Residents Sliced Out Of New Public TV Access Channel Deal With West Chester University

Maybe this is the best residents could do but I’m not sure it’s the best way to start out a community public access channel on the FIOS system that leaves residents no access unless by the graces of WCU. WCU has certainly stepped forward with a necessary step to get a PEG station rolling in terms of studio, equipment, student personnel, programming, etc. but that that necessitate leaving residents out of access and the development loop? The communication department at WCU is behind this so that’s good for professionalism and the University derives the bonus of having the station for their student development.

Perhaps the residents should have known about the new deal the Borough and the University had struck sometime before Borough Council passed it 7-0 last night. On Tuesday night when they discussed it there were no copies of the proposed agreement to even have a critical look. I went to borough hall Wednesday morning and got a copy from the Manager’s office. Bottom line on the agreement, WCU has full control over content and use. The community part of Public Access TV seems to be missing.

I’m not crying by any means that we are moving forward and I appreciate immensely the amount of work, energy and cost that WCU brings to bear.I’m saying the importance and democratic principles of public access TV need to be followed as closely as possible. Borough residents, I know, have seen enough of deals hammered out between WCU and the Borough without citizen input.