AGENDA #2
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Public Forum to Consider a Potential Change in Cablevision Public Access Fees Paid by Cable Television Customers
DATE: November 12, 2001
INTRODUCTION
On October 22, the Council adopted a resolution that called for tonight’s public forum to receive public comments on the potential adjustment of the public access fee charged to cable television customers. The public access rate may be:
· adjusted for inflation to 70 cents per month;
· continued at the present rate of 69 cents per month;
· reduced; or
· eliminated.
Following tonight’s public forum, the Manager will return to the Council with a follow-up report for consideration on November 26.
“Public access” refers to non-commercial programming produced or submitted by citizens to be carried on the cable system. Public access fees are fees assessed on subscribers’ monthly bills, collected by Time Warner Cable, and transferred to the Town. The Town then pays a non-profit organization, The Peoples Channel, Inc., to provide public access television services.
Notices of tonight’s forum were published in The Chapel Hill News on November 4 and 11 and mailed or emailed to citizens who have expressed interest in cable issues. (Please see copy of the notice, Attachment 1). Notice of tonight’s forum was also advertised on The Peoples Channel, Channel 8.
BACKGROUND
The cable television franchise approved by the Council and accepted by Time Warner Cable in July 1996 allows the Town to have cable customers billed for a public access fee.
The Town began charging a public access fee of 65 cents under a resolution adopted by the Council on November 11, 1996, and amended that amount to 66 cents on November 13, 1997, to 67 cents on November 25, 1998, to 68 cents on November 22, 1999, and to 69 cents on December 11, 2000.
The Council authorized a performance agreement in February 1998 with The Peoples Channel, Inc. The Peoples Channel has been providing public access television services since July 1, 1998. At the April 9, 2001 meeting, the Council authorized the Manager to negotiate a renewed performance agreement with the channel. The renewed agreement was made effective July 5, 2001. The Peoples Channel, Inc. submitted its annual report to the Council at the April 9, 2001 meeting. A summary of the report is attached (Attachment 2).
The purpose of the public access fee is to help cover wages, equipment, rent and other costs for management and operation of public access cable television services. The current 69-cent per month public access fee generated about $100,317 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.
Each year, the Council decides whether to increase, maintain, or reduce the public access fee.
General Comments:
The franchise allows the Town to reduce, eliminate, or increase the public access fee once per year. The increase in a given year is limited to an inflation factor or 3%, whichever is less. The inflation factor is the increase in the most recent Gross National Product-Price Index (GNP-PI) published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, for the previous 12-month fiscal period. The most recently-published 12-month inflation figure is 2.2%.
Options:
1. Direct Time Warner to increase the fee by the amount of the inflation factor.
The franchise states that the annual adjustment will be the amount of increase in the Gross National Product Price Index (GNP-PI), subject to a limit of 3% increase per year and subject to an overall limit of $1 per month as the maximum future fee.
The GNP-PI inflation factor increased 2.2% from July 2000 to June 2001. A 2.2% change would result in an increase from 69 cents to 70 cents per month, beginning January 1, 2002, which we believe is a reasonable increase. The increase would generate approximately $101,771, or an additional $1,454 in 2002.
2. Make no change in the current fee.
3. Reduce or eliminate the public access fee.
That the Council receive public comments and refer this matter to Manager for a follow-up report on November 26.
1. Public Forum Notice (p. 4).
2. Memorandum dated April 9, 2001, Summary of Peoples Channel 2000 Report (p. 5).
ATTACHMENT 1
PUBLIC FORUM BY THE CHAPEL HILL TOWN COUNCIL ON POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENT TO THE PUBLIC ACCESS CHARGE PAID BY CABLE TELEVISION CUSTOMERS
Monday, NOVEMBER 12, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Council Chambers, Town Hall
306 N. Columbia Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
All citizens are invited to attend and speak at a public forum at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 12, 2001, on the supplemental public access fee for cable television (now 69 cents per month).
Comments are also welcome by fax (919-969-2063) or by electronic mail ([email protected]).
The cable television franchise, approved by the Council and accepted by Time Warner Cable in July 1996, allows the Town to have cable customers billed a public access fee. The public access fee charges are collected by Time Warner Cable and then turned over to the Town.
The fee is now 69 cents per month. Under the cable franchise, the Town Council normally must decide each year whether to increase the fee to adjust for inflation, maintain, reduce, or eliminate the public access fee. If an annual inflation adjustment were approved, the adjustment would likely be about 2.2%, or 1 cent, for an adjusted charge of 70 cents per month, beginning on January 1, 2002.
