Yesterday, Harold Feld blogged about what the lawsuit in Michigan might mean in the future for other states’ dealings between PEG channels and cable operators. In particular, whether PEG channels will continue to be included in the “basic tier” of channel package options offered by digital cable providers. Feld also raises the question of what will happen after the digital television transition, as I blogged about earlier.

“I expect fights over the basic package and the meaning of Section 623(b)(8) to become much more common, as cable operators try to migrate more popular programming to digital and look to stop carrying analog after the digital transition. For me, the real question is: “Will the FCC weigh in?” If so, when, and how?”

Read the rest of Feld’s post, “Follow Up On MI PEG Lawsuit“.

In February 2009, all analog television sets will go dark. Those who don’t have a digital converter box at that time won’t be able to watch television . . . period. But what does the digital television transition mean for the future of public access TV?

The answer might lie somewhere right now in Michigan and Florida.

Cable carriers in Michigan and Florida are trying to push and have pushed public access channels far up into the channel lineup of their digital cable service. PEG channels might soon go up into the 900s in Michigan and in Florida they’ve already moved into the 600s. But as BloggingBroadband.com asks about the case in Michigan:

“Is it really true that ‘Customers who choose to take only our most basic level of service receive all local PEG channels as part of that basic service today, and they will continue to receive those PEG channels on the basic service tier when they are digitized,’ as Comcast’s letter to the Chairman asserts?”

BloggingBroadband.com goes on to ask:

“Should cable companies, which use the public’s rights-of-way to deliver their services and to make a profit, be permitted to marginalize their PEG obligations because direct broadcast satellite operators – which use no public rights-of-way to deliver service – are not required to carry PEG programming?”

The Detroit Free Press writes that the move into the 900s would “require subscribers with analog televisions to buy digital, cable-ready TVs or rent or buy a digital converter box for each set.”

In February 2009, the rest of the country will have to do the same. But what does it mean for PEG channels? Events taking place in Michigan and Florida right now might provide a clearer picture into the future.