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Update and Urgent Call to Action - Final Call to Save SF Access

by Zane Blaney/D. Boyer(poster)
SOS Coalition Members and Public Access TV supporters and users.
Access SF appreciates your support and activism to save public access in San Francisco. The Coalition was instrumental in convincing the Board of Supervisors to pass Ross Mirkarimi’s resolution urging the Congress and the State Legislature to reform public, education and government (PEG) funding. This resolution has been received by San Francisco’s Congressional and State Legislative delegations and we expect to see Federal legislation in the near future and our representatives in the State Legislature are reviewing options to re-open discussions around the AT&T inspired statewide franchising law, the Digital Infrastructure Video Competition Act (DIVCA).



Now we need your support for the next local action which has the potential to immediately address the funding crisis for public access in San Francisco. Again, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi has introduced legislation, known as the DIVCA Ordinance, which is required by State law to set the amount of capital and operations support for PEG by local governments moving forward. This legislation is a City Ordinance which must be approved by the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor. It is critical to saving public access now. We need you to again call the Supervisors and the Mayor and to attend two hearings. Here is the background update and Call to Action. Thank you for taking the time to make these calls and attend these hearings.



What’s Happening



The City’s Department of Technology (DT) has rejected the SF Community TV Corp.’s (CTC) response to the public access management Request for Proposal (RFP) saying it was “non-response” since the CTC did not submit a bid for $120,000 which was the unrealistic amount being offered. The CTC submitted a counter proposal for a higher amount. The CTC was the only entity to submit a bid to manage public access. If nothing changes the City and County of San Francisco and DT will be responsible for the facilities and all operations of public access beginning July 1, 2009.



On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11:00 AM the Budget and Finance Sub-committee of the Board of Supervisors will hear testimony on an amendment to the City’s Administrative Code to set the level of public, education and government (PEG) cable access funding in the future. The Sub-committee meeting will be in the Supervisor’s Main Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall. This ordinance is required for any city to continue to receive PEG funding under the statewide cable franchise law, the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA). DT has said for many months that although the City can require PEG funding from cable operators none of the funds can be used for operations. This is due to DT’s conservative/narrow reading and understanding of complex State and Federal laws.



The CTC and some PEG advocates and authors of DIVCA believe this interpretation is incorrect. They believe that DIVCA does allow operational funding if the City was collecting operations funding in 2006 which it did. It is hoped the hearing on the 29th will set the percentage of support and begin to clarify how these PEG funds can be used. After the Ordinance is passed by the Sub-committee it will be sent to the Full Board of Supervisors. Their vote is expected during their Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 2 PM meeting.



Why Your Voice Is Needed



Some level of PEG support will be adopted by the City and County of San Francisco. It will be determined through a formula using franchise and PEG fees the City received in 2006. The support will range between 1% to 3% above the franchise fees. The rub is that the cable companies including Comcast, AT&T and Astound will pass these fees on to the cable subscribers thus raising cable subscriber rates. When the Board of Supervisors adopts this fee they may be criticized for contributing to higher cable bills. That’s why it’s important to demonstrate to the Supervisors and cable subscribers why PEG is a public benefit and a critical resource to the City and its residents. Once again the Board of Supervisors will need to hear from producers, viewers and communities about the importance of public access.



If the City is able to increase the PEG operational funding then there is a chance public access will continue at current level and the City will have to re-issue its RFP for public access management. If not, San Franciscans can expect to lose access to public access facilities including studios, editing suites, checkout equipment and training. DT has yet to make public any concrete plans for City management of public access other than to say it will be greatly reduced.



Hearing on PEG Support/DIVCA Ordinance

Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee, Sub-committee

Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM

Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Chamber, Room 250, 2nd Floor, City Hall





Vote on Ordinance

Full Board of Supervisors

Expected Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 2:00 PM

Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Chamber, Room 250, 2nd Floor, City Hall



Check the Save Our Station (SOS) Coalition for Updates

http://accessf.org/soscoalition/



What You Can Do:



· Attend hearing and say why your show is important to the community

· Attend the Full Board of Supervisors’ Meeting

· Call the following Supervisors and call and email the Mayor:

Michela Alioto-Pier 415-554-7752

David Chiu 415-554-7450

Carmen Chu 415-554-7460

Bevan Dufty 415-554-6968

Sean Elsbernd 415-554-6516

Sophie Maxwell 415-554-7670

Mayor Gavin Newsom 415-554-6141

gavin.newsom [at] sfgov.org

· Urge them to support the Ross Mirkarimi PEG/DIVCA Ordinance

· Tell them why your show and public access is important

· Urge City to re-bid the public access contract with additional funding

* Support the CTC/Access SF

This article was written by Zane Blaney but posted by Dina Boyer
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