The Peoples Channel has been providing public access television services since July 1, 1998, as authorized by a Town performance agreement. The purpose of the public access fee is to help cover wages, equipment, rent, and other costs for management and operation of public access cable television services. The current 69-cent per month public access fee generated about $100,317 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. The Peoples Channel manages and operates public access programming for channel 8 of the cable system.
For more information, please contact the Town Manager’s office at 919-968-2743 or via fax, email or mailing address as listed above.
ATTACHMENT #2
AGENDA #5c
TO: Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Summary of The Peoples Channel 2000 Annual Report
DATE: April 9, 2001
The purpose of this memorandum is to present summary information from The Peoples Channel’s Annual Report. Mr. Robert Gwyn, President and Chair of The Peoples Channel Board of Directors, will present the report.
The Peoples Channel has submitted its Annual Report to the Town of Chapel Hill for Calendar Year 2000. The Peoples Channel is a non-profit corporation organized by area citizens to provide community access television in Chapel Hill. The Channel is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
I. Facilities & Services
A. Governance. The Peoples Channel is governed by a Board of Directors whose members serve without compensation. Under provision of its bylaws, members of the Board of Directors are selected by approval of the Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board. A list of Board members is included as Appendix A.
B. Staffing. There are currently two (2) full-time positions and one (1) part-time position.
C. Programming and Scheduling. During 2000, The Peoples Channel aired 26 locally-produced series (five more than last year) and 45 locally-produced one-time programs. During the January 2000 snowstorm, the Channel experimented with live and call-in programs. The Channel also cablecast 367.25 hours of original locally-produced programming for an average of 7 hours of local programming each week.
II. Funding and Development
A. Funding and Other Contributions
1. The Peoples Channel receives funding from several sources, primarily “pass-through” fees collected by Time Warner from cable customers under the Franchise Agreement. The cable television franchise approved by the Council and accepted by Time Warner in July 1996 allows the Town to have cable customers billed a public access fee. On December 11, 2000, the Council approved an increase in the monthly subscriber pass-through fee from 68 cents to 69 cents, based on inflation. Under the Performance Agreement with The Peoples Channel, the Town pays The Peoples Channel these public access fees, which are collected by Time Warner in customer bills.
2. The Peoples Channel had a reduction in fund balance in the amount of $13,991 for Calendar Year 2000. During the year, expenses included one-time video equipment purchases totaling $17,376, triggering the revenue/expense imbalance reflected below. Channel representatives say that they expect income and expenses to balance in the future. The Channel’s books have been audited through June 30, 2000. The numbers listed below have not been audited to the extent that they represent transactions after that date.
|
Funding Source |
2000 Revenue |
|
Co Contractual (Pass-Through Cable Fees) |
$ $ 93,057 |
|
Su Sub-Lease of Office Space |
$ $ 6,264 |
|
Fe Fees from Orange County |
$ $ 19,000 |
|
Ta Tape sales/video dubbing |
$ $ 2,556 |
|
Int Interest |
$ $ 2,017 |
|
Re Rental of equipment & studio space |
$ $ 120 |
|
Re Restricted Contributions |
$ $ 600 |
|
Un Unrestricted Contributions |
$ $ 390 |
|
To Total |
$1 $124,004 |
|
Expense Item |
2000 Expense Amount |
|
Pa Payroll |
$ $ 55,798 |
|
Re Rent |
$ $ 33,719 |
|
Vi Video Equipment and Tapes |
$ $ 20,740 |
|
U Utilities |
$ $ 5,662 |
|
Co Contract Services |
$ $ 6,029 |
|
Of Office Supplies and Equipment |
$ $ 3,470 |
|
Ins Insurance |
$ $ 2,915 |
|
Pr Professional Fees |
$ $ 2,050 |
|
M Miscellaneous Expenses |
$ $ 7,612 |
|
To Total |
$1 $ 37,995 |
B. Other Contracts and Performance Agreements
1. The Peoples Channel has negotiated with other communities for service:
(a) Orange County Board of Commissioners. In 2000, the Channel entered into a contract with Orange County to tape and cablecast Board meetings. The Channel used private funds and purchased equipment for a mobile field studio. Volunteers installed studio lighting at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, where many of the meetings are held.
(b) Presentations to other franchise authorities. The Channel has been in contact with the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and hopes to enter negotiations soon.
