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Local Access Television

Federal law provides that states or local communities may require a license or negotiate a non-exclusive cable franchise with cable TV operators wishing to market their services locally. 

As part of the provisions of such a license or franchise agreement, cities and towns may require the cable operator to provide what the Telecommunications Act of 1997 calls “public, educational, or government (PEG) access” channels on the local channel lineup, for unrestricted use by citizens, school districts and municipalities. In Massachusetts, many such existing agreements also require that certain equipment and funding be given to the towns. The laws provide and court cases have upheld that such channels provide equal access to all potential users, and that they are public electronic forums for free expression.