Charles Gaulkin of the Oyster Bay Community Media and the Public Access movement of Long Island was interested in the recent Cablevision contract. "It will be raised by a surcharge on the bill," he said. "Some will pay more than others - whatever is 5 percent of their bill."

Cablevision will pass along to their customers the 5 percent franchise fee they are paying the Town of Oyster Bay. "That is the down part of the contract," he said. "The fee is paid by you and me."

But, he said, the town did get a promise of a studio - even though it will take two years to get it. "Even though they have their present facility in Hicksville," he said.

He was pleased that the contract has given the town a second public access channel. They have added Channel 79 to Channel 80. Still he said the viewer may find it less than appealing since 79 is showing a half hour promotional loop for Cablevision.

"We in the Oyster Bay Community Media are going to make sure that when Oyster Bay programming expands it's not country music fiddling time," he said.

That has been the problem; since Cablevision doesn't appear to want to use public access programs, they tend to show country music to fill the time slots, he said.

Mr. Gaulkin would like to develop a system of having complete coverage of public hearings that are of interest to the public. He has the Village of Muttontown hearing on the St. Dominic Fields on tape. He also has copies of the Golden Age Zoning hearings the town has held recently.

"Gradually I will try to get the system on line. I am doing it myself. I hope more people can get interested and we can get a group of active participants working on the project. We can do it more easily with the proper facilities," he said.

"I gave the town information about financial support for public access but the town doesn't want to give up any of their fees."

The Town of Oyster Bay produces their own cable program This is Oyster Bay. They have their own studio. Mr. Gaulkin said he asked if public access people could use the town facility. "We were told it was not possible. But I don't know if that can be developed. If it is set up we can use it."

But, he was happy about what has happened. "At least Town Supervisor John Venditto has tried to help us get a better deal than before. So we do appreciate that, but as it develops and we try to preserve this access medium we hope that eventually they will provide for some part of that cost from the fee," he said.

"Take a look at channel 80. It has all different kinds of things. There are religious programs, preachers; decent discussions; an anti-abortion discussion program; one or two programs on the liberal side including a satirical show at 10:30 p.m. called LIEbography, a take-off on biography. They did a satire on Mayor Giuliani. It's a comedy show really," he said.

Last week this reporter looked at public access as they showed a "LIEbography" on Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. There were a great many "finger lickin' good" jokes, that didn't add up to "tasty." There was also an interview program created by Jericho High School students. Another program was "Nutritional Warrior," that gave a view of how to be healthy by eating natural foods. Cablevision starts each program with an announcement that the content doesn't necessarily reflect the opinion of Cablevision.

"Certainly there is a lot that doesn't interest me," said Mr. Gaulkin. But that is the intent of public access - to provide items for the smaller audience that may be interested in a show's content.

Mr. Gaulkin has been taping concerts at Christ Church, known for their fine musical programs. The difficulty he said, is editing the tape property. That is still an obstacle.

"But we are getting to the point where we can put these things regularly on the air. Maybe Anton Newspaper can put in a box for public access programs," he suggested. They do that now for Great Neck and Manhasset Public Access Television.

"I bet less than 5 percent of the viewers know that there is a public access program. They tune in once and see Country music. On public access the quality is fuzzy and the preacher is shouting but there is a lot of potential. Locally, kids could get involved and learn about video production as they do in Plainview, Syosset and Jericho where they have studios and produce video programs."

He said the programs give back to the community, gradually - as a gift. He was critical of the contract the town signed saying that some smaller cities upstate have faired better with theirs. "This contract was basically what Cablevision sent to the town a year ago. Except for the two points, which the town was able to get: in two years the studio and two channels not just one: 79 and 80 - but still there is nothing on them. The situation has not come up where there is a conflict of scheduling. But Oyster Bay producers should be on 79, he said.

Mr. Gaulkin has some ideas of what can be shown including the school plays. "When they do them (at the high school) they sell the video. They can put it on. As a Broadway play they may need permission, but that is easy to obtain. When a student production is done, it can be arranged.

"Also there is the upcoming production of Into the Woods being done at the Vernon School and at OBHS there is an amateur night - Talent Night.

"There are students who played with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and I have a tape of that.

"When I get a schedule, I will let you know and people can tune in. My main interest is to get people interested in production themselves. We need some independent voices, not just hearings and concerts, but discussion groups, documentaries and what not," he said.

The national group for public access is the Alliance for Community Media.