Column

Bright House takes a dim view of customers

By JEFF WEBB, Editor of Editorials
Published October 28, 2007

Their incessant advertisements remind us that we should live in a Bright House.

But if the cable television company that serves Hernando County really cares that much about letting the sun shine in, it could start by not obscuring one of the public's main views of its government.

Not long after the Florida Legislature foolishly freed cable companies from the burden of having to negotiate franchise agreements with local governments, Bright House announced it will shuffle its channel lineup on Dec. 11. In Hernando County, where Bright House is basically the only cable game in town, that means customers who pay $48.49 per month for the lowest tier of basic digital service will have to upgrade their subscription if they want to view the so-called "government channels," currently 14, 19 or 20.

Bright House is moving those stations to the next tier of digital service, which means customers will need a converter box and pay extra to continue watching those public channels. If a customer chooses to purchase the complete second tier of service, the cost will be $59.45. If a customer wants just the government channels, he still has to pay an extra $1 a month, plus tax, for the converter box.

Count me among those whose disposition about Bright House is not so sunny right now.

My job requires that I watch more broadcasts of government meetings than any one individual should be asked to endure. Sighs of pity might be appropriate at this point. Don't get me wrong; watching television beats the heck out of heavy lifting. And it affords me the very useful benefit of seeing first-hand what happens at these meetings, so I don't have to rely on others' interpretations.

But it can be tedious work to stay up to date, or even to remain upright, as politicians and bureaucrats enter the fifth hour of a debate about cutting budgets or zoning land.

Speaking of heavy lifting, that is the job the County Commission left for several government entities south of here. Commissioner Diane Rowden informed her colleagues last week that the Tampa City Council and the Manatee County Commission, among others, are on the brink of suing Bright House over this issue. The Hernando commissioners said they are not ready to go to court just yet, but they agreed to warn Bright House they might join a lawsuit filed by a more committed board.

That "lead-the-way-we're-right-behind-you" approach probably will save Hernando taxpayers a few bucks, but it isn't exactly a bold stance taken on principle. But make no mistake; principle is what is at stake here.

Bright House should keep these channels right where they are for as long as they can, or at least until the current franchise agreement runs out in 2012. The company should do it in the interest of open government, public service, community goodwill and customer satisfaction.

Bright House should do it because people depend on those stations to make informed decisions and they shouldn't have to pay a dime more, or jump through any extra hoops, just because the cable company values commercial programming more than it does government functions.

Finally, Bright House should do it because public access television is an essential component in democracy.

And these channels are about so much more than broadcasting government in action. Even though Bright House subscribers in Hernando County can watch how their money is spent by the County Commission, School Board, Brooksville City Council, Spring Hill Fire District, the Florida Legislature and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, viewers also use Channels 14 and 19 as bulletin boards. Residents are able to post free notices about community events that range from bake sales and PTA meetings, to support groups and crime-fighting tips.

The most visible and most accessible place on Bright House's channel lineup clearly is the lowest tier of service. So, I appeal to Bright House executives to live up to the words posted atop their corporate Web site (www.mybrighthouse.com/corporate.aspx):

"Watch television on your terms. We're committed to putting you in control and keeping things simple."

Jeff Webb can be reached at webb@sptimes.com or (352) 754-6123.

[Last modified October 27, 2007, 19:56:07]