Future of San Francisco Public Access Television

This information is being distributed at the request of the City's
Department of Telecommunications and Information Services (DTIS). If you
have any questions about the RFI/C process or this email, please contact
Barry Fraser at PublicAccessTV [at] SFGOV.org.

Future of San Francisco Public Access Television: Request for
Information/Comments (RFI/C)
Now Available at: http://sfgov.org/publicaccesstv

The City and County of San Francisco Department of Telecommunications and
Information Services ("DTIS") has released a Request for
Information/Comments (RFI/C) to gather information about the future of
San Francisco's public access cable television channels. These channels
air throughout the City on Comcast Cable channels 29 and 76, Astound
Broadband channels 29 and 30, and on AT&T channel 99.

The channels face two challenges over the next 12-18 months. First, the
current channel operating agreement with Community Television Corporation
will end on June 30, 2009, and the City anticipates completing a
competitive process to award a new agreement, to begin on July 1, 2009.
Second, the channels face reductions in operating funding under new state
video franchise laws.

The City seeks comments about current and expected future levels of
participation in public access services, as well as the availability of
alternative funding sources or cost effective operating strategies that
might address these challenges.

In addition, DTIS has developed an Online Survey for public access
channel viewers, video producers and workshop participants to provide
information about use of channel facilities and future needs. This
survey is also available at http://sfgov.org/publicaccesstv.

Copies of the RFI/C and Survey are also available by email to
PublicAccessTV [at] SFGOV.org, or by writing or visiting one of the following
locations:

DTIS Access SF Studios
ATTN: Public Access TV 1720 Market Street (at Valencia)
1 S. Van Ness, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94102-5806
San Francisco, CA 94103

A public meeting has also been scheduled to answer questions about the
RFI/C and gather public comment on these issues:

6:00 PM, Monday, July 14, 2008
DTIS Offices
1 S. Van Ness (at Market St.), 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

The deadline for submitting all comments is August 4, 2008.

Note: Please be aware that all responses submitted, even those containing
personal identifying information, are public records and may be disclosed
to the public. DTIS will post written responses at http://sfgov.
org/publicaccesstv.