Posted on 07/28/2002 8:45:43 PM PDT by comwatch
Let me begin with an apology for including our link concerning the issue this item addresses. It does raise an interesting paradigm however... Free Republic's Administrator, with valid concerns, elected to remove the thread because (I assume) it contained a link that shows a portion of The Naked Preacher Lady's disgusting website. The disclaimer, "Free Republic's rules would rightfully bar posting the images one finds on The Naked Preacher Lady's site. Fair warning! It is disgusting and NOT suitable for minors", was insufficient in and of itself.
That said, your tax dollars and mine in the Sacramento area, are being exploited by this purveyor of pornography. Kids can watch it on cable. We don't know how many other publicaly funded cable access channels distribute this program. That's the the overriding issue. Conservative and religious groups have been sent packing along with their complaints about content.
"To mom's shock, some gal in a blond wig and scanty silk bathing suit, was performing fellatio on a sausage and stuffing it into her privates. The sign behind her read 'The Naked Preacher-Lady'. This publicly televised program promotes her commercial smut at our expense. She uses public television to promote her pay for view adult website while blasting people like us for finding it offensive on public television at our expense. "
David M. Jenest, Director, Citizen's Community Watch
"... you are correct, public funds are used to support Access Sacramento. Those funds total $639,462 for 2002-2003."
Rich Esposto, Executive Director. Sacramento Metropolitan Cable TV Commission
" By going to the web site identified in the television program in question, there is no immediate charge to the web visitor. If the immediate visitation to the web site incurred a cost, we would interpret this as a commercial site and ask the producer/host to refrain from showing the web site address on her program. But since access to the web site is free for those who may chose to pursue this viewing option, we would need to require all programs to cease showing web addresses as part of their television programming."
Ron Cooper, Executive Director, Access Sacramento Board of Directors
"Moral Majority Tries to Pull the Plug on Baby Rae A very large Sacramento church, (Calvary Christian Center) called Public Access tv channel 74, demanding them to take Baby Rae off the air.. Public access had to review her program again and forced her to wait a week to reair... She has had several calls from youth pastors spouting scriptures, hell fire and damnation, fearing that their youth would be drawn away and find out that sex was a good thing... They have raised up prayer chains, (24/7 in Sacramento) and called in to large minnistries, i.e., Benny Hinn and Trinity Broadcasting Network in Orange County, CA. Channel 74 has decided to allow Baby Rae's program to continue, sighting her constitutional rights, but will they eventually succumb to the pressure?"
Miss Baby Rae, The Naked Preacher Lady
I think Freepers who are also parents will be happy to know that our most recent effort, challenging the "commercial nature" of this public access programming accomplished two things:
Subject: Review of "Commercial Web Site" Access Sacramento Policy
Mr. Jenest...
I am investigating the challenge posed by identification of a web site on a public access program that does not charge for initial viewing of the web site but does promote the sale of further "viewing". Our definition of commercial use of the access channel does not currently include a definition of what constitutes a "commercial web site".
We are inviting further comments from interested parties. How might you define a commercial web site? Please keep in mind that web sites often include valuable information, freely offered to the public. Additionally, many educational, government, non-profit and religious organizations have web sites that encourage sale of directories, fund raising items, even encouraging paid membership in the organization. We are interested in language that could clearly distinguish between informational sites and commercial sites.
I am inviting a wide variety of input to assist our Board in addressing this challenging issue. The process will take several months of inquiry and discussion. Thank you for your input...
Ron Cooper, Executive Director, Access Sacramento
In closing folks, adults who would like to join this regional effort can join the new Sacramento Free Republic chapter, view the video from Miss Rae's Friday night whining session (when we meet on 8-21) and maybe even FREEP the liberal politicians that spend our money defending her.
This is a national problem. Public Access - originally extracted as a concession from the cable companies in exchange for their monopolies now being twisted into the worst programming imaginable - for free - in the name of public access and free speech.
Nazis, pornography, "alternative lifestyles", etc (puke!).
Seems it wouldn't be that difficult to amend the various charters nationwide to limit public access tv purveyors to programming meeting community standards - perhaps with a requirement that any programming would be suitable for a 7 year old. Not necessarily understandble but simply suitable for their viewing and possible edification.
Borrowing two cents from JH2,
Tunehead54
On or off the list, let me know.
OK, OK, I'm rambling, but I'm mad and frustrated. Some days it seems like our sense of decency is being assaulted from so many directions that I just can't keep up with it all. There are just so many issues to deal with.
I'm a member of the John Birch Society and feel they do a good job identifying the issues of getting information out to people, but they do not take a very aggressive action approach. I am am more and more convinced that signs, bumper stickers and the occasional letter to your Congressman are just not getting it done. We really need an in-your-face approach that lets people know they just can't get away with this stuff. Conservatives seem to have a built in defensive attitude which allows the ultra liberal propagandists to walk all over them. That has to change. I would never advocate the tactics of lying and distortions, but the Truth is a powerful weapon that must be wielded to full advantage against these evil influences!
Enough ranting for now - I need to take a breath...
Now there's a great idea. I'd love to be there for that one. If you set it up, let me know. I have an incredibly hectic schedule, but I'd definitely try to make time for that one!
