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> The agreement exempts Google from a 3 percent "PEG fee" that the city charges Comcast. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO This is very very very bad and sets a horrible p
by wcfields 12y ago
> The agreement exempts Google from a 3 percent "PEG fee" that the city charges Comcast.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
This is very very very bad and sets a horrible precedent. Portland has one of the best cable-access facilities and set of stations in the country. They serve a vital public interest, allow absolute free expression, and "professionalize" niche programs that otherwise would just be someone talking into a webcam.
- andrewpi 12y agoIn the age of YouTube, is public access TV really that necessary anymore?
- tptacek 12y agoAm I misunderstanding you or are you suggesting that anyone who provides Internet service in Portland should be subsidizing public access television?
- wmf 12y agoNote that Google Fiber is essentially a cable company since they provide TV. Whether a company uses coax, twisted pair, or fiber isn't relevant to video franchise agreements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multichannel_video_programming_distributor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multichannel_video_programming_...
- mullingitover 12y agoRequring an ISP to fund a public access channel is like requiring auto factories in the early 1900s to provide free hay to nearby stables.
- Atroxide 12y agoIn your analogy, these auto factories would also bundle each bought car with a horse. Google sells TV service, just like any other TV provider. (Not disagreeing with you necessarily, just pointing out a flaw in your analogy)
- jonknee 12y agoLuckily Google also owns and operates the largest and most watched public access station of all time.