Eureka Times-Standard
Access Humboldt anxious as FCC prepares to reduce local public media funding
Community public television stations like Access Humboldt and other community services — including free internet at the library — could be throttled by a forthcoming Federal Communications Commission vote to hamper local regulation of cable companies. Companies like Suddenlink Communications are required by local jurisdictions to pay “franchise fees” to support community access stations, but the FCC vote would allow Suddenlink to lump other contributions into its obligations, which are capped at 5% of the company’s local revenue.