They claim that the loss of content control over any of the channels violates the cable operator's freedom of speech rights. This case may well go to the U.S. Supreme Court. The reality of any open forum is that there will be expressions, ideas, and presentations that will be offensive to some and sometimes to most. Censorship is a slippery road to travel. Some years back it would have been likely that homosexuality would be a topic banned from discussion on a public forum.
Abortion is another hot button.
AIDS prevention techniques. Not that long ago the majority in many communities may have banned talk of integration, inter-racial marriage, or even women's suffrage. This is not to suggest that everything that the majority finds offensive today, will one day be acceptable and socially approved. We're saying that the price of empowering a cable company or an Access Management Organization to be the community censors is costly indeed for a democratic society which requires a free flow of information. Although, as viewers, we will definitely be offended, and sometimes outraged by the stuff that people do or say in a public forum, there are two ways to respond that carry far less ominous outcomes for our community.