You know, the FCC's not all bad. Sure, they're outlawing most of the wireless mics that video producers use, and every time you turn around there's some new rule you haven't heard about, but sometimes the FCC tries to do something great for indie producers. Take leased access, for example.
If you don't know what leased access is, you should. It's a great program that showed up on the scene as part of the Cable Act of 1992. In a nutshell, leased access is an FCC law that allows any video producer to lease out space for a reasonable fee on any cable service provider with more than 36 channels (In 2009, that's pretty much every cable provider). This leased space is yours to put your own program on, much like public access, but there are a few HUGE advantages over public access. For example while public access is usually restricted to one specific station, leased access can be on major stations.
The biggest advantage however is that because this is commercial in nature, you can get sponsors and sell ads! Because of this, if you provide a decent program, you can make a profit from it. Some video producers make their living from leased access programming.
While this sounds great, the first step is to actually get your cable company to pony up the information on leasing access. Suprisingly, despite the fact that providing leased access is required by law, many cable company officials have never heard of it, making it very challenging to get the access.
This is my story. I have a great program. I know it would be popular, and I know that I can get sponsorship for it. So today I decided to start trying to get leased access. You would think that the first thing I would do would be to call my local cable office. But of course it isn't that easy. Charter is our local provider, and strangely, despite the fact that they're a communications provider, the local office has no local phone number! Yes, it's true - it's impossible to call up the local charter office. You HAVE TO call their 888 number.
So that's exactly what I did. I called their toll free number, and quickly learned that this wasn't going to be easy. Charter's 888 number starts by asking for your phone number. Assuming you enter that, it gives you 6 options, and not one of them has anything to do with questions regarding leased access. After 20 minutes of playing around, I found a number that went to a real live person. This person, thick Indian accent and all, told me she couldn't help me, but would forward me to the "right department". I was put on hold for about 15 minutes, before I heard a voice saying "This is Crystal, how can I help you?" I started telling her that I was calling to find out rates for leased access in my area, but by this time, she had hung up on me!
I wasn't willing to play with their useless phone system again, so I laced up the shoes and headed to their main office. Now getting to this next part, I'll preface it by pointing out that the cable act stipulates that cable offices are supposed to have a leased access rate card available on demand to anyone who requests one. I got to the office, and stood in line to talk to the lady at the counter. When we started chatting, it was almost comical. When I told her I wanted a leased access rate card, she looked at me sorta funny before asking me what it was I wanted again, and she started to give me information on their cable packages.
I stopped her and explained what leased access is. It took a while for her to get it. At first she thought I wanted to buy commercials. Then she thought I wanted to buy late night infomercial space. Then she told me that they didn't offer leased access. So I explained that it's a law, and the FCC mandates that every cable provider with 36 or more channels offer it. At this point, she's totally confused, and asks if she can go find someone to help her. I let her go, and wait about 15 minutes while she's in the back.
She returns, telling me that they can't find any information on leased access, and she offers to take my name and email so they can call me "when they find it". So I left my number and went home.
So we'll see if I ever get this info. Either way, I'll keep you all informed.
