Steve Burgoon has been working on his dream for more than 10 years – establishing a public-access cable TV channel to serve Monroe County.
Schools, community groups and really anybody would be able to use Pocono Community Access Channel, or PCAtv, to get their messages out.
But Burgoon has not been able to convince a municipal government to give him the necessary support. Most recently, he's working with Stroud Township, which passed his proposal to the lawyers who had helped it set up its franchise agreement with Blue Ridge Communications, the primary cable company in Monroe County.
Ed Cramer, chairman of the Stroud Township supervisors, said he does not support the idea of the township helping to create a channel.
And Blue Ridge doesn’t like the idea either, according to a letter from a company executive.
Yet, supporters are signing Facebook petitions and sending letters of support via similar channels, and Burgoon hopes the channel will be up in mid-October.
Why Public Access?
On April 12, Robert Miller, director of government affairs for Blue Ridge, wrote to Coolbaugh Township about a similar proposal.
“At this time, we have many concerns with public access,” he wrote.
Finding an empty channel would be a problem, Miller wrote. Also, submitted programming could be offensive, and the law requiring cable companies to provide public access are outdated, he wrote.
“With YouTube or websites with streaming video capability, special-interest groups can easily deliver their content to those who are interested in viewing it at their convenience,” he wrote.
Burgoon picked up strong support in February, when the Latino American Alliance of Northeast Pennsylvania joined the effort.
Monroe County has a great need for a public-access channel, said Pedro Anes, the group’s president. For one thing, it could offer programs and information about local affairs in Spanish, he said.
Between 2000 and 2010, the number of Latinos in Monroe County grew from 9,195 to 22,288, according to the U.S. Census. They comprise just over 13 percent of the county’s 170,000 or so residents.
A public-access channel would mean people having a voice and access to information important to them, unedited and uncensored by anyone with interests other than the community, he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s really freedom at its best.
Blue Ridge Seeing Red?
But the cable company is trying to discourage municipalities from starting a channel, Anes said, referring to Miller’s letter to Coolbaugh Township regarding a similar proposal.
Miller did not return several messages left at Blue Ridge.
Monroe County Commissioners Chairman John Moyer said he would support a channel but is not sure if many people would watch.
“I believe there is a need for our citizens to be better informed as to what goes on at the county, municipal, and school board level,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I am not sure that public-access TV will fill that need.
“We have been posting our county expenditures for over a year but very few people look at them. We are ready to roll out a taped version of our commissioner meetings under the assumption that our attendance is low because of the time of day and location of our meetings. I hope it causes people to watch and listen to what goes on. I'll know more in six months.
“I would support a public-access channel even though I am unsure as to how many people will watch. From my position, it is easy to say ‘try it and see.’ ”
Under the federal Communications Act, local franchising authorities, usually governments, may require cable operators – in this case Blue Ridge – to set aside channels for public, educational, or governmental use.
It’s always important to have an alternative to mainstream media, Burgoon said.
Stroud Township sent Burgoon’s proposal to the lawyers who worked on the franchise agreement to see what they recommend, said Kramer, the supervisors chairman.
He said he does not support the idea because he doesn’t see a need. Blue Ridge Cable’s Channel 13 is open to submitted content, Cramer said.
But Burgoon and Anes said the company has too much control over submission.
“It’s edited and censored,” Anes said.
Cramer also said Burgoon’s unsuccessful attempts over the years further demonstrate that other municipalities also don’t see a need.
And PCAtv would compete for funds with established nonprofit media such as PCN and WVIA, of Allentown, Cramer said. PCN is a nonprofit statewide public affairs network. WVIA-TV is the public broadcasting service (PBS) member broadcasting to most of northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
The major obstacle has been finances, Burgoon said. Municipal budgets are tight. Township officials say they don’t want to be the first to try it or bear the financial responsibilities, he said.
The other obstacle is fear, which Burgoon said Blue Ridge stokes, referring to Miller’s letter.
“There is always a concern of offensive content with public access,” Miller had written. “Hate groups have been long known to try to get on public access, and there are many stories of obscene and offensive programming on public access that has created serious difficulties for the cable operator and the municipality.”
Unfiltered Content
Burgoon said municipal officials are afraid the channel could have controversial content.
“Most municipalities have that fear of transparency,” Burgoon said. “It’s an unfounded fear.”
But transparency is not a concern, Kramer said. Local officials are used to controversy being aired. If they get a whiff, reporters from Channel 13 show up, he said.
“It sells newspapers and gets people to watch TV, he said.
Burgoon said he has approached each of the 20 municipalities in Monroe County with the idea. He said there’s nothing similar in Monroe County. He mentioned PhillyCam, a public-access channel in Philadelphia that calls itself “people-powered media.”
If the project succeeds, the channel would provide “a compelling alternative to mainstream media,” said Burgoon, who has a bachelor’s degree in media communications and technology and a master’s degree in instructional technology, each from East Stroudsburg University. He’s held part-time and full-time jobs, including teaching, while working on the project.
It would present diverse points of view in its programming, train people in “media literacy” (video production, web/graphic design, social media), and cover municipal meetings, he said.
PCAtv would manage the day-to-day operations. The budget would support three employees – a managing director, an educational coordinator and a government coordinator – but all would wear many hats, Burgoon said. PCAtv is also working on becoming a nonprofit organization.
Burgoon said the group is considering studio space. With today’s digital technology, any smart phone can take video and any computer can edit it. The group would need a place to cable-cast its signal and store archives, he said.
Anes said the goal is more effective and efficient outreach for his organization. He’s worked with Burgoon for three years and said their missions align.
Anes envisions bilingual content produced by the local Red Cross, Pocono Medical Center and other community-based organizations about health issues such as diabetes and quitting tobacco.
Programs could cover financial literacy, immigration issues, local government, elections, debates, how to register to vote and use voting machines, and local-government debates. The four school districts and Monroe Career and Technical Institute could collaborate on content and training.
“There just a ton of information we can provide on a community access channel,” he said. “There’s absolutely a need.”
Unlike in other places, Latinos in Monroe are not primarily low-income. Such programming would help them engage with businesses in the community and could cover business services, real estate, banking, and legal issues.
Anes is optimistic about PCAtv’s success.
“I do feel confident this will happen.”