South Washington County Telecommunications Commission drops public programming
May 27, 2011 at 4:42 am in South Washington County Bulletin
The South Washington County Telecommunications Commission no longer will air religious and other public-generated programming, opting to broadcast only shows and content produced and approved by commission staff. Continue Reading
Hmm, I guess so much for the “freedom of speech” theory. We’re supposed to accept the “positive” without the “negative”. “Positive” is a subjective term depending on one’s perspective.
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Only reporting on the things mayors want you to report on? Keeping the inconvenient facts quite? I say CG just get out of the group and spend the $300,000.00 on the city.
That could cover almost 1/2 of the new city hall payment.
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“Commission leaders said no tax dollars are used to support programming…”
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If you have cable in MN 5% of the charges go to your city. Those cities then in turn use that money for access tv. They all allow residents to have input and programming on these stations… So it’s a TV station paid for by you, produced in part by you, for you.
Now in CG, Woodbury, SPP, Newport & Denmark the station has changed into a city PR firm. Other Cable access stations would say the consumer is the boss, here they say the city is the boss. So that 1 Million dollars collected is a TAX. Or our old Gov would call it a “fee”. Either way it is money taken from our pockets and spent on Government.
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100% correct. It’s a tax or fee paid for by the consumers. So I guess now, there is no “public access” if you rock the boat.
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“We do what our cities tell us,†said Roger Peterson, commission chairman. Wow – that says it all! A lot can be read into that short comment. Problem is, all people who subscribe to cable pay out a portion for this SCWTC – guess that’s not important to give citizens the ability to have access to our local tv? It would be funny, except it’s pathetic to think this commission is now taking off ALL programing from churches, etc., solely to avoid the citizens being able to hear different voices than what the ‘city tells us’? Sounds a lot like communism – or even worse, and this is America.
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Bennie I don’t think the SWCTC is pulling the programming to avoid the citizens being able to hear different voices. I think they made the decision because a small group of people with a dissenting opinion threatened to sue over freedom of speech. That small group of people has every right to speak and to be heard but the SWCTC is not obligated to be their forum. So, the way I see it, that small group of people is to blame for the rest of us losing church service and other valuable programming.
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You must have read a different article than I did CG, or you’re taking liberties with the facts. I don’t see anywhere in the article where Mr. Peterson even referred to the City Hall project. I don’t understand where you got the information to make the statement that he “Made it VERY clear this was because he is in favor of the City Hall project. As he sees it, Why should the city distribute info that does not make them look good?”
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One more thing: About Karla Bigham’s program ” Hemmesch took it off the air because she didn’t want “any problems to arise,†including accusations the show is partisan. ??? What difference would that make? The whole SCWTV is now partisan!
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What about our Mayor saying discussion is good? It leads to better projects and a better city? SWCTC said all the city Mayors were on board.
Is Mayor Bailey really OK with residents having zero input on the cable station they pay for? Maybe he just didn’t understand the implications of their change Thursday. I find it difficult to believe he would agree to censoring all input from his constituents.
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Excellent comments CG Voter. Annie – you might want to go back and ask the Commission leaders a few more questions based on what CG Voter has replied. He/she is correct on what was said. This is totally wrong! It’s fun, entertaining and informative to have people in the community voice their opinions AND put programs on the cable. I’ll bet the Cable Co. is not happy with the logic, “if people don’t like it they don’t have to pay for cable”!
Wonder what would happen if everyone who disapproves of what this Commission has done would cancel their subscriptions? Another idea would be to have new people on the commission and at the station who care about the citizens. We need a new chair anyway!
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Dump cable, switch over to dish, then you won’t have to pay that little fee, you won’t get the channels either, but since I don’t pay for it, it does not bother me. Dump Comcast go for DIRECTV or Dish or anything else that is not cable based.
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Thanks a lot Lehrke and Lowandowki. Having disagreement is called democracy but I think you should quit wining and complaining about every dog gone thing because then you are the boy who cries wolf and I for one have stopped listening. Your silly website that is suppose to be for facts but calls the city and council the gestapo makes you and your town look bad so if your show would have been like that then the telecommunications people did you a favor by not airing your show because you would have looked as silly as your web site. Everyone should look at http://www.cottagegovecityhall.com and thats what the show would’ve been about. Really nice isn’t it.
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CG – or should I say, Derrick – yep, you have been ratted out. It’s a telecommunications system. Have you actually watched the programming? It airs council and commission meetings and then has the occassional show with the city administrator and one council member (I believe you are in the rotation, correct)? So, you get plenty of air time to air your grievences. What programs specifically TOUT what the mayor and the “other” council members want?
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Chris thats interesting about CG Voter but its what I’ve suspected all along anyway. If yuo are right then comments he made in the past as his CGVoter altar ego about the mayor and fellow council members is not very professional and I for one would expect a lot more out of a elected person but maybe I’m the stupid one for thinking that.
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omg people GROW UP. Are we a bunch of conspiracy freaks or real people? CG Voter, Inspector 71 use some real names or are you too afraid to ? This is really a sad sad soap opera.
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Derrick Lehrke and friends,
The majority of Cottage Grove is really tired of you. Its apparent that you really don’t know what you are talking about. If you don’t like Cottage Grove why don’t you move! Please! You won’t be missed!
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