Cable Access in Lawrence is a JOKE!
published in Rumbo 07/07/00

The Paying Attention! Television Program has been running 4 days a week until recently. A few weeks ago the schedule was changed so that the program now runs only 2 days a week. (AND STILL NOT ON WEEKENDS) The reason I was given by the people at AT&T was that there was more local programming to schedule and therefore Paying Attention would have to be cut back.

OK, fine. But, last Thursday night channel 8 cable access was running a religious program taped in Lowell, from the Lowell cable access channel. We have had more problems with poor broadcast quality, bad audio, no audio, irregular scheduling times and premature cut off at the end of the program that I cannot begin to vent my frustration. I have been as patient as anyone could possibly be! But my patience has eroded and I think it is time the people of Lawrence demand that the cable contract be adhered to. It states in our contract with AT&T that we are to have TWO full time directors to help local citizens produce local programming.

We have only one person who works part time. And if you read the contract there are plenty of other provisions which are not being honored by cable access. There is no reason out of town programming should take precedent over local programming. There is no reason why we cannot get the level of service we pay for out of our cable bill. And there is no reason the people of Lawrence have to endure bad quality programming, management and lack of attention to our needs.

I am not the only one who has these problems but I am apparently the only one who is willing to speak out. I am embarrassed for the city that Senator Sue Tucker appeared on my program last week and the broadcast ran with no audio at all. Moreover, it is an embarrassment to the city when other communities see what Lawrence produces. My apologies to Senator Tucker and her office for the lack of attention paid to detail by the people at AT&T. I am going to go above and beyond the call of duty to see that we are not embarrassed again. My apologies Senator Tucker, when you appear on a program here in the community you should expect your constituents to hear what you have to say.