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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 12, 2004 'Democracy Now' offered through AFN "Democracy Now" and the Free Speech network are now being seen in Ashland, thanks to residents and the members of the Ashland Fiber Network Programming Committee. "It is on Channel 81 on AFN," Wes Brain, chair of the AFN Programming Committee said. "We have a consolidated media that is very homogenized. In fact, the news that comes to us, there is a lot of information that is not reported to us." According to Brain, Free Speech TV is the place where informed people go to get all the news not just what the networks want us to see. "It gives us news that is seen around the world that sometimes is not reported here in this country," he said. "It is important for our democracy to have an informed populace. For people to be able to vote and to be able to participate in democracy, they need to be informed." The main program on Free Speech TV is "Democracy Now" hosted by Amy Goodman. "Many people say Amy Goodman is the best progressive journalist in this country," Brain said. "She is with the Pacifica Network, WBAI in New York. It is a radio program but they put a camera on Amy and Free Speech TV carries her live at 5 a.m. Pacific Time." Goodman's show is also rebroadcast twice daily for those who do not rise early. Free Speech TV is only available in Ashland through AFN or by Dish Network satellite service. It literally took the five years of operation to get the program on the air. "When the committee first got together we had a blank blackboard where we would put what channels we wanted on AFN," Brain recalled. "One of the first programs that went on the board was Free Speech TV. It wasn't easy to get it. It is offered by the Dish Network. We learned the only other way it is offered is by franchise agreements between access television stations and FSTV. The Ashland Fiber Network worked with RVTV to help us out to put Free Speech TV on the air." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams