Legal Question in Entertainment Law in Iowa
Cable television show
A group of students want to organize a cable television program on the local cable network about several current student suicides. (The local cable company has an agreement with both the town and school to provide one channel each for their own uses.) The students ask the school board if they can use the channel, but due to a concern of 'copycat suicides', and church beliefs causes the board to say no. The students then start to protest. Does to board have a right to say no to the students?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Cable Television Show - Public Access Channel Regulation
The use of a public access cable channel is normally regulated by the local franchising authority for cable tv in that particular geographical area (often this authority is the public utility commission).
The franchising authority will have rules in relation to establishment and use of a public access channel. Some authority in relation to the operation of the public access channel may also be delegated to a supervising board or access channel manager.
So the answer to your question will normally involve a mix of public, private and mixed nonprofit regulation.
To find out what rights students may have, including rights of appeal from the decision of the school board, the first place to start is with the local cable tv franchising authority.
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