Public Access contract

Thanks to all to have been writing letters, making phone calls and blogging concerning WCCA TV and the continuity of its future operations. Your help continues to make a difference.

This week the City Manager announced to the city council that he needs additional time for his Cable Advisory Committee and his Administration to conduct necessary due diligence, finalize funding allocation recommendations for the city's PEG channels which includes WCCA TV. Once that is completed, he said he will then be prepared to negotiate a new contract with WCCA TV.

In his communication to the city council, the Manager stated that his Cable Advisory Committee is in the process of researching best practices, determining the specific capital needs of each entity, recommending contract terms and length of contract, performance standards and strategies to ensure financial accountability. This analysis includes review of the contract with the public access television provider WCCA, Inc. which, he wrote, "will form the basis of the upcoming contract negotiations".

He stated that given the importance of the Cable Advisory committee's research and recommendation to the overall allocation process, and the reality that finalizing a new contract with WCCA prior to June 15th is unlikely, that he has decided to extend the contract with WCCA to provide continued funding through September 15, 2008.

Although WCCA appreciates the consideration and sensitivity given by the city to extend continuity of WCCA, the last extension did not address current capital needs or increased cost of meeting current community needs. Many WCCA supporters and community members are concerned with the possibility of the city expending excessive time and expense on this matter as it has already been throughly reviewed during the ascertainment process which began in late 2004.

WCCA agrees and respects a process for due consideration, and it has requested a full opportunity to brief and provide materials to the Cable Advisory Committee. However, whereas the City has conducted extensive ascertainment of need, that began in 2004 and ended in April of 2008, and has received numerous comprehensive assessment reports from a number of public and community sources, including both the Cable Advisory Committee and the Public Service Committee, WCCA and the stations staff and Board, will continue to respectfully request that the Cable Committee and City Manager give due weight to materials already submitted when considering the needs of WCCA and the formulation of a new contract with WCCA. During the recent franchise renewal ascertainment process, materials already submitted called for and demonstrated a need for increased support for WCCA. In addition, in light of this public record, the City Manager had conducted the renewal franchise process with sensitivity to WCCA's needs, and we are hopeful the newly constituted Cable Advisory Committee will act cognizant of this history.

With that said, WCCA is very grateful for the scores of encouraging letters, post cards, editorials, blogs, phone calls, of support. Your help and support in this way is working. Congratulations to YOU.
Our work is not finished with this respect. I look forward to seeing you Wednesday May 21 at WCCA Studio for our open meeting relative to our future.

Sincerely with thanks,
Mauro