Small-Market Television: Challenges & Policy Considerations

The environment for public, educational, and governmental (PEG) cable channels is being roiled by public policy and budgetary changes at the federal, state, and local levels and by technological changes in cable networks. More than 100 PEG access centres – which provide community groups and individuals free access to video production facilities and equipment, training, and programming time – have closed since 2005, and many more may close when provisions in recently enacted state laws that eliminate requirements for cable companies to provide funding support take effect. This book examines the challenges and policy considerations facing small-market television.