Why Cable Matters

A majority of Americans have a cable TV subscription, making cable a valuable source of news, information and opinion for millions of people nationwide.

Free Press promotes policies to make cable a more democratic medium that meets the needs of its viewers for quality news, engaging content and diverse, independent, locally oriented programming.

Issues relating to cable policy include:

• Cable Programming: Bad business practices in the cable industry limit viewer choice in programming, giving us channel after channel of cookie-cutter content while pushing independent and minority programmers out of the marketplace.

• Cable Ownership: The cable industry is uncompetitive and highly consolidated, with just a few huge corporations providing cable services. These massive firms use their market dominance to charge high prices while providing poor customer service and keeping competitors out.

• PEG/Public Access TV: PEG channels are for public access, educational or governmental purposes. One of the few broadcast venues open to the general public, they allow citizens to watch local government in action and offer an important platform for free speech.