IV. Future Directions
A. Equipment. The Peoples Channel has developed a schedule for long-term replacement of equipment and is investigating new systems for recording video and audio on the computer. The Channel is also researching software that can integrate program scheduling, equipment checkout, and other parts of technical operation.
B. Community outreach. With the addition of an outreach coordinator to the staff, the Channel is pursuing a program of contacting community groups, non-profits, and schools to provide information about their potential involvement with The Peoples Channel.
C. Performance Agreement renewal with the Town of Chapel Hill. The Channel’s directors have contacted the Manager’s Office regarding renewal of the performance agreement. An agenda item in tonight’s packet would authorize the Manager to negotiate a new performance agreement with the Town.
D. Proposed Performance Agreements with other Franchising Authorities. The Peoples Channel is currently working to secure performance agreements with Orange County, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Chatham County, which are also in discussions with Time Warner for their franchise renewals.
That the Council receive the attached Annual Report.
THE PEOPLES CHANNEL
ANNUAL REPORT
TO
THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL
FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2000
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 6
II. Facilities and Services 6
A. Operations 6
1. Governance
2. Operating Days and Hours
3. Staffing
4. Advisory Board
5. Volunteers
B. Facilities and Training 8
1. Studio and Facilities
2. Equipment
3. Policies
4. Training
C. Programming and Scheduling 9
1. Procedures
2. Programming Sources
3. Special Programming
4. Other Programming Issues
III. Community Outreach and Promotions 11
A. Information on Channel and Services 11
B. Chapel Hill Independent Producers Society (CHIPS) 12
C. Outreach Activities and Community Responsiveness 12
1. Outreach Presence in the Community
2. Surveys
3. Other Outreach
IV. Funding and Development 13
A. Funding and Other Contributions 13
B. Development Activities 14
V. Contracts/Performance Agreements with Other Communities 14
A. Orange County Commissioners 14
B. Presentations to Other Franchise Authorities 14
VI. Future Directions 14
Appendices
A. List of Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Staff
B. Staff Position Descriptions
C. Sample Program Schedules
D. New, Original Local Programming Production by Month
E. Locally Produced Series and One-Time Programs
F. Non-local Series and One-Time Programs
G. Newspaper Articles
H. Letter of Appreciation from Chamber of Commerce
I. Community Survey of Public Access Television Report and Instrument
J. Public Access Television User Survey Instrument
I. Introduction
2000 brought growth and new faces to The Peoples Channel, as well as continued expansion of programming and services and progress toward fulfilling the Town’s objectives and our own long-term vision for public access in the greater community.
In January, the Board of Directors held a retreat at which we approved a streamlined mission statement and outlined goals and objectives for the coming year. The new mission statement reads as follows: The mission of The Peoples Channel is to provide the means and promote the opportunity for area citizens to exercise free speech through the production and distribution of cable television programming.
Our goals for 2000 fell into five categories:
1. Board Development -- developing leadership within the Board and in the community; and creating an Advisory Board to provide support and advice on fundraising, community involvement, and long-range planning.
2. Identity Development and Community Involvement -- designing logo, letterhead and promotional materials; increasing outreach to community organizations and individuals; and filling the vacant Programming/Outreach Coordinator position.
3. Financial Development -- expanding funding options.
4. Plans for Expansion -- pursuing performance agreements with other local franchise authorities; exploring options to provide access services for government and/or educational Channels; and investigating a permanent location for the public access facility.
5. Fulfilling Performance Agreement -- upgrading editing and playback equipment; and completing other obligations.
As the following report will show, we have accomplished many of these goals and are making progress toward fulfilling the others.
II. Facilities and Services
A. Operations
1. Governance. The Peoples Channel is governed by a Board of Directors, operating under a mission statement to provide the means and promote the opportunity for area citizens to create local cable television programming by, for, and about our local community based on the principles of free speech, diversity of expression, and democratic participation. Directors are residents of Orange County or a neighboring county who serve without compensation. Terms of office are three years and are staggered to assure continuity. Officers include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer; the President serves as Chair of the Board and the Vice President as Vice Chair. As of December 31, 2000, there were 12 members of the Board; two positions were vacant. A list of current Board members and their terms and offices as of December 31, 2000, appears in Appendix A.
The Board of Directors operates according to Bylaws, which are available for inspection at The Peoples Channel. Policies governing training, use of facilities and equipment, technical requirements, content guidelines, scheduling, and discipline are posted at The Peoples Channel and copies are available to producers and visitors. The Peoples Channel also has a grievance process in place and a staff manual outlining personnel policies. The Board of Directors meets monthly at The Peoples Channel. These meetings are announced and open to the public, and minutes are made public.
