Meridian Township filed three documents at the FCC: a petition submitting the questions asked by Judge Victoria Roberts of Federal District Court Eastern Division on December 9 2008; a brief in support of those questions; and formal comments on March 9 to support the petition filed by the Michigan Communities named in the lawsuit, and to show that many Michigan local communities are concerned about Comcast’s treatment of PEG channels. The MML, MTA, and PROTEC (The Michigan Coalition to Protect Public Rights of Way) joined in filing. A letter written in favor of our petition, dated January 18, 2009, summarized the Media Bureau’s (a division of the FCC) recommendations with respect to our Petition.

With Meridian filing comments in regards to their lawsuit against Comcast for trying to move PEG channels, and with the complaint and comments filed by the ACM (Alliance for Community Media) against AT&T for their poor delivery of PEG, the FCC received an amazing additional amount of comments from other groups and municipals in support of those complaints with more than 400 comments filed in just 1 day! Read about it at:
Broadcasting & Cable.com: FCC Takes Comments on Request that
Public, Educational, and Government Channels Get ‘Equal Footing’

Meridian Township has been billed a total of $355,000. The Cable department of Meridian Township, HOMTV, has paid $204,000 and the Township general fund has contributed $75,000. Contributions from organizations and other municipalities have paid $76,000. We have $74,000 in outstanding bills and have around $43,000 that will be billed for this month alone. These costs continue to rise quickly as we appear before the FCC and have to respond to comments they request of our legal team and staff.

The cable department and Board have been carrying the load for a state fight that has now turned into a national fight that could benefit everyone. We are looking for everyone to contribute. Meridian is cashed out for this battle and need others to step up in order to continue. This success will not happen without financial support. Contact Meridian Township Station Manager Deborah Guthrie guthrie@meridian.mi.us or 517-853-4380 or Meridian Township Supervisor Susan McGillicuddy mcgillicudy@meridian.mi.us or 517-853-4262 to help continue our fight to save our local community channels nationwide.