide
cease
to
exist,
but
a
measurable
and
meaningful
economic
impact
will
also
be
felt.
Community.
Media
centers
spend
millions
of
dollars
a
year
on
technology,
equipment,
facility,
rent
and
small
business
services.
We
employ
hundreds
of
people
and
give
opportunities
to
millions
of
residents.
None
of
this
can
be
replaced
with
faceless
internet
platforms.
The
FCC
would
have
you
believe
that
Community
Media
is
an
antiquated
ideal
or
a
relic
of
a
previous
technological
era,
but
they
are
simply
ill-informed.
E
Community
Media
has
evolved
from
its
modest
roots
to
become
a
staple
in
the
fabric
of
the
communities
we
serve
and
its
loss
will
be
felt
for
decades
to
come
across
the
country.
Local
print
media
is
disappearing,
creating
media
deserts
that
only
Community
Media
is
equipped
to
bridge.
Our
coverage
of
local
government
is
gavel-to-gavel,
unedited
and
unbiased.
It
promotes
transparency
and
allows
municipal
departments
to
reach
community
viewers
to
distribute
to
distribute
vital
information
through
production
and
airing
of
debates,
forums
and
candidate
profiles.
Community
media
helps
to
educate
voters
before
elections.
E
It
allows
for
documentation
and
archiving
of
municipal
meetings,
a
service
that
would
otherwise
cost
thousands
of
dollars
annually.
The
cable
Act
of
1984
was
put
into
place
so
that
Americans
would
have
access
to
technology
and
a
platform
on
which
to
express
themselves.
This
was
not
just
done
simply
for
the
novel
idea
that
it
was,
but
was
done
so
that
the
companies
making
money
use
public
rights-of-way
on
municipal
land
would
have
to
give
back
to
the
communities
where
they
sell
their
products,
even
though
they
are
not
a
law
making
body.
E
The
FCC
is
attempting
to
redefine
the
parameters
of
the
law,
to
the
detriment
of
the
consumer.
This
is
not
just
a
community
media
issue.
It
is
a
community
issue,
a
customer
service
issue.
This
proposed
rulemaking
would
put
more
money
into
the
hands
of
the
multi-billion
dollar
corporations,
while
slashing
services
that
consumers
routinely
pay
for
I
want
to
thank
again
senator
Markey
for
his
tireless
support
and
for
the
opportunity
that
he
and
his
staff
have
afforded
us
today.
E
The
FCC
was
hoping
to
slide
this
rulemaking
by
the
consumer
quietly
under
estimating
the
dedication
that
so
many
have
to
Community
Media
and
the
ideals
that
it
represents.
As
citizens,
we
cannot
afford
to
let
the
benefits
that
so
many
depend
on.
Be
taken
away
so
that
the
profits
of
so
few
are
ever
increased.
We
hope
that,
through
the
support
of
the
fine
legislators
like
the
ones
we
have
representing
the
great
state
of
Massachusetts,
Community
Media
will
be
around
for
decades
to
come.
Supporting
entertaining
and
educating
the
people
of
the
Commonwealth.
A
So
we're
proud
here
in
Massachusetts
that
the
shot
heard
round
the
world
was
fired
here
and
it
was
a
perfect
example
of
local
communities
rising
up
to
have
their
voices
heard
and
that
slogan,
no
taxation
without
representation,
still
lives
in
351
cities
and
towns.
They
want
to
know
what
their
public
officials
are
doing.
They
want
to
see
what
the
activity
is
at
the
schools
and
at
their
public
interest
groups
in
the
nonprofits
in
the
community.
A
They
want
to
make
sure
that
the
new
arrivals
in
their
community,
whether
they
be
Angolan,
Haitian
or
Cape
Verdean,
you
name
it
did
they
have
their
voices
heard
as
well.
That's
what
is
still
alive
and
well
so
we're
the
revolutionary
state,
and
this
is
where
the
revolution
begins-
against
the
Federal
Communications
Commission.