2. Operating Days and Hours. Throughout most of 2000, The Peoples Channel facilities were open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and by appointment. Beginning November 7, our hours have been changed to Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in order to provide more evening and weekend hours. The facility also is open for appointments Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The facilities are closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Programming is cablecast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
3. Staffing. At the beginning of 2000, The Peoples Channel has two full-time staff: Matt Burke, Technical and Training Coordinator, and Wilhemenia Thomas, Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator; the third position, Programming and Outreach Coordinator (half-time) remained vacant. In May, Wilhemenia informed the Board that she would leave The Peoples Channel at the end of June. Her position was advertised in the Independent, the Advocate, the News & Observer, the Urban Journal, on the Internet, and on The Peoples Channel Bulletin Board and website. Nine applicants were interviewed and two candidates were offered the position but turned it down, so the search process was reopened.
The Board revised staff position descriptions to reflect current needs. Matt’s position was redefined as Technical/Operations Manager and Training Coordinator (full-time). The other two positions became Director for Development/Office Manager (full-time), overseeing outreach, fundraising, and office management; and Trainer and Technical/Operations Support (part-time). These two positions were advertised in the Independent, the Advocate, the News & Observer, on the Internet, and on The Peoples Channel Bulletin Board and website. 42 applications were received and reviewed, and six applicants were interviewed. The Board of Directors hired Ginger Bauerband as Director for Development/Office Manager and Cindy Bowling as Trainer and Technical/Operations Support. Both joined the staff in October. A list of staff appears in Appendix A; staff position descriptions appear in Appendix B.
4. Advisory Board. At the retreat in January, the Board of Directors set a goal of establishing an Advisory Board. In March the Board approved formation of a 10-member Advisory Board with the following mission statement:
The Advisory Board of The Peoples Channel will consist of members of the community who serve at the will of the Board of Directors. Its purpose is to provide a diversity of perspectives on public access and how it can best serve the community and to advise The Peoples Channel on matters related to their mission. Members of the Advisory Board agree to be available as appropriate for consultation with the Board of Directors or staff of The Peoples Channel. The Advisory Board will be encouraged to participate in the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and the annual public forum and other meetings as appropriate.
To date, seven persons have accepted The Peoples Channel’s invitation to sit on the Advisory Board. They are listed in Appendix A. Plans are underway to hold a retreat in early spring 2001, with members of the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board, staff, and other interested parties to discuss goals and objectives for 2001 and beyond.
5. Volunteers. While our staff is the heart of The Peoples Channel, we rely heavily on volunteers from the community, and their role is pervasive. During 2000, 2 interns provided assistance in the technical area, including teaching, updating databases, and assisting producers. Other volunteers provided assistance in program scheduling and office support. Volunteers also supply our programming, cover events in the community, and work on the crews of local access productions. Their contributions cannot be adequately quantified. The Peoples Channel has an ongoing need for volunteers, as we seek to expand hours and services, explore performance agreements with neighboring communities, and strive to be more responsive to the communities we serve.
B. Facilities and Training
1. Studio and Facilities. The Peoples Channel operates out of a 1600 square foot facility located at 300A S. Elliott Road, which includes studio, editing suites, office, meeting area, and rest rooms. During 2000 Matt and Roger Brower enlarged the office space, put up a new wall, and installed shelving for storing videotapes.
An additional front office area of 600 square feet is sublet in order to economize on overhead costs. Until March 2000 the space was occupied by the Empowerment Project, an internationally recognized nonprofit video production and training corporation, with which we shared a cooperative relationship, exchanging use of studio facilities and equipment for expanded training opportunities for local producers. The Director of the Empowerment Project now sits on our Board of Directors. Since the departure of the Empowerment Project, we have had two tenants. From September to mid-November, the Orange County Democratic Party sublet the space for their county headquarters. Since November 15, our tenant has been For Goodness Sake, Inc., a nutritional supplement company, doing business as Radiant Health. New carpet has been installed in the front office, the entryway and the shared hallway.
The Peoples Channel invites local artists to display their work at the facility. Currently works by Doug Stuber and Carlyle Poteat are on display.
