Would County Cable, Health Boards be Useful?
Posted 04-15-1998
This month I would like to share with you two issues that have been presented to the
County Commissioners. Hopefully I can receive input as to whether county government should
delve into these issues or whether we should not even attempt to get into areas that to
this point, county government has no role. The issues are, establishment of a county
health department and creation of a county-wide cable television board.
Recently some municipal officials contacted
us about the creation of a health department. They wondered why, unlike our neighbors in
Allegheny County, we have no health department. Part of the reason is that Allegheny
County's larger urban population merits the service of a county health department and,
Pennsylvania's county code does not mandate third class counties to have a county health
department. Since there is no mandate for a health department, we would have to fund it
completely with local dollars.
In most counties, except Allegheny and
Philadelphia, public health issues are carried out by the State Department of Health. I'm
not completely sure what prompted some local officials to contact us about a health
department, but I think it had to do with inspections of restaurants and unhealthy, unsafe
dwellings. I do not think it had to do with a concern over public health issues such as
the spread of communicable diseases.
So what do you think? Is there a need for
the creation of another department for county government? Are your needs not being met by
the current efforts of the State Department of Health? Please let me know how you feel.
The issue of a county-wide cable television
board has come to light recently when we met with a group that is frustrated with some
local cable providers who ignore Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations
concerning public access broadcasting. This group presented to us a scenario where cable
providers do not make public access channels available as the FCC requires. Another issue
identified was one of municipal governments negotiating their own contracts that can
sometimes result in cable providers not always living up to their responsibilities.
Often the complexities of FCC regulations
with contracts are not easily understood and enforced by municipal governments. The
benefits they should be enjoying are not being realized and apparently cable providers,
who are well-versed in the intricacies of FCC regulations, don't always volunteer
information.
The FCC does now permit countywide cable
boards that could serve to oversee the entire process of cable television service. Rather
than having each municipality negotiate their own contract, the cable board, appointed by
the commissioners, would negotiate contracts. Supposedly, the cable board would also be
better equipped to ensure cable providers carry out their contractual obligations.
As a consumer I am quite frustrated with
the cable provider's level of service in Greensburg. I don't think they offer the
programming choices that should be available and I have never seen public access
programming. However, I am not sure if by creating another board, and the county becoming
the negotiating entity for cable contracts, is the way to go. We certainly have enough on
our plate right now and effectively managing the programs we already have is quite a
challenge. But I would be interested in knowing what you think about this issue also.
County government is here to serve and if
you believe these issues I've mentioned should be explored, let me know. If you think we
should not expand the scope of county government, let met know that too. |
