The latest local media saga isn't about mergers; it's a story of a family business in conflict with local government - along with concern about government-controlled media.

When the Greece School Board meets on June 12, it will likely discuss whether the district should take over the operations of the Gates and Greece public-access cable channels. The channels show government meetings as well as resident-produced programming such as travel and talk shows.

For years, the two towns have been among the 17 municipalities that contract with Greece-based Edu-Cable to operate public-access cable channels 12 and 15. Edu-Cableserves municipalities on the west side of Monroe County and in eastern Orleans County - even Byron and Bergen in Genesee County. But the proposed takeover has raised the ire of some viewers as well as public-access advocates. While it's a blow to an established, family-owned business, critics also charge that the move is a power grab that could stifle free speech.

About 20 people spoke during a May 22 Greece School Board meeting, with the majority opposing the district takeover. Several speakers said it would be like letting the fox guard the henhouse.

The two towns and the school district say that's not the case. It's a matter of getting a better product at an equal or better price, says Gates Supervisor Ralph Esposito. And Greece town and school officials say the new arrangement will be a good educational opportunity for district students.

The public-access channel will be run by at least one Greece School District staff member - most likely on a part-time basis, says Rob Linton, who helped develop the curriculum for the district's broadcasting program. The program, which will start in the fall, will be open to all Greece high school students.

The students would be involved in the studio either as volunteers or as part of broadcasting classes, Linton says. They won't be involved in editing or programming decisions, he says.

It's a troublesome time for public-access cable in general. There have been attempts to pass state and federal legislation weakening regulations that require cable companies to provide public-access channels.

Independent not-for-profits once ruled public access. But such groups are starting to feel pressure from political interests, says Edu-Cable director Brian Caterino. And government takeovers of public-access channels are becoming increasingly common.

"In one sense, your public access is being bought out," says Caterino.

Edu-Cable was founded more than 25 years ago by Caterino's father, Sal Caterino. The fledgling operation, with one camera and one engineer, was located in an old garage on Lee Road near Lexington Avenue, which Caterino rented for $45 a month.

After his father's death, Brian Caterino took over the business, which now owns its own facility on Ridgeway Avenue. And like his father before him, he sees what he does not so much as a way to make money -there's not much to be made, he says - but as a public service.

"The idea is to get people into the public forum," says Caterino.

Municipalities negotiate contracts with cable companies who want to offer service within their boundaries. The contracts include payments, called franchise fees, to the municipalities. Municipalities can also ask that certain channels be set aside for PEG (public, educational, and government) access channels.

In 2006, Greece received more than $1 million in franchise fees from Time Warner; Gates received about $220,000. Edu-Cable was given 4 percent of each franchise fee: about $40,000 from Greece and about $8,800 from Gates.

Caterino's model for operating the channels has been simple. He takes submissions from residents and governments alike and, as long as they are viewable and meet state standards, he airs the programs. He works with station volunteers to tape government meetings and events, some of which are required by contracts with the individual municipalities. In addition, residents and elected officials alike have gone to the studio to tape programs.

Caterino insists that an independent group can facilitate an on-air public forum better than a government entity. "That's the way access should be run," he says.

Caterino and his supporters worry that the towns or the school district could suppress programs that express unfavorable views. They may look for "safe, bland, non-threatening programming," says Caterino.

Greece and Gates town officials deny that material will be censored.

"We have never done that in the past and will never do that in the future," says Kathryn Firkins, spokesperson for the Town of Greece.

Caterino's station has done a good job for Gates, says Esposito. But he and Greece officials say they see an opportunity for better quality programming for less money.

The Greece district is already equipped to operate a public-access station, says Firkins. A television studio was incorporated into renovations at Greece Olympia High School (though the $600,000-plus facility has sat unused since 2004). And residents will be able to submit their tapes as they always have, as long as they follow state-established guidelines, Firkins says.

During the May 22 School Board meeting, district officials gave a presentation about the public-access proposal, including guidelines for submissions. Tapes would be excluded if they contained, among other things, advertising (including ads of political candidates), obscene or indecent material, slanderous material, or "deliberate misinformation."

But Caterino raises some objections about the guidelines. He argues that political candidates have a right to submit programs (but not paid political advertising). And he argues that risqué material also has its place - though it should be shown late at night to prevent children from viewing it, he says.

Gates and Greece officials argue that they are not trailblazers. Other municipalities run public-access channels and do it well, they say. As an example, Firkins points to Brighton, where the school district runs programming on Channel 15. But the town contracts out operations for Channel 12 to Video Propulsion Inc. Channel 15 carries school-related programming, while Channel 12 shows government meetings and resident-produced programs.

In Penfield, the town operates both public-access cable channels - 12 and 15 - itself. One channel shows public meetings and programs produced by governments, including the Penfield and Webster school districts. The other is community access, carrying programs from residents, community groups, and organizations. Penfield's is a full broadcast facility able to provide coverage of live events.

The station is an extension of open government, says David Renner, cable coordinator for the Town of Penfield and station manager for Penfield Community Television. It's a town department, and staff members provide video of town meetings and public hearings.

And censorship, he says, has not been an issue.

"It's like the town crier," says Renner. "This is your soap box."

A seven-member citizen advisory board guides policy and ensures that the station remains citizen driven, says Renner. Citizens who have complaints can take them to the advisory board.

In the past five years, there has been one complaint, as far as Renner can recall. That involved a viewer offended over a program showing a woman in a bikini. (The program was moved to a later time slot.)

Tech impacts public access, too

It's no secret that the internet is having a broad impact on traditional media. Newspapers, television, and radio are facing competition from websites and blogs.

And with the advent of YouTube and other sites distributing user-generated content, public access cable is facing the same issues: retaining audience and relevancy in the digital age.

Even 10 years ago, producing high-quality video for broadcast required expensive equipment or even some time in a studio, says David Renner, cable coordinator for the Town of Penfield and station manager for Penfield Community Television. Public-access television was there to help the average citizen bring ideas to the small screen.

But now, video cameras are inexpensive, and videos can be edited at home on computers.

"People now have that power in the palm of their hand," says Renner.

Locally, public access is more than just a random mish-mash of videos, however. The stations - with names like Cable 12 West, Fairport Area Community Television, and Irondequoit Cable Access Television - have organized schedules of developed programming. And it's all geared toward local interests.

"Access has really developed into something fascinating in the Rochester area," says Tom Proietti, a communications professor at Monroe Community College.

And while local content and information can be found on the web, both through YouTube and local newspaper and television websites, public access is the medium where you can see your neighbors teach cooking or expound on local issues.

In Webster, for example, the public-access channel carries a program on town history as well as a variety of religious programming by the community's churches.

While the internet may be changing public access, Renner and others don't see it as a threat. Rather, they see it an opportunity to reach a broader audience. The Town of Brighton is pursuing technology aggressively: it will soon provide internet video of its meetings, says town communications director Melissa Hantman. A redesign of Brighton's website is under way and, when the new incarnation is launched in August, it will have streaming video capabilities.

Penfield, which provides internet video of its board meetings and other public meetings, hopes to have a streaming feed over the internet soon, as well as an FM simulcast, says Renner.

Audiences, says Renner, "are going to go to any source that makes it available."