24-Hour Government Channel in the Works

Posted Sunday, October 9, 2005

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A long-awaited 24 hour Forsyth County government television channel is now in the works, following a cable transfer agreement approved by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, October 6.

Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Jack Conway, initiated the efforts to obtain a 24-hour government cable channel in early 2004 and was very pleased with the outcome.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Forsyth County and one that we have been working toward for over a year and a half," said Conway. "A designated government cable channel will serve as an excellent avenue for keeping the citizens of this county informed and up-to-date."

"Forsyth County citizens have indicated that this channel is very important to them," continued Conway, "so it was important to me and the members of the Board to pursue it."

A franchise transfer agreement with Comcast Cable Communications was approved as part of the meeting’s New Business agenda. The agreement provides for Comcast and Forsyth County to modify the existing Adelphia franchise terms to be consistent with a limited franchise awarded Comcast in 2003. The 2003 Comcast franchise contains both a PEG channel and PEG fees. Comcast is currently in the process of acquiring the cable franchise of Adelphia Communications Corporation, operating in Forsyth County.

As part of the negotiations surrounding the transfer agreement, Forsyth County officials sought a 24-hour government PEG channel, which is a channel set aside for public, educational or governmental use. County officials also sought PEG access fees to help support the channel. Both have been tentatively agreed to by Comcast, with finalization to occur within 90 days. Forsyth County Attorney Ken Jarrard noted that the negotiations with Comcast had been extremely productive and carried out in good faith.

"Comcast is clearly entering the Forsyth County market with an outstretched hand," said Jarrard. Although the negotiations were hard fought by both sides, in the end, Comcast signaled its intention to be a responsible corporate citizen and work alongside the county in providing an alternative means for county government information access.

The new government channel would provide a broadcast venue for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings as well as a variety of informative, educational and entertaining programs highlighting Forsyth County departments, services and events.

The county will also explore the opportunities for Forsyth County Schools to include programming on the channel, such as Board of Education meetings, sporting events, educational programs and student-produced programs.

"We're excited to work with Forsyth County Government on providing this important communications service that will allow us to educate and inform our community members," said Superintendent Paula H. Gault.

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