Concerned about the treatment of consumers, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, joined by Wisconsin Senators Kohl and Feingold and Representatives Kagen and Moore, has sent a letter to Charter Communications President and CEO Neil Smit, regarding the company’s plans to carry Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) channels only in the digital format. Such plans would require analog cable subscribers to buy or rent special equipment to receive those channels.

PEG television promotes open government, provides educational opportunities for children, and allows communities to easily convey information to citizens. PEG channels, such as Madison City Channel 4, Sun Prairie Kids 4, FACTv Fitchburg, others in Beloit, Cambridge, Deerfield, Jefferson, Lake Mills, McFarland, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Verona, Waterloo, Whitewater, and more around the state, are locally funded, produced, and viewed.

“As a long time supporter of this diverse, community-based programming, I believe all video service subscribers should be able to view PEG channels. I hope and trust that Charter can find a way to serve the public interest and protect its own bottom line,” said Congresswoman Baldwin.

Charter is proceeding with plans to relocate PEG channels in a line-up that PEG Access Television advocates say will likely jeopardize viewership and consumer awareness of this programming. While Charter has said it will delay the switch to a digital format indefinitely, Congresswoman Baldwin and her colleagues are concerned that, without any effective oversight, the company could choose to prevent access to public access channels by subscribers who are unable or unwilling to invest in new digital equipment.

Mary Cardona, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels (WAPC) said, “WAPC is very grateful to Rep. Tammy Baldwin for her continuing leadership on this issue and to Representatives Kagen and Moore and Senators Kohl and Feingold who, by signing on to this letter, are saying to our communities that they recognize the importance of PEG. We hope that Charter and the FCC listen and act to protect our channels