public access

American  

noun

1. the availability of noncommercial television and radio broadcasting facilities to community groups or members of the public for programs of general interest to the community, especially as a condition of cable television franchises.

2. a type of noncommercial programming of general interest to the community.

---

Other Word Forms

• public-access
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public access

Over the years, public access to what was once deemed the “People’s House” has become increasingly limited.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

Anthropic’s recent decision to restrict public access to its most capable model—and the regulatory debate it triggered—is a reminder that some rules will be necessary, and soon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

“But discovery revealed that Defendants’ paltry ‘intelligence’ was manufactured to justify operations at public access locations Defendants were already intent on raiding,” according to the motion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Fable 5 and Mythos 5 were briefly pulled from public access in June after the US Commerce Department imposed export controls, which were lifted at the end of that month.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

At a public access terminal in a Miami library, she found a cheap apartment and paid the deposit electronically.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements