diff --git a/doc/hidden_configs.bb b/doc/hidden_configs.bb
index 8a02a23f2..39ec9569d 100644
--- a/doc/hidden_configs.bb
+++ b/doc/hidden_configs.bb
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ This document assumes you're an administrator.
         this website.  Can be overwritten by user settings.
     [b]system > projecthome[/b]
         Set the project homepage as the homepage of your hub.
+	[b]system > default_permissions_role[/b]
+		If set to a valid permissions role name (for instance 'public'), use that role for
+		the first channel created by a new account and don't ask for the "Channel Type" on
+		the channel creation form. 
     [b]system > workflow_channel_next[/b]
         The page to direct users to immediately after creating a channel.
     [b]system > max_daily_registrations[/b]
diff --git a/mod/new_channel.php b/mod/new_channel.php
index 047048f0a..bec2a3c09 100644
--- a/mod/new_channel.php
+++ b/mod/new_channel.php
@@ -100,6 +100,17 @@ function new_channel_content(&$a) {
 		return;
 	}
 
+	$default_role = '';
+	$aid = get_account_id();
+	if($aid) {
+		$r = q("select count(channel_id) as total from channel where channel_account_id = %d",
+			intval($aid)
+		);
+		if($r && (! intval($r[0]['total']))) {
+			$default_role = get_config('system','default_permissions_role');
+		}
+	}
+
 	$name         = ((x($_REQUEST,'name'))         ? $_REQUEST['name']         :  "" );
 	$nickname     = ((x($_REQUEST,'nickname'))     ? $_REQUEST['nickname']     :  "" );
 	$privacy_role = ((x($_REQUEST,'permissions_role')) ? $_REQUEST['permissions_role'] :  "" );
@@ -117,6 +128,7 @@ function new_channel_content(&$a) {
 		'$name'         => $name,
 		'$help_role'    => t('Please choose a channel type (such as social networking or community forum) and privacy requirements so we can select the best permissions for you'),
 		'$role' => array('permissions_role' , t('Channel Type'), ($privacy_role) ? $privacy_role : 'social', '<a href="help/roles" target="_blank">'.t('Read more about roles').'</a>',get_roles()),
+		'$default_role' => $default_role,
 		'$nickname'     => $nickname,
 		'$submit'       => t('Create')
 	));
diff --git a/view/tpl/new_channel.tpl b/view/tpl/new_channel.tpl
index f78a3fc2d..46b32b8a9 100755
--- a/view/tpl/new_channel.tpl
+++ b/view/tpl/new_channel.tpl
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@
 
 	<div id="newchannel-desc" class="descriptive-paragraph">{{$desc}}</div>
 
-	<div id="newchannel-role-help" class="descriptive-paragraph">{{$help_role}}</div>
-	{{include file="field_select_grouped.tpl" field=$role}}
-	<div id="newchannel-role-end"  class="newchannel-field-end"></div>
-
+	{{if $default_role}}
+		<input type="hidden" name="permissions_role" value="{{$default_role}}" />
+	{{else}}
+		<div id="newchannel-role-help" class="descriptive-paragraph">{{$help_role}}</div>
+		{{include file="field_select_grouped.tpl" field=$role}}
+		<div id="newchannel-role-end"  class="newchannel-field-end"></div>
+	{{/if}}
 
 	<label for="newchannel-name" id="label-newchannel-name" class="newchannel-label" >{{$label_name}}</label>
 	<input type="text" name="name" id="newchannel-name" class="newchannel-input" value="{{$name}}" />