2. Equipment. The Peoples Channel facility is currently equipped with two editing suites, a check-out editing package, and a 2-camera studio with full set-up, including cameras, monitors, tripods, switcher, audio equipment, lights, and control room access. Check-out equipment includes three High 8 cameras, two digital cameras, five tripods, two monopods, and support accessories (lights, microphones, cables). Playback equipment includes a PowerPoint presentation which supports the Peoples Bulletin Board; switching equipment with eight SVHS decks; a computer for the switching equipment; and fiber optic encoder and transmitter. During the year, one digital camera and an SVHS editing deck were repaired.
During 2000 The Peoples Channel purchased a Casablanca nonlinear editing system, a TTY system to accommodate hearing-impaired callers, and an inkjet printer. The station received a donation of a computer from the United Way, and the loan of a 13-inch television. The Peoples Channel also created a portable studio consisting of a switcher, an audio board, three 8 inch color monitors, a character generator, three Calzone cases for transporting gear, an intercom system, and lights and accessories. The mobile studio is used primarily for videotaping Orange County Commissioners’ meetings [see Section V.A]; it is also available for rental. Office equipment includes three computers, an HP laser printer, an HP inkjet printer, a fax machine, and a TTY.
3. Policies. Equipment may be checked out by local residents who are certified as having received training or demonstrated proficiency in the use of that equipment. Checkout period is generally 24 hours or over the weekend; longer checkout periods may be negotiated with staff and are dependent on demand and availability. Certified users may reserve time in the editing suite, usually in 1 to 4 hour blocks. Studio space may be reserved for meetings, classes, or production shoots; studio use for production is generally reserved in 3 to 6 hour blocks.
When check-out equipment or studio facilities are not reserved for public access use, The Peoples Channel offers limited options for rental, according to the following rate structure:
Equipment: High 8 Kit $85/day
DV Camera $135/day
Light Kit $35/day
Studio: without equipment $25/hour; $400/day
with equipment $135/hour; $1100/day
These rates may be varied where staff deem appropriate. There were no equipment or studio rentals during 2000, but the studio was used five times in trade for advanced training classes.
4. Training, Equipment Check-out, and Facility Use. Training classes are offered individually or in group sessions on use of the studio, field equipment, editing equipment, and other skills. Half-day field production classes and editing classes are offered, as well as 3-hour studio production classes. Training in specific or advanced skills is scheduled as needed. During 2000, 56 classes were offered and 160 people received training. Training is broken down as follows:
Number of classes Number of Participants
Studio 12 54
Field production 16 36
Editing 19 28
Casablanca 3 3
Other (orientation, 6 39
character generator)
92 studio shoots were scheduled during 2000, with 306 production crew participating and 51 trainees involved. Editing suites were used 291 times and field equipment was checked out 257 times. Since its purchase in June, the Casablanca system has been used 28 times.
The facilities were used for 113 meetings. These included 13 Board meetings, 54 committee meetings, 28 staff meetings, 4 CHIPS meetings, and 14 unspecified meetings. There were 1041 visitors to The Peoples Channel.
C. Programming and Scheduling
1. Procedures. The schedule for The Peoples Channel is determined by the Programming Committee, which includes the Chair of the Board of Directors plus volunteers. The Committee meets weekly to schedule submitted programs for the coming week. Programs are scheduled in six-hour blocks that run in the evening (6 p.m. to midnight) and are normally repeated the following morning (6 a.m. to noon) and afternoon (noon to 6 p.m.). The Saturday evening schedule runs through Tuesday afternoon, since the facility is closed on Sunday and Monday and no staff is on hand to program the playback equipment. Currently the Peoples Bulletin Board runs between midnight and 6 a.m., and between programs where appropriate. Programs that are inappropriate for younger audiences are scheduled to run only after midnight.
Priority is given to locally produced programming from the franchise area. This includes programs produced using The Peoples Channel facilities as well as other locally produced or compiled programs. Second priority goes to non-local programs submitted by local residents. Whenever time slots are not otherwise filled, they carry reruns of programs from The Peoples Channel’s archive. We continue to air two non-local live call-in programs, “Open Net” and “Inside North Carolina,” which are produced in Raleigh and are carried on satellite feed by Time-Warner. Even though these programs air during prime time (8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday), the Board felt continued carriage would be a public service given the issues covered, their timeliness, and the fact that cable Channel 24, which also carries the programs, is not accessible to Basic Cable subscribers who don’t have cable-ready televisions.
The program schedule is published in the Chapel Hill News, posted on The Peoples Channel website, and posted at the facility. Samples schedules from the Chapel Hill News appear in Appendix C.
