Those of us who believe in Public Access Community Television need to pay close attention and be ready to act in the coming months. Below are some of the serious obstacles MTN faces:

LOSING VISIBILITY
Time Warner Inc. (formerly Paragon) plans to upgrade their system in Minneapolis and in the process they have announced that they will move channel 58 A to the B-side cable. Many cable subscribers in Minneapolis do not have or use the B-side. Many viewers who use their cable ready television as their tuner are not educated about what the other cable is for. This decision will put MTN in the undesirable role of choosing which programs go on the A-side and which ones on the B-side.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Help us determine how many people utilize the B-side. Ask your friends who subscribe to cable in Minneapolis if they are aware of the B-cable. Call the City's Franchise Officer Edie French at 673-2911 to voice your concern about losing a public access channel on the A side and let her know if you do not have B side programming or if you have any reception problems.

FUNDING
MTN has just completed a very difficult battle with the city for our 2000 budget. To make a long story short we did receive the $100,000.00 requested for equipment but did not receive our request for additional operating funds. This makes for some rough budgeting with our large rental increase each year alongside basic cost of living increases.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Call Mayor Sayles Belton or your council member - the main number is 673-2200 - they will help you identify which council member represents you. Thank them for the equipment money MTN will receive in 2000. Talk to them about what you do at MTN and why it is important to you. Your calls to the Mayor and Council did make the difference in our equipment fund victory!

THE FUTURE
State Senator Steve Kelly is proposing a bill at the legislature that would take cable franchising out of the hands of cities and put it in the jurisdiction of the State of Minnesota. The Department of Public Services and Commerce headed by Steve Minn is looking at similar legislation. This could have a negative impact for MTN because it would most likely make fewer funds available to cities and thus fewer funds for public access.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
If you have a relationship with a State Senator or Representative tell them about public access and explain why it is important to you. Look for more information from MTN in February when the bills are introduced. Contact Pam Colby at MTN at 331-8575 ext. 304 if you would like to work on this issue or get more information. You may also E-Mail Pam atand ask to subscribe to the MTN Members list serve to stay up to date on all MTN issues.

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