Small: OETA doesn’t need state subsidies

I've enjoyed a lot of OETA/PBS content over the years; nature programs, historical documentaries, chilren's shows, classic films on the OETA Movie Club. My wife and I really enjoy the geneological show Finding Your Roots.

But here's the thing. Is it really the proper role of government to fund public broadcasting? I don't think it is. OETA, and PBS, and NPR - all of them can function apart from taxpayer funding. In the wake of Gov. Stitt's veto of OETA's reauthorization, a lot of media stations and personalities have decried the move. Perhaps they could step up to the plate and fund OETA/PBS much like C-SPAN is funded by the cable industry.

Here's a column by OCPA President Jonathan Small on the matter:

OETA doesn’t need state subsidies

By Jonathan Small

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to veto reauthorization of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA), the state’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) entity, has critics acting as though the sky is falling and that Big Bird is on his last legs.

Neither view is true. Big Bird will still be around even without Oklahoma government funding, as proven by the fact that 14 other states do not provide direct state funding to PBS stations. There are no reports of children aimless wandering the streets of those states without access to any educational programming.

Former GOP Candidate Houchen to Host TV Show

From former 2nd Congressional District Republican candidate, Howard Houchen:

Former U.S. Congressional Candidate Howard Houchen Set To Host Political Talk Show

(Paris, Texas) 20 August 2010 – As the lights started go out on Howard Houchen's bid for U.S. Congress the lights were coming up on the set of Mr. Houchen's new conservative political television show, The Road To Liberty. Venture Studios producer James Wyatt approached Mr. Houchen late in his campaign for Oklahoma's 2nd District Congressional seat about the idea of hosting a conservative political talk show. Wyatt said, "I saw Howard had a unique quality that resonated with audiences on the campaign trail. His style and personality was something that we at Venture felt would translate very well to television."

The thirty minute program, The Road To Liberty, is currently slated for thirteen episodes which has already begun filming at the Venture Studio's facility. Guests from across the country will be featured each week discussing the topics of primary interest to conservative Americans. The show will be set apart from other programs of this type by Mr. Houchen's demonstrated ability to relate the topics to everyday life and how government overstepping the bounds of our Founders' intent is quickly taking this country off the intended path desired by the majority of Americans.

Mr. Houchen stated, "I'm really excited about the opportunity to continue reaching out to hard-working American citizens about the principles of constitutional conservatism, the proper role of government, and the absolute necessity of ensuring We, the people, check and roll back the powers of the political-class over the working-class".  Houchen went on to say; "We are all Americans, it is our duty to protect and defend the rule book by which we are to govern ourselves...the U.S. Constitution.  To do anything less will lead to the demise of the greatest nation God ever blessed."

Plans for the program include an initial launch in North Texas in several markets served by various cable providers. Negotiations will be ongoing during production for broadcast rights in Texas and Oklahoma markets and with satellite program providers for distribution to over 76,000,000 homes across the U.S. Viewers will also be able to watch and interact with the program at the website www.newroadtoliberty.com.

During the primary campaign, numerous people remarked to me that Houchen was more suited for a talk show than he was for political office. It looks like those speculations came true.

Help TVGuardian be required by law!

This was passed on to me, with the request that it be posted.

Good News! The FCC is now specifically seeking comments regarding TVGuardian:

We've been working hard for years on this chance for families, and now we need your help to see it through...

As required by a new law signed by President Bush in December, the FCC wants comments from the public on whether tools such as TVGuardian should be required in a wide spectrum of video products, such as: TVs, DVD Players, Blu-Ray players, cable, satellite, computers, the Internet, cell phones, iPods/Mobile Video Players, Gaming Consoles (Xbox/PS3/Wii), DTV converter boxes, and DVRs.

How can you help? Please enter your comments to the FCC at the below link.

Here are some points to keep in mind as you share your comments:

• Has TVGuardian technology made a difference in your life and the life of your children?
  
  
• Would you like to see it more widely available?
  
  
• The FCC specifically wants to know if the closed-captioning is accurate enough for the TVGuardian technology to be useful (please mention your experience).
  
  (Note: This FCC action could also result in: 1) even better accuracy of the closed-captions TVGuardian uses to detect the foul language, and 2) closed-captions being required on all new DVD and Blu-Ray movies.)
  
  
• If you or your children are deaf or hard of hearing, please mention how TVGuardian benefits you.
  
  
• What if TVGuardian technology were not added to these devices and were no longer available at all?
  
  (Note: TVGuardian could soon be obsolete if these businesses, or the government, do not take action to build it into these products. A TVGuardian stand-alone unit will not work with HD. For HD, TVGuardian needs to be built into the cable/satellite box and/or TV to work.)
  
  
• If you or your children watch TV or movies over the Internet, on a computer, on an iPod, or on a cell phone, please mention how TVGuardian technology would help.
  
  
• Would you be willing to pay a few dollars each month for the TVGuardian feature in cable/satellite, if that is the only way these companies would offer it?
  
  
• Basically, include a personal testimonial in your own words. It makes a much bigger impact than a canned response that just includes the points we've suggested.

You can make a huge impact!

Please post your personal comments for the FCC at: (starting with your name in No. 3)
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.hts?ws_mode=proc_name&proc_id=09-26.

Thank you in advance for taking action.

Sincerely,

Rick Bray
Britt Bennett

P.S. If interested, here is the link for the complete FCC Notice of Inquiry.