Success, how do you define – success?

Several top business executives were recently asked about how to succeed in today’s world. They mentioned several key words and phrases within their answers, ‘simplicity’ – ‘be true to your community's norms and values’ – ‘being consistent’ – ‘accessibility’ – ‘listen to the community and adapt’ – ‘improved access to technology’; and those reflect only a small sample of the overall responses. Community, accessibility, and technology; theses concepts seem oddly familiar don’t they. Given the growth of Access in our hometown, and considering the definitions of success offered above, it would appear PAC 14 fits the definition of success.

PAC 14 and all Public, Educational and Governmental Access operations, are focused solely on community. In our case however it’s not what we can sell, but what we can offer. Achieving success in the Access world is a bit like building the layers of a Smith Island 10-layer cake, the work isn’t done until the icing is on the cake. PAC 14 has achieved layer 8, with the last layers proving to be the toughest to achieve. The theoretical layers in our case, are building a temporary base of operation, establish initial support, securing quality staff, gathering together start-up materials, establishing an audience, and building a brand – in our case making PAC 14 not just a channel but a destination on the dial. Essentially, setting the operational stage and positioning PAC 14 to accomplish the final stages of development. In our case this was a decade long process.

From the viewer to the new producer who walks through the door for the first time, or the non-profit organizations reaching out to the community via Access, all benefit from a strong and vibrant community access operation. PAC 14 is just that, a strong and vibrant operation. Each day our membership numbers increase – thank you – and we establish new high water marks for public usage and participation. This type of progress and overall success creates great pressures to increase literally every aspect of your service. That includes the gold standards of space, staff, equipment, and overall services offered. Clearly, the time has come to set the cornerstone on our community’s new Access facility and kick Access into high gear.

I could yammer-on for hours about why Congress and the FCC established PEG Access TV, then turn around and yammer-on even longer about how PEG is funded, or not funded, here there and everywhere… but that is fairly well covered in the pages of our website so you can read more there. What I can and should point out is that unlike 98% of the channels you receive (give or take) PEG Access slings open its doors to every citizen of the city and county and pours its heart and soul into its open-access commitments to community.

Yet, unlike all those channels who receive some form of per-cent or per-dollar funding support - which is most often used to support capital needs - PAC 14 has from day one received zero. C-SPAN, MTV, Weather Channel, and alike, all receive a specific amount in cents or dollars from the overall cable bill. It’s hard to operate on zero, and impossible to maintain any level of success over time without the key funding and operational components to meet current and future demands. At the same time, over our first decade in operation the overwhelming sentiment from users and viewers is they want ‘more’ PAC 14, not less, creating a real operational dilemma.

Being consistent – accessibility – build the brand, I think it’s safe to say at this point, job done. The start-up phase of our Access facility is over; the ground has been theoretically cleared and is ready for a new beginning and a new home. To put it simple terms that anyone can understand, you either grow or you die. PAC 14 has done nothing but grow during its first decade of service, more than a few of the comments from folks in the community are listed for all to see on this website. From parades, debates, council meetings, health shows - and more - PAC 14 makes it possible. PAC 14 is the place people turn to and a top destination on the cable dial. It’s not bragging, the information in front of us and the feedback we receive indicates its fact.

So where do we go from here? All PAC can do is suggest the time has come for this community - who supports PAC 14 - to state loud and clear that the time has come for a major step forward. Even those who argue I can’t get PAC 14 because cable won’t serve my area, make the argument for us, people want PAC 14; they want more community TV, not less. I think I said that twice, but worth restating. Clearly, strong and vibrant Access channels provide a competitive benefit to video providers and therefore should support PEG Access. PAC 14 desires to be not only a destination on the dial - but a destination within the community as well.

Mike Goodson,
Manager PAC 14

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