September 2009

I think someone famous once said, "the Facts Are Stubborn Things". So true, especially with Public Access.

Hopefully most folks don't spend a single second of their day paying any attention whatsoever to the constant and never ending negativity that some Nay-Sayers seem to revel in. Hey, by all means exercise your 1st Amendment, but not at the expense of truth and fact.

It's funny, to the point of being sad, how such a community friendly service who every day opens wide its doors to any citizen, non-profit organization, civic group or non-commercial entity, and yet can be berated by some who have never walked through our doors. And, to pretend to proclaim any number of ridiculous claims as if based on fact. Through our door every week walk, white, African America, male, female, young, old, tall, short, and any number of believers in whatever they believe. Public Access is the voice of the community, who wish to believe in whatever they wish to believe in, not the voice of 'one' or a few who would rather stir the soup rather than plant the seeds and work to ensure something good comes from the garden.

It's best to turn the cheek and fear no evil, to do as our mothers and fathers taught us, work hard, do the right things for the right reasons, be the best we can be, and in the end we can be proud of what we have done and accomplished. And that's exactly how I, and the staff of PAC 14, certainly feel about our work over the last 10 plus years. What's not to be proud of, so many first-ever's in the community...LIVE government meetings, debates, parades, shows that discuss health and education, programs produced by the public such as the religious programs, arts, children's theater, I mean the list of actual people and organizations is as long as your arm. Not to mention, and did I mention, award-winning programs at that - lots of them! And of course many local recognitions of our service to the community.

What's so terrible about all that? Good question. They say the devils in the details. PAC 14's details are pretty easy to understand, if you work hard, and prove your value, you expect to be recognized for this effort. Not in terms of the awards mentioned, but in simple 'opportunity'. The opportunity to step-up, to grow, to build, and to dare hope and dream to improve. No child will grow, no garden will grow, no opportunities arise, if you do not nurture that opportunity and growth. Yes, growth sometimes comes at a price. A family grows, the house grows, a business grows, a facility grows. Its a simple fact of life and an expectation that when you are doing things right, and for the right reasons, you expect things to improve.

PAC 14 is not a commercial operation we are not permitted to sell commercial time. This is defined very clearly in factual information in the links below. The question is, with any investment, are you getting a good return on the investment. The voices we hear, that walk through our doors and use our services, or who watch from home and send us feedback, or all those who sign on as members, seem to indicate without doubt - we are - and we do.

As I've mentioned previously, the structure of any community is only as strong as the sum of it's parts; it's people. How successful and progressive that community is, depends a great deal on how deeply it embraces the need for civic engagement and public participation. The amazing thing about PEG channels is that our services (from local citizen producer to home viewer) serve an entire community. We, the staff of PAC 14, and certainly our large membership of supporters, believe that it's the sum of our parts - and our services - that define who we are and why PAC 14 must grow. They dismiss any notion that any single component of our service is more important than another, or that any one segment of our overall programming is any more important than another.

The facts in regard to Public, Educational and Governmental Access TV, what we are, why we exists, how PEG is funded, how we serve communities all across the country, are easy to find; look at the links below. We certainly hope the citizens of this community understand and appreciate that in this community there is only one PAC 14, not unlike other communities where there more than one Access resource available to citizens, educational and governmental institutions. There is just one PAC 14, therefore we work hard every day to make people proud of us, and yes, to help ensure we can grow and one day soon have a place to call home. Sorry, I for one, am not going to apologize for chasing the dream. There are no declarations or demands, just the simple desire to be more and do more and all in the name of - community. I don't know how else to say it, yes, we want to grow, we want to be more, we need your help.

I'll end with this. It's just one voice, one sentiment, but it echoes so many others, it came to me as feedback in regard to the recent Hometown Heroes episode...the viewer commented that they thought what we were doing is - terrific! The producer of this episode also passed along her comments as well, saying, "PAC 14 is a wonderful organization. The staff was very helpful and never seemed to mind the 101 questions I would ask. I had no technical training before using PAC 14 and I was able to produce three, 45 min shows, benefiting a local service organization. I truly loved my experience with PAC 14 and it has been a great tool for the two non-profits I have worked with." To that we say - thank you - all those who support PAC 14.

Imagine that, good news, good stories about good people, and good things we are doing in our community........
The Facts, certainly are, stubborn things.
 

Suggested Reading list
P.E.G. Access channels - services, funding, and examples of Community Media Centers look in Maryland and across the country.

PEG Access - Defined:
Public Access Television: America's Electronic Soapbox - Laura R. Linder, 1999
Access Basics - The Buske Group
Public-access television  - Wikipedia

Franchise Fees - Defined:
CATV Franchise Fees -- Does the Rent Increase with the Benefit?
Franchise Fee Pass-Through Under the Dallas Decision

Related articles and information in regard to Franchise Fees and municipal agreements:
Austin City Council Cable Television Franchise Fee Audit
Surviving Language Migration From Telecom to Broadband Policy

PAC 14 - A sample of our broad local community support:
Feedback from the community

Community Media Centers and related P.E.G. Access services - Maryland examples:
Anne Arundel Community Television
Carroll Community Media
Montgomery Community Television, Inc.
Montgomery County PEG Network
UMTV
Takoma Park City TV

Community Media Centers - Notable national examples:
Grand Rapids Michigan
Capital Community Television
Community Media Center of Santa Rosa
DCTV

Support PAC 14:
Public Access TV - it's time for a brighter future for PEG Access in our community!
After visiting the sites providing and looking at the examples of CMC's in other communities in Maryland and across
the nation, we hope you will add your name to the list of over 800 member / supporters. PAC 14 is a proven and valued service...all that's missing is the appropriate funding and facilities needed to fulfill its mission.
You can help! Sign our Petition, and Become a Member!

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