Cable access programming threatened in Dallas FY09

by Staff of Dallas iMedia

DALLAS — Every great city in America, "land of the free and home of the brave," supports public access to cable television channels. As a model urban city, Dallas should be no different.

The Dallas City Council is working through the proposed 2009 city budget, and Dallas iMedia Network (formerly DCTV) has been reduced to $196,000 dollars.

Unless iMedia's budget is restored, our voice will be silenced...and the attack on our free speech will continue to accelerate.

Here is a snapshot of how the city has deteriorated iMedia's contract value over the last several years:

2001 - 2005: $700,000

2006: $543,000

2007: $508,000

2008: $300,000

proposed 2009: $196,000

This drastic funding reduction may well end public access television in Dallas. iMedia funding must be restored to the bare minimum 2008 level of $300,000.

City Council Members are holding Town Hall Meetings in your neighborhood to listen to citizen concerns. This is an emergency.

Dallas City Council Meeting

When:	Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, 9 a.m.
Where:	Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street, Dallas
Cost:	Free
Age limit:	All ages
Full event details »

Please attend and SPEAK. Ask for funding to be reinstated to at least $300,000 for public access television in our community. See the Town Hall Meeting link to the right.

Also, mark your calendar to attend the final budget hearings and vote, in Council Chambers, on the following Wednesdays:

August 27

September 10

September 24

Public access television helps local government fulfill its societal obligations. The members of the Dallas City Council need to know YOU and hear YOU say public access television matters in our city!

Call 214.670.3738 at least 24 hours in advance to register to speak at the three City Council meetings listed above. In addition, it is vital that you call, or email Mayor Leppert and all city council representatives.

Pegasus News content partner - Dallas iMedia
Public access television system and interactive voice for the Greater Dallas community

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Your loss of my tax dollars is not an attack on your freedom of speech. The First Amendment guarantees your the right to speak free of government intervention; it does not require taxpayers to fund this right.

How much of your budget went into this lobbying effort? Do you honestly think this is a fair way to spend tax payer dollars?

jamesn Anonymous

1 year, 3 months ago
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Seriously folks. I work for a TV station that has often rented a production truck from iMedia. It has so many issues. Give them more money, please!

Rachel Skinner Verified

1 year, 3 months ago
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Unlike other cities such as Austin, iMedia doesnt get funding from your cable bill or enjoy a decent stipen from the city/county. I implore people to make your voice heard in this issue, as this is a vital link to local voices who are usually drowned out by the mass media machine.

Chris Kidd Verified

1 year, 3 months ago
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There has to be a balance between the citys requirement to appear transparent to its citizens, which inlcudes providing information where the people are like the TV, and people making the effort to be inolved in our daily government acitivities. With todays youth and adults being more involved with the internet iMedia should be at the front lines providing information to us the citizens even if they are being paid by the citizens coffers. To continue to destroy any realistic budget for the public information arm that is iMedia is the city rolling up the welcome mat and hoping no one knocks on the door to see whats happening on the inside.