Another avenue closes

This is not good news.

From the LA Times:

A provision of a law passed by the Legislature in 2006, which took effect Thursday, allows cable television providers the option of dropping their long-standing obligation of providing free studios, equipment and training to the public. In return, providers must pay a substantial annual fee and continue to provide a minimal number of public education and government channels.

The new law is designed to make it easier for phone companies to enter into the lucrative cable market by relieving them of certain money-draining contractual obligations.

But what does it matter when they already own the airwaves?

Still. Public access is important, albeit prehistoric and frequently unintentionally hilarious. Those unable to operate the Internet should still have an avenue available to them for making fools of themselves.

Or to start a revolution, whichever happens to come first.