2. Programming Sources. During 2000, The Peoples Channel cablecast 367.25 hours of original locally produced programming for an average of 7 hours of new local programming each week. This is an increase over 1999 totals. The amount of new local programming produced increased each month from January through May and again from August through November, with slight lulls during the summer months and December. Monthly breakdowns appear in Appendix D.
During 2000, The Peoples Channel cablecast 26 locally produced series (consisting of two or more episodes) and 45 locally produced one-time programs; a list of these programs appears in Appendix E. 18 non-local series and 18 non-local one-time programs were cablecast; a list of these programs appears in Appendix F. The Peoples Channel also cablecast seven movies with extra audio track depicting visuals for the visually impaired. The Peoples Channel carries PSAs from North Carolina State Government on topics such as littering and recycling. Youth TV, which operated during 1998-1999, is currently on hiatus until we can secure funding to hire a Youth TV Coordinator.
3. Special Programming. The Peoples Bulletin Board is a public service operated by The Peoples Channel staff and volunteers that carries announcements of interest to the local community, as well as information about The Peoples Channel. During 2000 the equipment used to program the Bulletin Board was upgraded and is now supported by PowerPoint.
The Peoples Soapbox, initiated in November 1999, is designed to be a forum for local residents to voice their opinions and share ideas and information on any topic. No production experience or training is required. There are no restrictions on content except those required by law or by the Performance Agreement. After the initial cablecast, production of The Peoples Soapbox was taken over by a volunteer producer. This arrangement did not work out, so the staff of The Peoples Channel has reassumed production responsibility. A new edition of The Peoples Soapbox was cablecast in November 2000, and production will resume in early 2001.
Since January, The Peoples Channel has taped and cablecast meetings of the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) (see Section V.A).
Last fall, as a public service to the community, The Peoples Channel cablecast candidate forums for state senate legislature and county commissioner candidates, sponsored by the Community Action Network. This election coverage ran 2 hours and 23 minutes and was aired nine times between October 26 and November 7.
During the snowstorm last January, The Peoples Channel experimented with live and call-in programming. On April 19, The Peoples Channel cablecast its first scheduled live program using the remote mobile studio. The event was a special edition of the series “Cry of the Guerrilla” honoring local activists, including Prof. Chuck Stone, who received an award and was interviewed on the air.
4. Other Programming Issues. The Peoples Channel received complaints about audio problems in March. These were traced to a faulty audio cable at Time Warner that was replaced. The Peoples Channel also has experienced occasional problems with loss of video (i.e., “going to blue screen”). Two causes have been identified. One is a quirk in the controller that prevents it from clearing memory for the next day if programming ends exactly at midnight. The other is failure of the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) during power outages or fluctuations; the UPS was replaced and the Board has approved purchase of a heavy-duty UPS with extra batteries that can be added in sequence for additional emergency power.
A complaint was received that a locally produced series might violate the noncommercial rule. The Board investigated and held a hearing with the program producer. It was determined that the program was not in violation of the rule, and it was allowed to continue airing.
The Peoples Channel has received compliments from viewers about its programs and services. Several callers have praised individual programs, such as coverage of the Memorial Day parade. One woman called to complain about Time Warner and upon learning that we were The Peoples Channel, not Time Warner, she said, “Oh, I don’t have any problem with you -- you’re good.” Another caller, referring to the producer of “Almanac,” said, “Oh, Roland Osgood, he’s really good.” The Peoples Channel also received a number of compliments and a few criticisms in its community survey.
III. Community Outreach and Promotions
A. Information on Channel and Services
Information about The Peoples Channel and its services is publicized in a variety of ways:
Internet -- Mindspring provides The Peoples Channel with email services, Internet access, and Basic Web and Enhanced Web options at no cost, in exchange for acknowledgment of Mindspring onscreen and in all publicity about the website. The monetary value of these services is $1067.40 per year. The Peoples Channel web address is www.thepeoplesChannel.org. Our web page is operated by staff and regularly carries our mission statement, hours of operation, phone and fax numbers, email address for messages, the Board of Directors, minutes of the most recent Board meeting, a schedule of classes and training opportunities, the current program schedule, and a list of locally produced programs currently airing with pointers to individual websites for those programs that have them.
On cable -- Information and announcements about activities, training classes, and program schedules are posted on The Peoples Bulletin Board.
On site -- The current program schedule, list of Board of Directors, minutes from the most recent Board meeting, policies and procedures, and other information are posted at The Peoples Channel. Copies of past Board minutes, annual reports, Bylaws, and other information are available for public inspection.
