WAUSAU AREA ACCESS CHANNEL CLOSES

Wausau, WI, December 21, 2009 – Today Mayor Tipple announces that after January 31, 2009, the City of Wausau will no longer be able to fund the two Public, Education and Government (PEG) Access Channels (Cable Channel 98/980 and 96/981). The Wausau Access Coordinator position will be eliminated and the Wausau Area Access Channel Office located in City Hall will be closed at that time. “These are tough economic times that require tough decisions,” explains Mayor Tipple.

In addition to serving as a way to locally exercise First Amendment rights of Free Speech, the Wausau Area Access Channels 98/980 and 96/981 have played an important role in our region, broadcasting area fabric-of-life events such as:

• local and regional candidate forums and volunteer recognitions
• unedited coverage of our local city council, school board and county board meetings
• complete game coverage of our local high school sports teams
• local high school graduations
• local church services,
• local parades
• locally produced programs and informational programs created by local services and non-profit organizations
• programs from federal agencies such as Social Security, NASA and the Armed Services
• programs to explain changes or improvements in services and procedures

Funding for the Wausau Area Access Channels had been provided by the franchise agreement between the City of Wausau and our local cable provider, currently Charter Communications. While Wausau Access Channels served the greater Wausau area, only the City of Wausau franchise agreement provided any funding.

When the state passed Act 42 replacing local franchise agreements with a standard state wide franchise, Wausau PEG support fees were eliminated after a three year sunset. That sunset would occur December 31, 2010. The City of Wausau has not received any PEG support fees from Charter Communication during the three year sunset period.  

The cost of maintaining the current service and keeping the channels live would be $90,000. 

Interim funding streams are being explored while a longer term solution is being sought. 

• The city of Wausau may recover the PEG support fees from Charter. 
• All communities served by the Wausau Area Access Channels could consider sharing the cost of the channels. 
• If the State Legislature passes the AB 606 Cable Consumer Repair Bill, 1% of the gross revenue from the local cable company can be requested to fund the local access channels. With the support of our state legislators and using the leadership positions that they hold, this bill could be passed quickly, securing long term survival of these valuable resources. 
• Local residents, businesses and organizations could step forward with financial help to keep the doors open.

What does this mean?

After January 31, 2010 no programs will be accepted or played on the local access channels until further notice.