LOS ALAMITOS : Cable C-Span Cuts Spark Petition Drive

Residents are circulating a petition demanding that the local cable television company restore 24-hour broadcasting of public affairs and other government-related issues.

Donna McDonnalltold the City Council this week that Paragon Cable has “severely curtailed” C-Span 1 broadcasts since early this month. She said broadcast is now limited to a few hours a day, instead of 24 hours as in the past.

C-Span 1 broadcasts proceedings of the House of Representatives confirmation hearings for prospective justices of the Supreme Court and other congressional hearings. It also offers viewers a chance to talk to elected officials through call-in shows.

McDonnall said that C-Span 2, which also covers public affairs, is broadcast 24 hours, but does not feature the congressional coverage that C-Span 1 provides.

“I had always been interested in what’s going on in our government,” said McDonnall, 52. “An informed electorate helps the democratic process.”

She said Paragon Cable did not notify subscribers about the change. The city was not notified, either, said Assistant City Manager Gerard Goedhart.

But Goedhart said that Paragon officials will meet next week with representatives of cities the company serves. Changes related to the federal law passed last year regulating cable television will be discussed, he said.

Don Weddle, Paragon Cable’s public relations director, said that since July 2, C-Span 1 has been sharing time with Coast Community College. He said the company decided to keep it on the air despite a survey last year that showed C-Span had the least viewership.

“It hurts us to curtail C-Span,” Weddle said. “The cable industry built C-Span, we put a lot of money into it.”

Weddle said that 24-hour broadcasting will be restored “sometime in the middle of next year,” when Paragon Cable expands and rebuilds its system.