The Hillsborough public access lawsuit

Here's a copy of the lawsuit filed by Speak Up Tampa Bay Inc., the operator of the public-access cable channels in Hillsborough County, against the Hillsborough County Commission for cutting off the station's funding: Download SpeakUp.pdf

The lawsuit says that Hillsborough's decision "completely censors all unincorporated Hillsborough County residents' abilty to produce, transmit and view television programming carried over public access channel capacity..."

At first blush, this seems like a difficult case to win. Do citizens have the "right" to force the government to give them a soapbox? If that were the only issue, the answer might be no.

But if the government is deliberately shutting down public-access BECAUSE of its content, and giving favor to other speech instead... then maybe there's a case.

Speak Up's lawsuit cites examples of public-access shows being criticial of the County Commission, and cites examples of comments in reply by county commissioners expressing their hostility toward public access.

On top of that, Hillsborough has decided to eliminate only the citizens' access channel, while keeping its own -- a channel that features government-produced programs with a completely absence of criticism of the government itself.

Speak Up's lawsuit argues that the county is violating the First Amendment by (1) specifically targeting and shutting down a citizen forum for criticism of the government on one channel while (2) preserving and funding a comparable channel that provides pro-government speech.

The argument is sounding better...

Comments

[Larry]

Howard, I believe the citizens cried very loudly for tax cuts. Public Access TV is a luxury that is not necessary. Newspapers and other television news provide the information needed by the electorate to make decisions when going to the polls. Public access TV is not bread and butter, it is caviar served on rice crackers. With tax cuts come budget and service cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet; I hope.

[Booger]

Larry,

Your post leads me to believe that you’re a political aide at some level. I mean no personal disrespect, but you are dangerously ill-informed. Calling Public TV a “luxury” is a grievous misrepresentation of reality.

Furthermore, this statement of yours, “Newspapers and other television news provide the information needed by the electorate to make decisions when going to the polls.”, is so misguided and concerning, that I worry for your state of mind. I pray you have no children.

The tax increases experienced of the past 4-years, far outweigh any increase in services as a result. A reasonable roll back or tax cut should not result in any service cuts whatsoever. Anyone telling you they should, will, or do… it a lying politician who should be thrown from office.

Wake up and read a book son… and whatever you do… take everything you read in the newspaper and hear on TV with a HUGE grain of salt.

Kudos are due the Times for exposing the 225K dollar Pinellas BOCC rubber-stamp of the Smith deal. Though I do find it interesting that there’s not one word of coverage about the recently exposed (by the Clerks Office) rubber-stamp of the 13-million dollar overage on the Belleair Wastewater operation purchase… of course being blamed on staff. It all sounds so familiar!

Oh, yeah… Pinellas has done their part alright… but for whom?

[Mark Ferguson]

great write up Howard!

[Mark Ferguson]

LARRY SAID:"Public Access TV is a luxury that is not necessary. Newspapers and other television news provide the information needed by the electorate to make decisions when going to the polls. Public access TV is not bread and butter, it is caviar served on rice crackers."

Larry, why don’t you burn the Bill of Rights while your at it. Because by not supporting Public Access, that is exactly what your doing. The County Commissioners have no right telling tax paying registered voters that they are not entitled to the same basic rights our forefathers fought for. This country was built on freedom, and now those in office want to silence us? This is pure BS. This is not a funding issue. These commissioners are upset because of citizens speaking out on how the County Commissioners have handled issues that effect the public. Even Brian Blair admited, along with former Commissioner Ronda Storms on how much that public opinion does not matter. We all have the same right as Ronda Storms, and Brian Blair when it comes to Freedom of Speech, and to speaking out on how we feel. Since when did these Commissioners become the media police, and how come no one is holding them accountable for this crime against tax paying registered voters? Eventhough Public Access is dead, I will still find other outlets such as this forum to say how I feel about how those in office conduct themselves, and let people know which candidates in 2008 to vote for who actually care about our rights as tax paying registered voters.

Finally I am glad that Jim Normans $40 million Championship stadium is dead. I'm just surprised that Ken Hagan, and Brian Blair are not hording the $40 million for their own 2008 campaigns. But I am sure Land Developers Ralph Hughes, and Sam Rashad will come to their rescue if Ken, and Brian give them a wetland to build another shopping complex.