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.

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Other Word Forms

• public-access adjective

Example Sentences

Open-sourcing a model gives the public access to some parts of the code and other architecture behind it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Under the plans, there will be a new lift and staircase in the conservatory to allow public access to raised balconies.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Four years later, the Coastal Act became state law, regulating development in collaboration with local government agencies, guaranteeing public access and protecting marine and coastal habitats.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

Its long-running grant programs promote community engagement and public access to information, while bolstering institutions’ ability to care for collections and prepare for disasters.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 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