CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY
COMMISSION
PRESENT:
ABSENT: Fred Johnson, Ron Beacom – Staff Liaison
ALSO
PRESENT: Melissa Barnard – Library
Director; Brandi Pfohl – Recording Secretary
I.
CALL To Order
By Malekadeli at
II.
APPROVAL - of
Minutes approved as submitted.
III.
PUBLIC Comments
None
IV.
OLD Business
1.
Budget Response Plan
Barnard reviewed what happened at the meeting of
the City Council on Monday, May 8.
Citizens spoke on behalf of MCTV.
Council reaffirmed that they will be going forward with the one year
payment of $106,100 to MCTV. Final
approval of the City’s budget will be Monday, May 22.
2.
Alternative Funding
i.
Friends of the Library
Barnard introduced JoAnn
Taylor from the Friends of the Library.
B. Non Profit Status Information
Deibert reviewed the process
for filing for a 501C3. Every
organization that is tax exempt has a 501C3 status. He stated it would be important to find out
how the City Council wants the Friends of MCTV to operate. Establish their own
501C3 or fall under the City’s. If they have their own it would remove any
liability exposure for the City. Deibert
also asked
3. Commission
Vacancies
Barnard stated the positions vacant on the Cable
Commission are the Citizen at Large and Media Professional. There have been no applicants for the Cable
Commission. She also encouraged anyone
from the public to come forward and apply.
This is a vital time for MCTV and will need a full commission to move
forward. Huber asked how someone who is
interested can apply. Barnard stated by calling the City
V.
Barnard questioned if the commission wanted to hold
a special meeting during the summer or keep to the regular schedule. Malekadeli stated the sub-committee would be
meeting this summer. Huber stated if
sub-committee feels the need for full commission meeting, one could be
scheduled.
VI.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Granstra stated MCTV staff
did a great job in putting the ACM conference together. Malekadeli agreed it was very informative
and well organized.
VII.
ADJOURNMENT – Next meeting,
Deibert moved to adjourn. Granstra seconded. Meeting adjourned at
Respectfully Submitted,
Brandi Pfohl
Recording Secretary
Annual Report - DRAFT
City of
Cable Access Advisory
Commission
Proposed Annual Report
2005/2006
HIGHLIGHTS
The Cable Access Advisory Commission:
· Reviewed presentations
on the five-year budget plans for the Cable Communications Fund and made
recommendations to City Council.
· Began
discussions on the formation of a “Friends of MCTV” organization.
· Monitored state
and federal video franchise legislation.
GOALS FOR 2005-2006
The Commission developed and approved the
following goals for the fiscal year:
1.
and make recommendation to City Council.
2. Promote awareness of public access
a.
Develop Speaker’s Bureau for service club presentations
b.
Participate in MCTV’s “Honors Night”
c.
Participate in public service announcement videos
3. Host
OUTCOMES
1. Budget response
plan for the Cable Communications
The
Commission reviewed a plan presented by City staff at its November meeting to
address the projected budget deficit. The Commission voted 4-1 to support the
plan recommended by City staff. That plan called for the reduction of the
full-time production assistant position to part-time and the eventual
elimination of the payment to the Midland Public Schools for financial support
of MPS-TV 17.
In May, the Commission began
discussions to form a “Friends of MCTV” fund-raising organization. The goal was
to form the organization over the summer.
An item that may have a
impact on future Cable Fund budgets was also monitored.
The Commission received reports at each meeting on
the status of state and federal legislation that could impact the City’s
current video franchise agreement and future agreements. The Commission
encouraged community members to contact their state and federal representatives
about the legislation.
2. Promote
awareness of public access
The vice-chair of the
Commission, Jim Huber, presented the Rosemarie Byers Community Voice Award to
the Midland Area Community Foundation at MCTV’s “Honors Night” in October. This
award is presented annually to an organization for its strong use of public
access in
Commission members did not
participate in any service club presentations or new public service
announcement videos.
3. Host
In early May, MCTV held the ACM’s Spring Regional
Conference at the Fairview Inn and the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.
Approximately 60 members attended from four states:
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Cable Access Advisory Commission, 2005-06
Todd DuBois
Dr. Fred Johnson
Cable Access Advisory Commission
Proposed Goals for 2006-07
1.
Review proposed changes to MCTV Ordinances and Rules, hold public
hearings, and make recommendations to City Council.
2. Review Cable
Communications Fund Budget Response Plan for 2007-08 and make recommendations
to City Council
3. Increase awareness
among access users and the public about the challenges and opportunities facing
MCTV
4. Hold a joint
meeting with City Council to discuss Budget Response Plan and Friends of MCTV
organization
5. Participate in
MCTV’s “Honors Night 2006.”
SUMMARY REPORT TO CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY
COMMISSION
for
Commission Meeting of
SUBJECT:
Proposed Revisions to MCTV Fees Ordinance and Rules and Procedures
RESOLUTION SUMMARY: THIS RESOLUTION WILL SET
ITEMS ATTACHED:
1.
Letter of
transmittal to the Cable Access Advisory Commission
2.
Resolution to set
Cable Access Advisory Commission public hearing.
3.
Proposed
Revisions to MCTV Fees Ordinance and Rules and Procedures.
COMMISSION ACTION:
1.
4 votes required
to approve resolution.
Ron Beacom
MCTV Network
Cable Access Advisory
Commission
City of
Dear Commissioners,
In May, City Council approved
a $106,100 General Fund subsidy for the Cable Communications Fund budget. This
action kept MCTV’s services and staff whole for the 2006-07 fiscal year. Major
cuts in staff and services had been proposed because a deficit in the fund is
projected in the current five-year plan.
