Thursday, February 7, 2008 will be your opportunity to help MNN help YOU!

Thursday, February 7, 2008
3pm–7pm
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Richard Harris Terrace – Tribeca Performing Arts Center
199 Chambers Street, NY, NY 10007

Please contact:
Zenaida Mendez
212 757 2670, Ext 319
or
franchise08@mnn.org

On Thursday, February 7, 2008 all those who support Free Speech, the First Amendment and alternative media need to attend a hearing from 3pm-7pm at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

As part of the Franchise renewal process between the City of New York and TimeWarner Cable, a public hearing will be held to allow NYC residents an opportunity to voice their views and concerns regarding the cable franchise we will all be living with for the next 10 to 15 years. It is extremely important that our public officials hear loud and clear that Public Access provisions are critically important to our community and that continued and expanded support for the needs and interests of Manhattan residents must be included in any franchise agreement that is reached.

Our media and communications landscape is changing. "Convergence" or the merging of traditional media and new communication technologies is changing the way we receive information and communicate with one another. "New Media" services that will enable communities to communicate with one another must be supported in the new franchise. At the same time increasing consolidation of ownership in the media industry is limiting the number of voices, opinions, and the objectivity of information available to the public, making public access more important than ever.

In order to accommodate the 21st century communications needs of Manhattan, MNN will need additional channel capacity and bandwidth, access to “New Media” technologies, and increased capital and operating funds.

This is a historic opportunity for all of Manhattan’s residents to share our concerns and interests about cable television services in the Borough.

Whether it’s about the digital divide, or the services you receive from the cable companies, your voice is crucial in helping to shape the future of community media, free speech and public access in Manhattan.