A discussion of hybrid open source and proprietary licensing models.

[Tom Poe <tompoe AT fngi.net>]

Iowa enacted a law in April of this year, taking state control of 
community franchise contracts.  The law gives legal weight to 
communities for obtaining public, education, government (PEG) channels 
for their communities.  Communities with less than 50,000 population are 
entitled to 2 PEG channels.  These are analog channels we generally call 
public access tv channels.  It's important to recognize that a tv 
broadcast station can be realized simply by taking a low-end computer 
that is donated, load it with audio and video software freely available 
from Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in Music and 
Acoustics, add a microphone, camera, and one now has a community-based 
recording studio that produces the same quality tv and radio shows as 
the major broadcast networks produce. 

It's also important to recognize that each analog channel translates, on 
February 9, 2009, into 8 digital channels, i.e., each analog channel can 
handle 8 digital channels.  It would seem, that in the state of Iowa, on 
February 10, 2009, some 80,000 digital channels could simulataneously 
hit the airwaves with live interactive tv and radio talk shows, all of 
which will be recorded, and syndicated throughout the nation, and around 
the world.  That's 80,000 channels, and how many shows each day, all 
hitting the airwaves!   Up until today, it was an expensive proposition 
to establish and maintain a community public access tv station.  On 
February 10, 2009, even those communities with 600 residents will be 
entitled to, and be able to afford, operate 16 PEG channels.  Believe 
me, Iowans have a lot to say on a lot of topics dear to their hearts.  :)

So, as I move forward to make sure the state of Iowa's fiber optic 
network (used for broadcasting Iowa Public TV, which blankets almost all 
of Iowa, is providing that last mile solution for every community, I 
need to know if live interactive tv and radio shows have an appropriate 
CC license to display on every show produced.  Any ideas appreciated.
Tom Poe, Charles City, Iowa