WHAT IS PEG ACCESS TELEVISION?
PEG television, often referred to as Community Access or Local Access television, exists in many communities around the country as a way of allowing the residents of a community the ability to use the local cable television system to reach out and communicate with their fellow citizens on subjects of local interest.
Depending on resources, PEG media centers often provide equipment, technical
training and airtime to members of the local community. The local cable operator
provides one or more dedicated PEG channels as a condition to receiving the cable
television franchise.
Although Federal law does not require the local cable operator to provide PEG access channels, franchising authorities, cities, counties, etc., may legally require PEG access as a part of the cable franchise.
Essentially, a cable TV company secures the right to do business in a community and to use the public rights-of-way to place cables and equipment, and in exchange compensates the community with franchise fees paid to the local government. Some of these fees may go directly or indirectly to the PEG access television facilities and operations. PEG Access television differs from commercial television in many ways. In PEG access television there is no editorial control of content, no ratings, and no advertising. In commercial broadcast television, programming decisions are based on the desire to generate as much paid advertising as possible by reaching the largest number of TV viewers. In contrast, PEG access television is often referred to as "narrowcasting." That is, the programs seen on a PEG channel are often likely to appeal to a very limited audience. Providing a voice to individuals is one of the many things that makes PEG access such a unique community resource. Instead of being broadcast over the airwaves, PEG channels are usually seen only on cable systems. The programming is therefore referred to as being "cablecast".
ORCTV also serves the educational and governmental institutions (the E and G of PEG) in the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester Massachusetts and provides specific channel capacity and resources to serve those interests. Separate programming guidelines apply to these channels or programming blocks. Qualified institutions and agencies may use their own criteria for program submission, scheduling and cablecasting.
In an era of media consolidation where fewer individual companies control more media outlets such as TV, local newspaper and radio, PEG television is a unique and special entity. PEG TV has frequently been referred to as the last remaining voice of the independent viewpoint remaining on television. It is special; use it, enjoy it, take care of it. It is truly a community resource.
Individual interests are most effectively served in a system that is open to all voices.
