Rehoboth Board Says it was Censored

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2010/06/26/news/7599393.txt

Rehoboth board says it was censored
BY LAURA CALVERLEY FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Saturday, June 26, 2010 2:15 AM EDT

Planning broadcasts halted abruptly
REHOBOTH - The planning board has accused the group that broadcasts its meetings of censorship for abruptly terminating the live cablecast of two of the board's recent sessions.

The board called the alleged action "a gross violation of their existing contract," in a letter dated June 17 to the board of selectmen, Rehoboth Public Access Corporation, known as RePAC, and Comcast.

Copies were also sent to the Massachusetts Attorney General and Bristol County District Attorney.

The meetings took place May 19 and June 16. According to the planning board, in May the board was discussing a recent document request made by Selectmen Chairman Ken Foley pertaining to two town subdivisions, Rocky Run Phase I and Kingsley Estates.

The public access cameraman received a cell phone call and board members noticed that the meeting was no longer being shown on a television monitor. According to the planning board, when they asked about it, the cameraman, Carl Chace, said that he was told to discontinue the live cable cast of the meeting, but continue the recording.

"We felt immediately that it was censorship, and against RePAC's contract with the town and possibly violated state and federal laws on censorship," Planning board Chairman Mike Costello said.

On June 16, the planning board was discussing the broadcast termination of the May 19 meeting when the live cable cast was again terminated. This time "the termination originated from a remote location," according to the June 17 letter.

The planning board said that RePAC is required to cablecast town board and committee meetings as part of its agreement with the town and asked selectmen to "take harsh and immediate action" against the cable access provider.

"The behavior of RePAC is deplorable, illegal and must be stopped immediately," the letter from Costello states.

RePAC denies any censorship.

Ed Schagrin, the vice chairman of RePAC's board of directors, disputed Costello's version of what happened, saying a technical problem occurred June 16.

Schagrin refused to comment on the May 19 date.

"The charge of censorship is unfounded. There was a technical problem (on June 16), which happens sometimes. It has happened to other board meetings. We resolve the problem as soon as possible," said Schagrin.

He also said the meetings have been rebroadcast on the government channel since then, and are available on video on-demand on RePAC's web site, repac9.org. As to the allegations that RePAC violated its contract with the town, Schagrin says that the references by the planning board have to do with a "public access channel," which RePAC does not currently offer.

"The government channel and educational channel have different federal rules that apply to them compared to a public access channel," said Schagrin.

The planning board meetings are cable cast on the government channel, Channel 9, on Comcast in Rehoboth.

Laura Calverley covers Rehoboth for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at lcalverley@aol.com.