Public Knowledge will host a press briefing Thursday, May 19 at 11 a.m. ET featuring minority programmers who support the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to unlock the set-top box market so consumers can access the cable content they’re already paying for on the device of their choosing — without a gatekeeper. It marks a necessary step to promote and protect multicultural and independent programmers currently at the mercy of cable.
Large cable companies hold a disproportionate amount of leverage in the video marketplace, enabling them to take unfair advantage of most programmers. This imbalance has been highlighted frequently in many recent proceedings at the FCC, but for the independent programmers and diverse content producers it affects, it is a reality of their daily lives. The internet has provided some relief, facilitating alternate outlets for voices that cannot get carriage on traditional media, but there is still a long way to go. This proposal opens the door for multicultural and independent programmers, enabling them to reach wider audiences through online video distribution in the digital age.
Public Knowledge’s Chris Lewis, Vice President of Government Affairs, will present a group of experienced media and programming business leaders to review how the FCC’s set-top box proposal will improve diversity on-screen and help independent and multicultural programmers access wider audiences.
These experts include Peggy Dodson (CEO/President, Urban Broadcasting Company), Clifford Franklin (CEO of GFNTV) and Eric Easter (Chairman of the National Black Programming Consortium). Participants will also be available to answer questions.
For more information, please view our recent fact sheet on the set-top box proposal as well as the recent letter from African American programmers to the Congressional Black Caucus urging CBC members to support the proposal to promote competition in the video device marketplace. You may also contact Brian Woolfolk directly to discuss the letter.
- Peggy Dodson, CEO/President of Urban Broadcasting Company
- Eric Easter, Chairman of the National Black Programming Consortium
- Clifford Franklin, CEO of GFNTV
Press Call Participant Information:
WHEN: Thursday, May 19 at 11 a.m. ET
DIAL-IN: 1-712-432-3071
PASSWORD: 676292
INSTRUCTIONS: 5* to queue questions, please state your name and outlet clearly
You may view the recent CBC letter here.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.