Are Cable TV companies still required to have a "Public Access" channel?

[Up2Late]

I ask because, while it still appears that Atlanta has a "public access" channel and some basic studio facilities that Atlanta's residents can use, people who live outside the Atlanta City Limits (which is most of the Atlanta Metro area) can not use these facilities and I'm having trouble finding how I "access" my part of the Cable T.V. system.

Apparently, my area, which is the domain of the Mega-Cable Corp Comcast, is supposed to have it's own "public access" channel and facilities, but I can't find any info at there website that explains how I get access to the channel or if there are any facilities available to Cobb County residents.

Plus, I did finally figure out that I do have a "public access channel" on my cable box, it's the one of the channels that always seems to be running "Info-mercials" or "Home Shopping" programing.

I thought it was just "Home Shopping Channel" #6, I have 10 home shopping networks most of the time, if you count the channels that show "paid programming" (info-mercials) most of the time, and this is in the middle of the day, after 3:00am I would guess that 90% of my cable channels becomes "paid programming."

So, did I miss something? Do Cable corporations NOT have to have a Public Access channel or Public Access facilities anymore? :shrug:

[spanone]

1. I'm on comcast and we have a public access channel....it's a hoot.

[LSparkle]

2. I think they do -- it may be that, thanks to consolidation, there are fewer

of them. And the fact they're running infomercials may mean that no one's producing programming for airing (i.e., lots of free time that could be filled if you're interested in getting involved). I do think that it's every city's obligation to have a public access channel -- I live in the L.A. area and I get public access programming not only from L.A. city but also from surrounding communities (broadcasting city council meetings, local interest programs, "Teens in Action" etc.)

[htuttle]

3. I think it's generally something negotiated between the cable provider and the municipality

I know that here in Madison, it was something our city government required from Charter Cable.

[xmas74]

4. I live in a small town

and our public access runs nothing but ads.

We have a separate channel for the university programming and one for the schools but the public access is, from what I've been told, for nothing but paid ads.

I think I should throw a fit and start my own show.

[MADem]

5. Call your county government offices and ask them. Usually these public access channels cover

town, county or city government meetings. I used to see them in Fairfax County VA and I see them here in my town in MA, locally.

That's the best place to start, IMO.