And New York City has become the latest metropolitan area to pass a bill in support of local control over public access media. On Wednesday, New York’s City Council unanimously passed a measure opposing the proposed Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act. Among several controversial provisions, the COPE bill would cut back the obligation of cable TV companies to devote channels to public access and fund the facilities to run them. It also would replace local cable franchises with national franchises. According to the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, over eighty cities or towns have proposed or passed resolutions similar to the one in New York City.