By the way, I did send my two cents worth to the Access Sacramento people and hopefully they will get a lot more beside just mine. It really makes my blood boil.
If cable companies are required to provide a slice of their product for public use then the term 'public' should apply, what has been described as the Naked Preacher Lady is hardly what one would expect to encounter in a "public" setting.
Until such time as a reasonable person might expect to encounter a woman getting frisky with a sausage in a public setting, this certainly isn't appropriate. (We might get to this point someday, I just don't think we've reached it yet.)
Their Challenge: "We are inviting further comments from interested parties. How might you define a commercial web site? Please keep in mind that web sites often include valuable information, freely offered to the public. Additionally, many educational, government, non-profit and religious organizations have web sites that encourage sale of directories, fund raising items, even encouraging paid membership in the organization. We are interested in language that could clearly distinguish between informational sites and commercial sites.
I am inviting a wide variety of input to assist our Board in addressing this challenging issue. The process will take several months of inquiry and discussion. Thank you for your input..." Ron Cooper, Executive Director, Access Sacramento Board of Directors
Well Mr. Cooper et al...
Freep That!
Dear Mr. Ballard: I have received your e-mail regarding the program "The Naked Preacher Lady" on public access channel 74 Friday's at 11 PM. As a cable subscriber, we understand your concerns and thank you for your inquiry.
As managers of a public access channel, the Board of Directors and I are the stewards of these resources and must abide by all appropriate laws to the best of our ability. By managing a public access channel on a cable television system, Access Sacramento is expected by the Federal Courts to protect the "voice of the speaker". We also strive to honor our role as stewards on behalf of the community, particularly those that find this or any other program offensive or objectionable. The producer/host, Baby Rae, understands the wide latitude allowed by the Courts as "Constitutionally protected speech". To our knowledge, no community has established a "community standard" for determining obscene speech that has been sustained by the Court. If you know of such a community, please bring it to my attention and we will investigate. Therefore, we are prohibited from denying the playback of this program unless it can be proven to be obscene as defined by the Supreme Court. Under advise of our attorney and using this legal definition, "The Naked Preacher Lady" may be considered indecent but is not considered obscene in the eyes of the Court.
However, we do take steps to mitigate the issue to the fullest extent within the law.The behavior and language used by the host on the program is shown only after 11 PM because the Board of Directors insists that adult targeted material, even though considered “protected speech”, never be shown on the public access channel at a time when children are typically viewing television. The Court seems to support this approach using the term "safe harbor hours" when adult targeted material is cablecast only in late night hours. Under advice of our attorney, Access Sacramento must also knowingly adhere to all applicable laws or we could be subject to accusations of censorship and potential litigation. Public Access channel (channel 74 locally) is considered by the Courts to be a forum for Constitutionally protected free speech and it is the submitting producer, not Access Sacramento, who is legally responsible for all programming content. The provider of the program agrees in writing to not violate any applicable laws. If you have any particular legal citations we might investigate, please bring them to my attention. If you wish to pursue this matter in Court with the producer/provider, you may do so. I will forward any questions or concerns you may have to “Baby Rae”.
The Programming Committee of the Access Sacramento Board of Directors is reviewing the issue of commercial web sites prominently used on any access program, particularly "pay-to-tour" sites such as the one referred to on the Baby Rae program. Listing a web site can be interpreted also as protected speech but we are investigating "pay-to-tour" and "900"phone numbers as different from other phone numbers and web site addresses. If you have any comments on this matter they can be addressed to me and we will include them in our reseach.
In this programming example, the speech used includes words and behaviors that you find objectionable. If a cable subscriber finds any cable programming objectionable, the Board of Access Sacramento recommends the following actions be taken. These steps are also consistent with why the Courts find cable television and public access a unique protected forum for a wide range of topics and speech. There are many "choices" one may take to exclude any objectionable material as seen or heard on cable television. We advise the cable subscriber that you have several options to prevent future late night viewing in the home by taking any of the following steps at no cost to the subscriber.
(a) Insist that the offending program not be watched in the home. (b) Contact AT&T Broadband at 927-2225 and ask for instructions on how you may block this or any channel on the cable system from viewing in the home. (c) Stop subscribing to the cable service.
These are steps that are recommended to prevent unwanted "speech" from entering your home and preventing anyone from viewing the material deemed offensive
Thank you for expressing your concerns. I hope you accept my explanation of our reasoning even if you may not agree with the legal interpretations we have made. We do our best in interpreting the applicable law walking the line protecting the rights of the speaker while simultaneously valuing the voices of those who may object.
If you wish to create "counter-programming" encouraging a different point of view, we offer low cost classes and free use of production equipment. Many thousands of wonderful, community building and enriching programs are cablecast annually on Access Sacramento channels 73 and 74. Choose to not watch those programs you object to and please enjoy the many other programs produced by your local neighbors celebrating cultural diversity, religious freedom, and a wide range of topics and perspectives. I can mail this information to you if you are interested. Please contact me directly if you have further questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Ron Cooper, Executive Director
Access Sacramento
4623 T Street
Sacramento, CA. 95819
(916) 456-8600 #112
www.sacramento.org
He did forget d) insist that the public funding be withdrawn from Access Sacramento. Keep on Freeping these people and until they get the message!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.