Multiple letters from local officials have been sent to Charter Communications asking them to change the location of the local access station channel.

Two years ago, Charter Communications, also commonly known as Spectrum, changed the local access channel from being at low-numbered stations, channels 5 and 12 to being in the upper channels, 1301 and 1302, where it is difficult for the majority of people in the community to find. Charter said they changed the channel because they were going to put different programs on the channels, yet they still have not done so.

“What underlines (the issue) even more is that (we’ve been) in an emergency situation and not being able to go past that local station could be detrimental to some people who are in need of phone numbers or community help,” said Marcia Merrins, chair of the Fredonia Cable Advisory Board.

Merrins sent a letter to Charter explaining how important it is to have the local access channel at an easily found, low-numbered channel, where it has been for years. According to Merrins, the company has ignored every letter and email sent to them regarding the channel change.

“Fredonia Local Access Television in Western New York exists because of the need for our community to be kept apprised of actions and activities within their locality,” said Merrins.

“At this time, heightened communication to our local communities is paramount as emergencies arise be it closures, testing facilities, hospital needs and more.

“We need our channel to be repositioned where people can find it easily to check on important information as it arises during this pandemic.”

Other letters had the same sentiments as Merrins’, two being sent by William Smith, the supervisor of the town of Pittsford and Howard Maffucci, Monroe County legislator.

“We strongly support our local (access) stations because of the value they provide to our residents,” said Maffucci.

Even in Pittsford, about 100 miles away from the Dunkirk and Fredonia area, they are having the same issues with Charter. “For 25 years our residents were accustomed to finding their local access programming at Channel 12. Despite efforts to publicize the new channel number, many of them wonder where it went,” Smith said.

In some areas, Charter has not even replaced the local access channels with any programming.

“Since the channel change, in our community, channels 12 and 15 haven’t been used for any programming whatsoever,” said Smith. “Thus residents are deprived of their customary and convenient access to content of specific relevance to our community for no discernible purpose. It is important to our residents to be able to find local programming within the same range of channels inhabited by all of the other local stations.”