A
This
is
where
the
fight
begins
and
we're
going
to
spread
this
across
the
whole
country,
because
at
jeopardy
is
nothing
less
than
democracy,
nothing
less
than
the
voices
of
ordinary
citizens
in
every
single
city
in
town
in
Massachusetts
and
the
whole
country,
and
we
are
in
now
for
the
fight.
So
we
thank
all
of
you
for
coming
here
today
and
if
there
are
any
questions,
I
will
be
glad
to
Hince
them.
A
Our
goal
now
is
to
have
what's
happening
here
today,
replicated
across
the
entire
country,
to
move
from
state
to
state
to
have
a
voices
heard
from
Democrat
and
Republican
of
red-and-blue
cities
and
towns,
because
this
issue
is
not
a
partisan
issue.
This
goes
to
the
heart
of
what
the
cable
systems
are
supposed
to
represent,
which
is
localism
to
give
each
in
every
community,
their
own
stations,
their
own
ability
to
have
their
voices
heard,
and
that's
not
democrat
or
republican.
A
That's
a
fundamental
compact
that
the
cable
companies
constructed
with
our
country
and
they're
seeking
to
walk
away
from
it
by
reducing
the
revenues
and
making
each
of
these
communities
have
very
difficult
decisions
as
to
whether
or
not
they
can
continue
to
provide
that
service.
So
so
we
we
are
beginning
it
here,
but
the
Federal
Communications
Commission
has
yet
to
put
it
on
the
docket
for
a
decision.
We
know
that
they're
considering
it
and
we're
just
beginning
this
crusade
to
make
sure
that
they
get
the
pushback
which
is
going
to
be
necessary.
G
B
B
You
asked
about
the
federal
funding
there
isn't.
Senator
Markey
was
one
of
the
leaders
when
he
was
in
the
House
and
creating
the
cab,
cable
Act
of
1984,
and
so
his
knowledge
of
it
as
it
was
intended
originally,
is
very,
very
deep
and
his
commitment
to
the
cause
is
still
very,
very
deep,
but
we've
seen
and
he's
seen
as
well
since
1984
the
amount
of
support
that
the
cable
community,
any
cable
companies
have
given
has
been
dwindling
instead
of
more
and
more
steadily.
B
F
B
Cover
town
school
committee,
city,
council,
you
know
big
valve
gavel-to-gavel,
I'm.
Sorry,
I
wasn't
ready
to
speak
this
morning,
dry,
so
gala
gal,
the
coverage
of
those
things
school
events
high
school
sports
would
run
several
debates
over
the
last
two
years
that
have
been
through
out
hand
in
County.
We
stream
those
which
is
really
where
a
lot
of
our
viewers
are
getting
their
information.
What
would
we
have
to
cut
out?
I'm,
not
sure
we
don't
receive
the
full
five
percent,
so
there's
not
all
that
much
they
could
be
cutting
out.
B
A
Oh,
you
know
I'm
question.
This
is
an
insincere
question.
This
is
not
federal
money.
This
is
a
percent
of
the
cable
fees
which
every
person
in
every
community
pays
each
month
and
the
cable
companies
make
so
in
Medford,
it's
20
million
dollars
and
out
of
that
20
million
they
have
to
give
back
5%
of
those
revenues
so
that
the
city
of
Medford
or
any
one
of
the
other
351
cities
and
towns
can
use
in
their
own
discretion
in
their
own
City
in
their
own
town.
A
So
it's
not
federal
money,
it's
actual
money
that
every
person
pays
in
that
cable
bill
every
single
month
and
that's
what
the
fight
is
over,
because
the
cable
companies
want
to
cut
back
in
terms
of
what
they
provide
to
individual
communities
all
across
the
Commonwealth
and
all
across
the
country.
So
it's
not
about
federal
money.
It's
about
their
own
money.
F
A
A
G
A
The
Massachusetts
delegation
is
on
board
we're
fighting
where
we
know
how
central
this
is
and
we
will
want
to
act.
We
were
one
of
the
first
states
to
actually
embrace
the
cable
revolution
as
well
back
in
the
60s
70s
and
80s.
Oh,
it's
deeply
embedded
into
the
fabric
of
the
communities
that
are
represented
here,
but
all
across
Tacoma
mo.
Thank
you
question.
Yes,
sir.
H
H
A
There
there
is,
it
depends
upon
whether
or
not
the
cable
company
owns
the
programming.
Then
they
pay
themselves
and
that's
that's
the
vertical
integration
which
has
taken
over
in
the
industry
back
in
the
80s.
The
cable
companies
didn't
own
the
programming,
but
increasingly
they
do
own
the
programming
and
so
how
the
compensation
is
then
developed
for
them
paying
the
tennis
channel
or
the
Hallmark
Channel.
A
Peg,
so
so
it's
it's
turning
it
all
upside
down,
and
it's
also
saying,
oh,
my
goodness,
we're
giving
these
valuable
channels
to
to
a
local
community.
Although
it
was
part
of
the
bargain
that
they
struck
in
1984.
But
when
you
scroll
through
all
of
the
channels
that
are
there
and
some
of
them
have,
as
we
know,
questionable
content
very
questionable
contact,
they
consider
all
those
channels
to
be
invaluable
and
we
know
that
are
many
instances.
We
would
not
want
children
to
even
have
an
idea
that
those
channels
are
on
the
system
but
they're
there.
A
So
for
them
they
can't
remove
one
or
two
of
those
channels,
but
somehow
or
other
they
can
remove
something
that
goes
right
to
the
fabric
of
communities
and
that's
what
we
are
going
to
need
to
do
is
just
to
explain
how
wealthy
the
cable
industry
has
become,
how
many
additional
channels
they
have
and
how
all
they're
looking
for
is
in
many
ways
just
more
space,
so
they
can
put
on
more
channels,
but
ultimately,
at
the
expense
of
this
indispensable
local
cable
access
capacity,
which
they
all
have.
So.
Thank
you,
sir.
Yes
ma'am.
I
I
A
But
that
notwithstanding
it
just
has
to
be
a
chorus
which
comes
up.
We
united,
we
stand
divided,
we
fall,
so
we
have
to
stay
together,
have
a
common
voice
which
is
being
spoken
and
out
of
that,
I
think
it's
something
that
will
go
right
across
the
border
into
New
Hampshire,
into
Maine
to
New
York
out
of
Pittsfield
up
into
Vermont
down
into
Rhode
Island
and
into
Connecticut.
It
has
to
start
here
and
always
thoughts
in
New
England,
but
once
the
rest
of
the
country
hears
about.
A
What's
happening,
then
they're
gonna,
wonder
why
they
are
sitting
on
the
sidelines.
So
that
is
what
I
would
say,
but
I
would
I
would
put
it
together
soon
and
just
start
to
run.
It
and
I
think
you'll
get
a
great
response
and
it
should
be
a
call
to
action
to
call
local
officials
to
call
people
to
say
we
want
your
voices
heard
on
this
subject.
Any
other
questions,
any
other
questions.
A
The
president,
president,
Trump,
is
only
going
to
make
things
worse.
He
is
taking
a
bad
situation
and
he's
only
further
complicating
it.
The
president
wants
to
cut
off
all
aid
for
Honduras
and
Guatemala
and
El
Salvador,
well
that
money
is
being
used
to
deal
with
ms-13,
it's
being
used
to
deal
with
these
gangs,
it's
being
used
within
those
countries
as
a
way
to
help
the
situation.
There
are
problems
of
poverty,
hunger,
injustice.
A
If
we
pull
out
the
resources
that
we
give
to
them,
it's
only
going
to
worsen
those
conditions
and
only
put
more
pressure
on
our
border.
So
I
just
completely
disagree
with
the
president.
I
think
he
just
uses
the
wall
as
a
political
toy,
without
actually
talking
about
working
together
with
Democrats,
to
put
together
solutions
that
would
work.
A
A
I
believe
Lucy
Flores
I
think
she
has
a
right
to
speak.
Her
truth
I
think
it's
important
for
women
to
demand
that
they
be
respected.
I,
think
it's
critical
for
all
of
us
to
give
her
that
respect
and
and
to
make
sure
that
across
our
society
that
we
reduce
dramatically
as
each
day
week
in
year
goes
by
the
way
in
which
women
are,
in
fact
disrespected.