APT Commission Names Replacements

by: DamnedLiberal

Sun Aug 19, 2012 at 02:05:29 AM CDT

( - promoted by countrycat)

The Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) met to vote on replacements for Executive Director Allan Pizzato (fired, and now suing the AETC) and for COO Charles Grantham (who's turned in a letter of resignation). APT

Interesting, too, that ATEC Chairman Ferris Stephens sees no problem with political appointments to AETC. It's "majority rule", dontchaknow.

Read about it here. What wasn't said at the meeting is as interesting as what was discussed.

The meeting was gaveled to order at 3:07 p.m. (commissioner Rodney Herring was a late arrival). It was formally adjourned at 3:20 p.m. There was no invitation for public comment or discussion. I asked chairman Stephens about this, after the meeting: Why was there no public discussion. He said he simply hadn't thought about it, saying there was never any public attendance at AETC meetings. However, this letter to Governor Bentley, indicates that at least one member of the public has previously attended an AETC meeting, another specially-called meeting on July 31. I have to wonder if the reason for not inviting public discussion might have something to do with the published minutes. Would public discussion become part of the recorded minutes? There was ample discussion AFTER the meeting was adjourned.

And if you haven't read it, this letter from Wendy Reed to Governor Bentley is a must-read.

DamnedLiberal :: APT Commission Names Replacements

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APT Commission Names Replacements | 5 comments

That's a great summation of the meeting! (4.00 / 1)

Thanks for that, DamnedLiberal.

Mooncat and I learned while covering the PACT board meetings that the "good stuff" happens at the end of the meeting - after the TV cameras leave. And that the "meetings after the meeting" are the best source of info about what's going on.

The PACT board never allowed for public comment except for that first "public comment" meeting they held when the news broke that they had totally mismanaged the program. After having their ears blistered by angry parents & grandparents, I'm not surprised they weren't willing to repeat the experience.

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - John Kenneth Galbraith

by: countrycat @ Sun Aug 19, 2012 at 13:11:58 PM UTC

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Good info and a GREAT letter by Ms. Reed! (4.00 / 2)

by: Gayla @ Sun Aug 19, 2012 at 15:47:33 PM UTC

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2 things have come to the light after this whole situation (4.00 / 2)

1) BBC needs to make its "BBC World News" channel fully accessible to all American cable and satellite providers as a channel for fair and objective news because it probably won't be the first nor the last time a conservative state will try to sabotage a statewide PBS member station network for demagoguery.

2) The University of Alabama at Birmingham needs to get a license for a PBS member TV station for the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston TV market. They already own WBHM-FM, which is Birmingham's NPR affiliate station, so it would make sense. Atlanta has a backup PBS station, WPBA, which is owned by the Atlanta Public Schools (along with WABE-FM) so if the Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPTV) decides to pull a stunt like APT has they will have an affiliate that still airs the programming.

I would advise UAH to repurchase the broadcasting license for WHIQ back from AETC so they can reclaim control over PBS programming for the Huntsville-Florence TV market.

I'm past tired of watching the more progressive urban areas of Alabama suffer because of the ass-backwards mentality of some of these demagogues.

"Hypocrites are those whom pick and choose prejudices while giving accolades for their own..."
"It is what it is."

http://blkindependent.blogspot...

by: kayman @ Sun Aug 19, 2012 at 20:27:15 PM UTC

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As I understand it, AETC holds the license for WLRH in Huntsville (4.00 / 2)

I wonder how much it would cost to buy WLRH's license.

If I was a gazillionare, I would buy that license and set up some kind of trust or something to hold it.

And monkeys may fly out of my butt...

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
- John Adams

by: herding old cats @ Tue Aug 21, 2012 at 01:41:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh they do (4.00 / 1)

WLRH was originally owned by UAH (like WBHM with UAB), but AETC took control of it.

"Hypocrites are those whom pick and choose prejudices while giving accolades for their own..."
"It is what it is."

http://blkindependent.blogspot...

by: kayman @ Wed Aug 22, 2012 at 16:23:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]