Don't Touch That Dial

By Harry Stoetzel
We're Moving! (not the studio)
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Yes we're moving, to the other side of the screen. "Don't Touch That Dial" is moving from the Blog section of Menomonee Falls Now to its own space on the right side. That way the daily schedule will be available on the first page, and updates to program will be more current. Look for the change in a week or so.

Legislation Update

Many people have been asking about the "Video Competition Legislation" that is held up in the finance committee at this time. There have been many calls from people worried when they hear that the future of cable access is in jeopardy across the country. There have been many offers to help which we really appreciate. The best way to help is to contact you State Representative and State Senators. They need to be aware of all the problems this bill will create for the consumer. They say it will mean better rates, but there is proof of the opposite happening across the country. You will have more choices, but look what that has done to your cell phone bill. And by the way those choices will only be for those who live in close proximity to metro area and in neighborhoods that are more affluent. Unlike the cable companies who were bound by contract and law to provide service to all the community, these new providers will cherry pick who they want to service, and the rest of you will be left with rabbit ears.
Falls Cable Access is not in the same trouble as other centers around the state, as a matter of fact they are listed as one of the couple of centers that will survive this bill. It is starting to have an affect on our financial structure here in the Falls but only in policy right now. There have been some public statements made recently about the new contract with Time Warner that were made without any background information and managed to get it wrong. To set the record straight I'd like to offer a little primer into Cable Access Fees and the legislation.

There are 3 types of income that come from the Cable Provider (Time Warner in Menomonee Falls).
1. PEG fees which are provided in contract negotiations to promote community access and are considered a perk.
2. Franchise Fees which are based on the providers Gross Receipts and are paid to the community for use of the right of ways and roads. This is listed on your bill and all though it looks as if you are paying this fee it is really listed to show what part of the Gross Receipts are coming back to the community. Originally mandated at 5% with 3% going to the village and 2% funding the running of the community access channel.
3. Pass through fees which are usually $0.15 to $0.25 per month added on to your bill. These fees are assessed when a community wants to make a major purchase or project and the cable company is collecting to cover the purchase. This is generally considered a tax but it appears on your bill as Pass Through Fee.
Menomonee Falls has never opted for pass through and our PEG fees were given up front in the contract such as building the studio at the high school. We do have however a 5% franchise fee. Where the legislation has come into play is how these fees may be viewed. Because the arrangement with Time Warner (Originally Metrovision) allowed for the 2% to be paid directly to Falls Cable Access, it was the concern of Falls Cable Access, Village Staff and the attorney negotiating for us that this fee would look like a PEG fee and not a Franchise Fee. Since the new competition bill eliminates PEG fees we run the risk of losing the 2% forever. Because of TIme Warners good relationship with Menomonee Falls the 1 year extension was signed to allow negotiations to go on and the payment arrangements to be changed. This was good foresight by all concerned parties and supported by Falls Cable Access. We still don’t know all of the repercussion this bill will cause, but the general feeling is that Falls Cable Access will continue to grow and provide an avenue of self expression, information and entertainment to the citizens of Menomonee Falls.

There is a lot of new programming this month, so check the schedule above and look for the unveiling of our new website.