Kudos to the Marin Grand Jury on the findings regarding Marin’s telecommunications disconnect (Marin IJ, June 15), albeit it is more than 10 years late.
If, as recommended, the Marin Telecommunications Agency, a Joint Powers Authority, is dissolved, that laudable action will be long overdue.
The report of June 6 correctly states “the Marin Telecommunications Agency was intended to provide leadership, coordination and policy guidance in the county. However, it has abandoned these functions.”
As the Grand Jury’s report clearly spells out, unlike other communities, Marin is years behind for cost effective high-speed fiber optics broadband to our homes.
The county has allowed the duopoly of telecom and cable companies to dictate the rules and the companies’ investments based on profitability, not what is best for our residents. The MTA and Marin County government were urged by Media Action Marin for years about the growing “digital divide” between the haves and have nots, yet they ignored it.
As watchdogs of the MTA since approximately 2000, members of Media Action Marin tried to educate the MTA’s revolving JPA membership about the need to represent all of Marin’s populations.
MAM lobbied the MTA tirelessly to require Comcast to honor the provisions of federal regulations to broadcast free public media. MTA subsequently established the Community Media Center of Marin, which operates Marin TV. CMCM is a nonprofit created to have public channels for public access, education and government.
The Grand Jury only scratches the surface of dysfunction at the MTA. The Grand Jury need to take a deep look at other Marin JPAs because the way they are structured results in having revolving members, not up to speed with issues, relying on staff reports that are often skewed.
Marin residents must speak up to preserve our jewel — the Community Media Center and Marin TV.
June 22, 2019
Marin Independent Journal
Letter from Bruce Baum, San Anselmo
No comments:
Post a Comment