Comment
Comcast and Time Warner Cable have been asked to show how the merger is in the public's best interest in order to secure approval. We contend that in Warren and Washington Counties the merger would serve the best interest of the public by carrying the Mountain Lake PBS signal. Mountain Lake PBS (MLPBS) is chartered to serve Warren and Washington Counties, but our signal is not carried currently by the local cable provider in the area, Time Warner Cable. This deprives citizens of relevant local, non-commercial and educational content. MLPBS provides local news coverage of Adirondack Park environmental and political issues unique to this region. We broadcast important political debates for offices in Warren and Washington Counties, but our broadcast signal does not reach viewers in those counties. MLPBS offers an extensive lineup of cultural programming that focuses on life in Upstate New York and the Adirondack region, but viewers in two of the most populous Adirondack counties can¿t watch it. Below is a recap of the strong case for Mountain Lake PBS in Warren and Washington Counties: -MLPBS provides a unique cable offering with programming customized to our broadcast area. -MLPBS is engaged in important community dialogues and works in collaboration with numerous organizations whose mission extends to the entire Adirondack Park region including ANCA, Adirondack Non-Profit Network and The Common Ground Alliance. -We offer an extensive lineup of programming that focuses on Upstate New York and the Adirondacks. Attached is a document with a partial list of local programming. -We already have strong relationships throughout the two counties. In 2012, we held our premiere of "Lake Defenders" a documentary about invasive species in New Yorks waterways at the Sagamore Hotel on Lake George. -We have a willingness to create and produce new programming based on people, events and places in Warren and Washington Counties. For example, preliminary discussions have started on holding a televised roundtable discussion on domestic violence in the North Country. The idea for this originated from the volunteer work being done by the Queensbury Women¿s Bar Association. This is the type of programming MLPBS can do that is based on real people and events in Warren/Washington Counties. -Ability to cover local events like the NY21 congressional debate that was unavailable to Warren and Washington Counties in the last election. MLPBS actually produced this program in Warren County but the broadcast was unavailable to residents in the region. Adding Warren and Washington counties to the MLPBS territory will ensure voters across the NY 21 Congressional District, as well as NY Senate and Assembly Districts, will receive important coverage of debates and other political events. -During the 2014 election season MLPBS continues its election coverage by providing a platform for candidates on its various public affairs programs and by broadcasting the Congressional debates. The recent debate held in Watertown between Republican primary candidates Elise Stefanik and Matt Doheny was covered by MLPBS, but was not carried in Warren and Washington Counties. -MLPBS has the technology to provide Warren and Washington Counties with the highest quality signal. -Warren and Washington counties are part of the Mountain Lake PBS charter. The Public Service Commission is charged with ensuring the merger serves the best interests of the public. In Warren and Washington Counties the best interest of the public will be served by carrying the MLPBS signal. With the ability to provide a unique cable offering along with high quality customized programming including news, cultural programming and political coverage for the region, MLPBS presents a compelling package for Warren and Washington County citizens as established under our founding charter. We are asking the Public Service Commission to address this in these proceedings.