Dan Coughlin the Executive Director of Manhattan Neighborhood Network - the cable access center for the

Borough - talks about current situation concerning Public Access Television in New York City, the Country

and the World. Particular attention is given to the importance to the New York Citizenry as the Mayors office

has reached agreement in the  franchise negotiations with the Time/Warner and RCN cable television systems.

The results will have a major effect on pubic access television over a 10 years period into the future. There is

also a great deal of discussion about the link up between traditional Cable Public Access and the Internet -

including a community of philosophies about Net Neutrality and other communications issues. He offers much

positive information about recent strong support for Public Access Television by both many local political

authorities and citizens organizations and wide spread support among the general citizenry of the Nation

which has greatly helped to stave off strong attempts to eviscerate the Publics Access to communications

capability by many very well financed special Interest Groups. While he cautions against complacency he

thinks there is much reason for new optimism concerning Public Access Cable Television in the time ahead.