23 February 1999

Dear Matt, Lee, and Waco:

I’ve done some checking into the cable situation in Athens, and I have good and bad news:

“DAMN!” can be cablecasted on University 15 with permission from a advisory committee.  There will have to be some editing for ‘indecency’ before cablecasting on 15.  Since University 15 is ‘local origination cable,’ and is representative of the University, greater restrictions on your creativity may be imposed.

Housing 12 is only cablecasted in the dorms.  Since Housing 12 is funded with dorm residents’ fees, they will not allow non-residents to cablecast on Housing 12.

University 15
The contact at University 15 is Steve Gamble (542-1582) of Instructional Support and Development (ISD). University 15 cablecasts into the community over Intermedia, primarily as an educational tool.  ISD is governed by the Office of the Vice President and Provost, and the ISD’s mission is teaching.  

Your key to getting on University 15 is that they already cablecast the student-produced University News (542-4987).  

I tried to get the guidelines for appropriate content from Steve Gamble, but he says that the guidelines are being revised by the Committee.  Be sure to request written guidelines from University 15 as soon as they are available.

To get on University 15: Be sure that “DAMN!” is edited for content, and send a formal request along with the tape to J. Harriman at Instructional Support and Development (Below the South Psychology-Journalism Auditorium).  

On your request, point out that the lack of public access in Athens denies students a forum to express creative ideas.  “DAMN!” is not just entertainment—it is a tool to show other students what they can accomplish.  

Furthermore, our campus has developed into a commuter school, and Housing 12 does not reach 80% of the University population.  Cablecasting is the best means for gaining a public forum, as now many undergraduates go home immediately after class and do not participate in rap sessions or whatever at the Tate Center.

Last, Cablecasting DAMN! is consistent with University policy because UGA fosters a ‘marketplace of ideas.’    

DAMN! will then be considered by the Campus Cable Advisory Committee (CCAC).  The CCAC will screen the show against their guidelines.  If the show passes this consideration, DAMN! will be cablecasted.

I acquired the names of some CCAC members:

1. Jim Day, the head of Residence Hall Association.
2. Tom Bowen, Assistant Vice-President of Academic Affairs.  
3. Jerry Hargis, Georgia Center Administrative Director.
4. Judith Howell, from Telecommunication Services.
5. Another person from Telecom Services.
6. A representative from University Computing and Networking Services.
7. A faculty member from Romance Languages.
8. A student.

My point of listing these members is that they are not academics!  You are going to want open-minded individuals to make this decision.  

Housing 12
The contact at Housing 12 is Tony Kearney (542-7295).  Housing 12 is a University-only channel that is available in the dormitories.  

As DAMN! is currently set up, it cannot be cablecasted on Housing 12.  To skirt this regulation, DAMN! would have to be written, filmed, and produced by a dorm resident.

Even if you can skirt the requirement, Housing 12’s lineup is booked solid through Spring Semester.  You would have to wait until Fall to get time on the channel.

Also, a number of sources have indicated that Housing 12 administration is unfair, unprofessional, and lazy.  Apparently, students have to hound Tony to get him to do anything.

Other issues:

Censorship
1. The FCC distinguishes between “public access” and “origination cablecasting.”  

Intermedia offers local origination cablecasting, which under Federal law, can be censored by Intermedia for obscenity, indecency, or nudity.  Indecency is the broadest of the restrictions—Intermedia may refuse to cablecast scenes that they ‘reasonably believe’ are patently offensive.

Under this test of ‘patently offensive,’ Intermedia could censor almost anything legally.  For instance, mere sexual innuendo could be considered indecent under this test.  

This restriction on origination cablecasting has been litigated and upheld in the Supreme Court.

2. If we had public access cable here, DAMN! could be cablecasted with protection from the Public Forum Doctrine.  This would allow restrictions on obscenity only.  

The public forum doctrine protects access to and speech in spaces that have ‘an important communicative function in the community.’  If cable were considered a public forum, UGA could only restrict DAMN! on a content-neutral basis, UGA’s restrictions would have to serve a significant governmental interest, and there would have to be other channels for communication of your ideas.  

Government Channel 17
Government Channel 17 is empty.  A-CC negotiated to have this channel, but they have not placed any programming on it.  Apparently, the cable committee wanted Government 17 in order to air Commission meetings.  Currently, ONTV-7 cablecasts on Government 17.

Here’s an argument for Channel 17: The government has its own channel for promulgating its ideas.  But individuals, as a result of government actions (A-CC Cable Committee), were denied public access channels.  Without public access, those critical of the government do not have a forum for promulgating ideas.

You might consider approaching the A-CC government itself to request playback on Government 17.  I don’t know who the contact is on this.  The best person to try is Sandi Turner, A-CC Public Information Officer (613-3029).

I hope this has been a help to you.

My warmest regards,





Chris Hoofnagle
548-2375