🚀 go-pugleaf

My name is Michael Lee Goetz, sr. and I am President of the Metro 
Television Network, a Texas nonprofit corporation promoting National 
Standards For PA Television. Since I first entered the net last month, 
many people have asked about me and MTN......the following is an attempt 
to answer some of those questions. 

        I live in Carrollton, Texas. My family moved here from the Houston 
area in the mid 70's. I went to Carrollton  Elementary, DeWitt Perry 
Junior High, and Newman Smith High School. In 1980 I left my hometown of 
Carrollton to join the Air Force. After serving my country for almost 10 
years, and playing football at the University of Miami ( I studied 
Philosophy and Film/TV) I decided to come home to my hometown to get 
closer to my family and roots ('91). My father died a few days after 
seeing my first show ('92). The combination of these events, and many 
others, caused me to think more about my hometown rather than myself. I 
have 2 sons now; one in High School and a new baby.
        I have spent the the last 4 years fighting to exercise my free 
speech on tv....Public Access. I am constantly fighting TCI to keep my 
show THE HOMETOWN on the air. Although my show contains no nudity or 
profanity I have confirmed at least 289 cases of Censorship by TCI (this 
was confirmed by a TCI representative on tape); I have at least 100 other 
cases where my show was not seen due to "Technical Difficulties". Although 
TCI rules say that TCI will replace all missed airtimes they miss; TCI - 
till this day - still refuses to make up any airtime.
        In 1993, after complying to the City of Carrollton for almost a 
year about TCI repeated "Technical Difficulties" I decided to do an 
Investigative Report on the Problems of PA in Carrollton, Texas. The 
report included taped phone interviews (not everyone knew) with the City 
Manager, Dan Johnson and TCI employees ..... Although the report was 
truthful it was taken of the air 3 days after it began airing (ON A SUNDAY 
- WHEN TCI WAS CLOSED). I fought for nearly 3 months to get my show back 
on the air. I ran up a $1200 phone bill (I still am trying to pay) and I 
have complained to everyone from TCI, City Hall, FCC, Congress, President 
Clinton, Ex-Texas Governor Ann Richards, Texas State Attorney General Dan 
Morales,  CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, David Letterman, Ross Perot, PBS, Nightline, 
Primetime Live, A current Affair, Hard Copy,  and allot other people. I 
have also filed lawsuits; just to have the cases thrown out because of 
technicalities.... I had to represent myself after being turned down by 
every attorney I could Talk to.
        In the end, I now have lost over 90% of my airtime on TCI (I don't 
think they like my editorials criticizing them and the city). TCI still 
refuses to make up any of the hundreds of "Technical Difficulties", TCI 
and the City have Blacklisted me; and I have found it very hard to keep a 
roof over me and my family.
        I have learned allot about life and PA. In 1993 I founded the 
"Metro Television Network" to help people communicate. Tv is powerful, and 
PA as provided by the cable companies is the best way I have found to pull 
people together and let them know what is happening in their hometown. PA 
can help promote local charities, establish 2 way communication between 
The People and City Hall, Promote local Education / sports / and Drama, 
allow people to exercise their free speech ( a fundamental element of 
Democracy missing today), and it will even help the economy by allowing 
local small businesses to be seen providing Public Service Information 
.... THE  GYM sponsors a segment on a PA show providing health tips 
..........or.... A bank sponsors a local charity or food drive and are 
mentioned as doing so on PA.
        I have Learned allot about PA and now that I have discovered the 
net, I am learning that I am not alone.
The worst thing about PA is that every community has different rules 
....although it is Illegal for a city or cable company to Censor a PA show 
many cities have strict rules (written and unwritten) about what they will 
allow on the PA channel ..... If we can agree on some basic rules about 
this nonprofit channel of free speech; I believe everyone wins........ the 
cable companies will have an edge over their other competitors in the 
Communications Industry (Like satellite for instances) ... the Cities 
would not have to worry about lawsuits (to much) for Censoring the PA ( If 
the rules were universal and clear cut it would be obvious if they are 
Censoring)..... and a grass roots communication network would help our 
communities.

I believe this is a good cause at the right time.... but I cannot do it 
alone. Please help.
  
COMMENTS:
mgoetz@conline.com
(214) 913-1562