News » Cox No Friend of Tucson in the Digital Age - Rally at City Hall

A community cable coalition, Friends of Community TV, is asking Tucsonans to rally at City Hall against the recent actions of Cox Communications. On Tuesday, March 20th, the Tucson City Council will issue a preliminary acceptance or denial of the formal proposal made by Cox.

Date: Tuesday, March 20th
Time: 2:30pm
Place: Council Chambers
225 W. Alameda
(The Old Courthouse Plaza)

Martha McGrath, a coalition spokesperson says, “We need to show Cox that we support the Tucson City Council’s courageous stand for our rights to free speech, the PEG channels and local control over the cable company.”

On Friday, March 9, Cox Communications informed the City of Tucson that it will no longer negotiate the final details of the agreement that had been reached between the two.

Cox also accused the City of introducing new and unusual demands on Cox. This is a false claim. Cox broke off the negotiations. The City negotiated in good faith.

Tucson had conceded to Cox’s concerns and found solutions that at least minimally met the public’s needs. (This included three analog and 2 digital channels for public access, education and government channels)

Now, Cox wants the State Legislature to step in and mandate the terms of the contract with Tucson. The media giant wants to remove a standard provision in the current license that allows the City to purchase the system in the event of non-compliance on Cox’s part or because the company refuses to meet community needs.

“The PEG channels are like public parks, we need to preserve them for our kids and grandkids–because once community television is gone…it’s not coming back. And I’m appalled that a giant corporation thinks it can tell our local government what Tucsonans can and cannot do.” McGrath said.

For more information contact Martha McGrath:
email: martha_mcgrath@yahoo.com
phone: (520) 770-1354