Publicity -- The Peoples Channel issues press releases to local media about events and services, including the program schedule and the taping schedule for The Peoples Soapbox. Articles discussing The Peoples Channel and its producers and programs have appeared this year in the Chapel Hill News, the Chapel Hill Herald, the Prism, the Raleigh News and Observer, and Spectator Magazine. Several articles published in 2000 and an article that appeared in early January 2001 are reproduced in Appendix G.
B. Chapel Hill Independent Producers Society (CHIPS)
Formed in 1999, CHIPS provides a forum for local public access producers to share information, help each other with program planning and production, and promote quality and diversity in public access programming. Although an independent organization, CHIPS also provides two-way communications between The Peoples Channel staff and Board and local producers for sharing information on equipment, procedures and production needs, and feedback, both positive and negative. Members of CHIPS frequently help coordinate crews for local access productions and provide technical assistance. The Peoples Channel provides meeting space, access to computers, phones and office equipment, and other support, such as E-Circles, a web-based bulletin board.
C. Outreach Activities and Community Responsiveness
1. Outreach Presence in the Community. The Peoples Channel is frequently invited to attend gatherings held by local organizations that appreciate the forum The Peoples Channel offers them. Since joining the staff in October, Ginger Bauerband has acted as ambassador for The Peoples Channel at three such events. In October she attended “The Place Where I Live,” a program of North Carolina stories, poems and songs performed by the North Carolina Theater Ensemble and sponsored by the Chapel Hill Senior Center. She returned to the Senior Center in November to participate in a volunteer appreciation reception held by Helping Hand in support of organizations and individuals that contribute to their success. In December, Ginger represented The Peoples Channel at the Volunteer Agency Forum, sponsored by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, an event designed for local nonprofit organizations that rely on volunteer support to reach their communities and share information. A letter of appreciation for her participation and The Peoples Channel’s presence appears in Appendix H.
The Peoples Channel also engages in informal activities and outreach efforts, including information booths at the Chapel Hill street fairs. At Festifall last year, staff and volunteers also visited the booth of every community organization participating at the fair, sharing information about The Peoples Channel and interviewing organization representatives; the taped interviews were later cablecast.
2. Surveys. During 2000 The Peoples Channel conducted the first of three planned surveys to assess the role of The Peoples Channel in the community, evaluate the effectiveness of current services, and determine areas of ongoing need and growth.
The first step was the Community Survey of Public Access Television, designed to assess awareness of and opinions about local public access services and programs. The survey was circulated at Festifall in October among visitors, organizations representatives, vendors and security personnel. It was intended as a kind of “snapshot” of public opinion, rather than a scientific sampling. 97 surveys were completed, with the majority (53) filled out by Chapel Hill residents. A copy of the survey and its results are in Appendix I.
The second survey, The Public Access Television User Survey, is designed to collect feedback from people who have produced local access programs, worked on production crews, or attended classes at The Peoples Channel in order to assess our current services, equipment, training, and responsiveness and to plan for expansion and improvement. The survey was distributed by mail to 100 producers, crew, trainees and CHIPS members; surveys are due back in January and results will be tabulated and reported in early spring. A copy of the survey instrument appears as Appendix J.
The third survey will be a telephone interview with community organizations and local nonprofits regarding their public access needs and interests. This survey will be serve as both a follow-up to contacts made at Festifall and a proactive outreach to organizations not represented there. The survey is planned for spring 2001.
The Peoples Channel also is developing evaluation forms for training classes to provide immediate feedback on the effectiveness of training.
3. Other Outreach. In July the Board sent Matt to Tucson as The Peoples Channel’s representative to the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) annual conference. There he attended workshops, networked with other public access providers, distributed flyers , and collected information about other public access centers. Matt reported that people were lined up to talk with him about The Peoples Channel because we are fairly unique in having been formed and built by volunteers and because we’re also unusual in charging no fees for training or use of studio facilities or equipment. North Carolina public access centers are exploring the formation of our own state chapter of ACM to share information and resources. Next year’s ACM annual conference will be held in Washington, DC. Matt’s complete report to the Board is on file at The Peoples Channel.
IV. Funding and Development
A. Funding and Other Contributions. Sources of income for The Peoples Channel in 2000 included $93,056.97 in pass-through fees, $6,263.92 in rent from our tenants, $19,000.00 in fees from the Orange County Commissioners, $2,556.45 in tape sales/video dubbing, $2,017.39 in interest, $120.00 in equipment rental, $600.00 in restricted monetary contributions, and $390.00 in unrestricted monetary contributions. Total income was $124,004.73. The Peoples Channel also received in-kind donations of goods and services. In the fall of 2000, the Town increased the pass-through fee from 68 cents to 69 cents per subscriber per month.
