Just a daily reminder that in the middle of a pandemic, and whilst community newspapers are being gutted and media ownership becomes more concentrated and generally less diverse, @PaulFletcherMP is standing by a 6 year old decision to close local TV @C31Melbourne on June 30.

Remember - there is no immediate benefit to the public to enforcing this decision right now. No digital dividend from the sale of the spectrum is possible for the next 3-5 years. Its costs the taxpayer zilch.

The rationale for the decision in 2014 was "we need the spectrum now". The rationale for the decision in 2020 is "we've given you six years". Its a tragic example of Government fearing a perception of weakness in changing their minds.

The tragedy is that @MRowlandMP is a great supporter of CTV and if she was now Comms Minister I'm confident that @C31Melbourne would now be working in partnership with the Govt as stakeholders rather than as adversaries to be defeated.

There is no strength in @PaulFletcherMP punching down at Community TV. Strength would be to include CTV in discussions where the licencees have some agency over their futures rather than being patronised or treated as "spectrum squatters". CTV is in the Broadcast Services Act

and the RadComms Act. Its exists in law and the Objects of these Act provide for the existence of CTV on Free To Air broadcast spectrum. These laws haven't changed. It would be interesting to test this law and how it relates to the current situation with CTV

If there is anyone out there in the Legal Twitter community willing to take a look at this pro bono I'm sure @C31Melbourne would appreciate it. The whole thing stinks and with one month to go lets get behind #communitytv and lets #keeplocaltv