TRAVERSE CITY -- David Poinsett produces local television programming and doesn't want area residents to miss shows he or anyone else creates here.
But he's concerned that could happen if Charter Communications follows through on plans to rearrange where certain public, educational and government access channels -- or PEG channels -- are located.
"I think it weakens our access to this great community resource," Poinsett said.
Traverse City officials also oppose Charter's plans to shake up the access channels and expect to file suit against the cable provider within the next week. They've hired two law firms experienced in such cases to take on the chore.
"The city commission is hoping they can accomplish a result that will bring Charter to the table so we can discuss what will happen to the PEG channels," city attorney Karrie Zeits said.
She wasn't sure if a suit will be filed in state or federal court.
Charter intends to move Up North 2 and Northwestern Michigan College 13 to analog channels 96 and 97, respectively, as early as Dec. 1. That would place the channels next to Traverse City Area Public Schools 98 and Government Access 99.
City concerns include other potential Charter plans to move all four public access channels into the digital tier's 900-block, as well as moving Up North 2 and NMC 13 to 96 and 97, where picture and sound interference from FM radio stations sometimes occurs, Zeits said.
Charter officials would not discuss a potential court battle with the city.
"We have not had an opportunity to review the lawsuit and as a rule we don't comment on pending litigation," said Tim Ransberger, Charter's government relations director for Michigan. He declined additional comment.
Ransberger previously said Charter is trying to free up bandwidth to provide additional high definition services to cable subscribers.
City Commissioner Jody Bergman said the city's aim is to protect public assets.
"We're trying to support public television. We feel that is a cause to attempt to see where we can go with it," Bergman said.
Some local groups support the city's effort to block Charter's changes.
"The decision to do this is arbitrary, from our point of view, and discriminating to public, educational and government access channels by moving them to channels that are not as good of quality and moving them into the 990 digital channels," said Joe VanderMeulen, executive director at the Land Information Access Association in Traverse City.
The nonprofit agency is contracted to operate Up North 2 and Government 99.
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay launched a program on Up North 2 this week, and plans to produce four such episodes a year, said Andy Knott, executive director.
"We're concerned that kind of a move would mean fewer people would see not just our program, but also other programs on the channel," Knott said.
Zeits said Charter uses city right-of-way to provide service to customers, a situation that may provide some leverage.
"We should have some say in how these PEG channels are delivered to the public," she said.
Zeits hopes the lawsuit brings an injunction to stop Charter's planned channel changes until the case can be heard in court, she said.