City Council instructed City
staff, the Cable Access Advisory Commission and supporters of Midland Community
Television to study options to help alleviate the projected deficit. Three options discussed at the Commission
level during the budget process were user fee, revisions to the fees now
charged for video duplications, and more fees for training.
User Fees
The City has never charged a
user fee for the use of MCTV’s facilities and equipment.
An annual fee of $25 per
individual is now proposed by City staff.
If collected from the current list of access users involved in video
production and from individuals and organizations who submit messages to the
community message board channel, the projected revenue would be $2,500-$3,000
annually.
Duplication Fees
MCTV currently charges a
video duplication fee of $10 per 30 minutes of content. However, the MCTV Rules
and Procedures allow producers to receive one free copy of a program. City
staff proposes a revision in the duplication fee and the end of the free copy
program.
The proposed fee is $10 per
60 minutes of content with a maximum fee of $30 for programs over two hours in
length. The goal of this revision is to generate more requests for copies of
popular programs including high school sports and concerts. Current fees are
often over $40 for those programs which discourages the public from buying
copies.
The proposed elimination of
the free copy program would eliminate staff time used to make these copies.
Almost half of the requests processed by staff are for the free copies.
The goal of these revisions
is to raise more revenue from duplications. Total revenue generated in 2005-06
from video duplications was $2,800. In fiscal year 2004-05, the total was $900.
In 2003-04, the total was $1,300.
Training Fees
MCTV currently charges a fee
of $10 for the beginning access user training. No fees are charged for advanced
training. Staff is proposing a fee of $10 per each advanced training course.
Potential additional revenue
is $250-$300 annually.
For the past five summers,
MCTV has offered a four-day video camp for children, ages 12-17. The fee
charged in July 2006 was $40. Staff proposes a fee of $50 for the video camp.
Class size is limited to 12. Projected revenue for each camp is $600.
Ordinance and Rules Revisions
The proposed revisions in the
MCTV Fees Ordinance and the MCTV Rules and Procedures are included in this
document. New language is shown in italics,
while proposed deleted language is shown in strikethrough font.
Resolution
A resolution setting the date
for a public hearing at a special meeting on
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Beacom
MCTV Network
City of
BY COMMISSIONER
WHEREAS, City of Midland
staff have presented to the Cable Access Advisory Commission proposed revisions
to the MCTV Fees Ordinance and MCTV Rules and Procedures; and
WHEREAS, these revisions are
proposed to help reduce the projected deficit in the Cable Communication Fund;
and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to
provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed revisions; now
therefore
RESOLVED,
that a public hearing will be held on
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
I, Brandi Pfohl, MCTV Office
Assistant, City of
______________________________
Brandi
Pfohl, MCTV Office Assistant
CITY OF
ARTICLE
VII. MIDLAND COMMUNITY TELEVISION (MCTV) FINES, FEES AND
OTHER CHARGES*
Sec. 21-120.
MCTV fines.
The
fines for MCTV services are as follows:
(1) Late equipment returns:
a. Late return of equipment, five dollars
($5.00) per day, starting after the first hour late.
Sec. 21-121.
Use fees.
The
use fees for MCTV services are as follows:
(1) Annual access user fee $25.00
(2) Training
fees:
a.
Access user training course
(initial) $10.00
b. Access user training course
(advanced) 10.00
c, Video camp 50.00
(3) Videotape duplication fees:
a. 0-60 30 minutes of content 10.00
b.
61-120 minutes of content 20.00
c.
Over 120 minutes of content 30.00
(3) Videotape duplication processing
fee:
a. Processing fee . . . . 5.00
MCTV Rules and Procedures
Use of MCTV Equipment
2.1 MCTV
facilities and equipment are available for use by residents of the City or
a. Paid the user
fee established in Article VII, Chapter 21 of the City of Midland
Code of
Ordinances.
b. Taken the training course provided by MCTV as
specified in paragraph 1.1; or
c. Demonstrated production capability and competence in
using the production equipment to the MCTV staff
d. Completed the access user application from, which
includes a statement of compliance with these rules. Any violation of these rules may result in
the qualified access user being temporarily or permanently restricted or prevented
from the use of MCTV equipment facilities at the discretion of the MCTV
Coordinator.
8.3 A qualified access user may purchase copies of his or her program on a video format purchased from
MCTV. obtain one copy of his or her program for which there will
be no duplication or processing fee.
MCTV will provide the qualified access user the copy on either a new
videotape supplied by the qualified access user or on a videotape purchased
from MCTV. Additional copies will
be made upon request at the rates established in Article VII, Chapter 21 of
the City of Midland Code of Ordinances.
8.4 Members of the public may also purchase request copies of a program on a video format purchased from MCTV videotape. at the
rates copying and processing fees established in Article VII,
Chapter 21 of the City of Midland Code of Ordinances. will
be charged. New videotape(s) may
be provided by the person submitting the request or a videotape may be
purchased from MCTV.
ARTICLE II
MIDLAND COMMUNITY TELEVISION
(MCTV)
ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD
RULES AND PROCEDURES
17. Electronic
Bulletin Board Messages.
Messages submitted for cablecasting
may be submitted by any resident of the City or
Messages must meet the criteria of Section
15-132 of the City of Midland Code of Ordinances.
Cable Access Advisory Commission
Proposed Meeting Dates for 2007
Wednesdays at
February
14
May
9
September
12
November
14