buh-bye

Apparently the city has no need for Houston Media Source anymore, last week the city decided to not renew their franchise contract. Under Texas' two and a half year-old statewide video franchise law, Comcast will be allowed to apply for a statewide franchise certificate, but they are not obligated to give any funds to public access. Bill White's Chief of Staff, Mr. Terrance Fountain, says the City will cut off all funding for Houston Media Source effective April 2008.

$850,000 that was for public access TV may now go to HPD, where they will be able to more effectively waste the money with the rest of their $600,000,000 budget(lots of zeros, huh?). The mayor last tried to defund the station in 2005 over a obscenity scandal; this go around the station doesn't have as much of a rallying cry (counterintuitive, right?) and they may go quietly under.

Email the mayor if you have a moment.