Our largest expense categories for 2000 were payroll ($55,798.17), rent ($33,719.45), video equipment and tapes ($20,740.19), utilities and phone ($5,661.75), contract services ($6,028.81), office supplies and equipment ($3,470.08), insurance ($2,915.00), and professional fees ($2,050.00). All remaining expenses total $7,612.06. Total expenses for Calendar Year 2000 were $137,995.51.
The Peoples Channel had a reduction in fund balance in the amount of ($13,990.78) for Calendar Year 2000. Please note that during Year 2000, expenses include one-time video equipment purchases totaling $17,375.93; therefore, The Peoples Channel expects that income and expenses will balance in the future. The Peoples Channel’s books have been audited through June 30, 2000, the end of its Fiscal Year. The above numbers, to the extent that they represent transactions after that date, have not been audited.
B. Development Activities
The Peoples Channel is making progress establishing community relationships with local governments, public interest groups and non-profits. The addition of a full-time Development Director strengthens direct community involvement through outreach and personal contact.
V. Contracts/Performance Agreements with Other Communities
A. Orange County Commissioners. The Peoples Channel began negotiations with the Orange County Commissioners in 1999 to tape and cablecast Commissioners’ meetings. We conducted a successful demonstration taping in January 2000 and entered a 6-month contract with the Commissioners. To prepare for the contract, The Peoples Channel purchased equipment for a mobile field studio with private funds. Volunteers installed studio lighting at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, where many of the meetings are held. Last summer The Peoples Channel signed a one-year (7/1/00-6/30/01) contract for taping and cablecasting of Commissioners meeting. The Commissioners also have expressed interest in having other meetings covered as well.
B. Presentations to Other Franchise Authorities. Throughout 2000 The Peoples Channel maintained ongoing contacts with surrounding communities that are involved in franchise negotiations as we pursue additional partners in public access. In December Bob Gwyn addressed the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and Cable Advisory Committee, and was invited to submit a proposal for providing public access. Ginger has prepared a preliminary proposal and supporting information, and the Board hopes to enter negotiations with the Town shortly.
The Peoples Channel also is in contact with the Orange County Cable Advisory Committee and is preparing a financial presentation for Orange County in early February.
VI. Future Directions
1.Equipment
A.The Peoples Channel has developed a schedule for long term replacement of equipment. To date, despite heavy use, TPC has only needed to replace one camera. However, all equipment reaches the end of its useful life and must be replaced. This has been anticipated and replacement is scheduled. TPC does not anticipate immediate difficulties with the conversion to digital.
B. TPC is investigating new Systems for recording video and audio on the computer. This will make it easier to record and cablecast shorter programming features, such as information for non-profits, program promotion, public service announcements, etc.
C. TPC is actively looking at software that can integrate program scheduling, equipment checkout, and many other parts of technical operation.
2.Community outreach
With the addition of an outreach coordinator to the staff, TPC is pursuing an aggressive program of contacting community groups, non-profits, schools, etc. with information about their involvement in The Peoples Channel. We anticipate an increase in information about the many services provided by non-profits and the opportunities for volunteering in the community.
We are also developing a plan for greater visibility in the community through both Channel 8 and regular contacts with other media.
3.Performance Agreement renewal with the Town of Chapel Hill
The Peoples Channel has informed the Town of its intention to request a renewal of the Performance Agreement. This formal proposal will be made to the Town in early February, 2001.
4.Proposed Performance Agreements with Other Franchising Authorities
The Peoples Channel, Inc., a non-profit corporation, is pursuing Performance Agreements with Orange County, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Chatham County. These governments are currently in negotiation with Time-Warner for new cable franchises. The Peoples Channel, Inc is proposing to operate public access for these areas either through Channel 8 or other Channels to be allocated by Time-Warner. We feel there is great value in the economy of scale. Also there is much value in sharing information throughout the two counties. The franchising system tends to “ghettoize” the area. With area wide public access Television, barriers can be crossed. In addition with the increase in the number of Channels it would be possible to direct unique programming to specific areas. The Peoples Channel will request Performance Agreements that would include the same type of pass through payment. With increased revenue it would be possible for the Peoples Channel to substantially increase service to the communities.