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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CABLE-1991-04-01 ^- '11 i /cj act �e i cCeSs Ac! visor &aro( ivieetho 7'oo ff presQAt PeA - f-le. s , Lav ref\ Stem,e II ElotSe reEen <<k, &may Ca- 'y \/o ktSoI . d' itl tt ?ct.rt i� -carve Ct` it n -F rsf re'efi1 We. ,-N1.ef at C-& a. i/ - fi ���-iori Co kmci1 A&rn 16€i-S . ' / r \fie, b ri eeki d �u s soma( l e C-4A 3 ni ti el—i I o ca -to-ki L o ms r 4 2;r i t t +(� r©S Ct..!Id COLS LS o f sW t ��a/t'� 14 !Prom � � � � G Pi- `1-0 anOfLQ, GoCa1:0yt . 1\io Cte..ciS ' 00 WCLS Vn&d€ , exceof -o ties � i ,l i �o -Lc`d o r�e i Ye tC 4 1 e-0be r Vie_ a ‘ cel -o ca l l 't e. A46 e Cu of ..access, iIvisor 1& r a 1�� o Ct ci's. tic {ak) bQ7'144 eY1 b a kid ., 1 e yira s '. - Alc r vi e_t ied 4.001 acce1� fecI Thy' Mctrd, C�f%,J multi fes. - 13► Alc o r r l i s re sen 4 o. blic co rfl 1 ? t'? 5a /r1 'Wig c 1avV ( 53 rlI,tst hc 'ie p\ ctfback Capc b! { ►' ch.c � e.. 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( C f L -cured cave Acc.e. .)s iior- .tcttors report, Cee r'epor-t. Vk) \a3.rt..< i- info P_ve_ci( ; iii€ 7e5.;C , ;,)n (ii.,-t- ( I hoar h, 1n.'n71 /q/ 01,AA6 as maul's report_ . o-P Apri ( cove arrlts suzesti.cns ., Pcktit- � i v1� L&y1c . cowl _ di .P..o (rs.-pd S v k.e d tO -�-Q:I -{-v--Q o ri ale eo le bo t (e /Lo 'nm ,trn . . Access _ ( d ;o . . . a Cab C 0es Iced G- -e fo c��c(c- +r-i rao(s o i i c? a .soot w � �a - -�r-c oo _ ?ss i i c� f� � h -� rn , q � v cl .s a. / ocfc s crew a vd�e f n hu.f o» c me nc / o ( -: ( which _Co d rioff-' ahci Sh 0 u l4 t be f-r W-f crk ed) - :•1\ ' /---d 1 SS di, ICC Meeting of 4/9/91 -- Report to the CAAB 1 ) The City Attorney and ACC's attorney are talking about the issue of obscenity. Tom Terrizzi is working on some suggested revisions to the Access Policies and Procedures Manual pertaining to program content which will be reviewed by the CAAB when they are ready. 2) Barbara Lukens reports that educational and governmental access channels are currently held up due to unresolved equipment issues and lack of initiative. Bill McCormick suggests that the Cable Commission impose some deadlines on ACC for movement on new access channels. Pete and Jim will act as a committee to develop short term solutions to a) activating the educational access channel b) providing playback for educational and governmental access. They will report back to the next cable commission meeting. To: All Volunteer Producers From: AAB Committee on Series Priorities and Production Limits Date: 4/19/91 The following system for individual and series production time has been recommended to alleviate the shortage of studio time, particularly studio time for live programming. The entire AAB will discuss and vote on the advisability of implementing these changes at the next AAB meeting. All volunteers interested in this issue are encouraged to submit their comments on this matter. If you can not attend the meeting, you may submit comments in writing through access staff or the access ombudsman [Jim Blizzard] . The AAB meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 7pm at the T.C. Library Sherman Peer Room. I. Individual Programs: The only function of access facilities is to create local programming to be cablecast. Individuals using 100+ hours of editing or studio time to produce a single program, particularly when our facilities are heavily booked, limits the amount of programming that community producers can complete. The problem is to devise a limit which does not unduly restrict the content of access programs. The limits suggested are: Editing Time: max of 50 hours for any individual program [max of 30 hours for programs < 10 min. long] Studio Time: max of 12 hours per program [max of 5 hours for program < 10 min. long] II. Series Programs: Problem: Most evening studio time is reserved by series producers, who have had infinite renewal privileges. Newcomers drastically restricted in their options for production time, particularly in terms of live programming options. Difficulty was finding a system which was workable, even-handed, followed first-come, first-served mandate, and was no more restrictive than necessary. New Series System: Main Features: - Seasons There would be a Fall, Spring and [shorter] Summer season. We would start with Fall 1991, starting in September. - Evening = Prime Time Evenings would be divided into 2 hour blocks, starting 5: 30pm. Afternoons would remain flexible. - Series limits Series producers could reserve a max of 1 block per week or 2 blocks every 2 weeks for the season. Between series and individual reservations, each producer could reserve up to 2 blocks [4 hours] of evening studio time/week. Plus, each producer could reserve up to 3 additional hours of afternoon studio time / week. No limits on standby [24 hours or less in advance] reservations Limits subject to seasonal revision subject to demand. In addition, we will devise a brief training seminar to create producer-technician teams, in which the organizational rep will become the producer, for the purposes of this system. - Live Programs Live series programs would have priority on cablecasting slots when season schedules were being made up. Otherwise, cablecasting priorities would not be affected. - Individual Programs 2 nights/week would be reserved for individual programs only - turnover System If you are a producer who wants a series but finds there is no room in the schedule for your studio project, you may make a request with access for the next season. Producers who do not have a series in one season get first priority for the next season, ranked according to the date of their request. After they get their choice of blocks, all current producers seeking to continue their series are renewed for the next season. I.e. , only a producer who hasn't had a series can bump a series producer from a timeslot. The turnover period will give such producers several weeks time to reschedule any cablecasting or studio time thus displaced. Advantages to this system: 1) We could accomodate up to 18 series and individual producers / week in the evening at the studio, instead of our current 10. 2) We'd solve the dilemma of potential live producers having few options [since they need concurrent studio and cablecasting time] 3) Space could be allocated at the start of each season between individual and series producers based on demand. 4) New producers can always get in. They don't face producers who've hung onto a choice timeslot for 10 years and plan to go 10 more; on the other hand, current producers' ability to stay in one timeslot not disrupted more than necessary to allow those waiting to get a turn. A diagram of the studio schedule under this system: Monday Tuesday Wednesday ' Thursday ' Friday ' Saturday 5: 30 6: 00 Block 1 7 : 00 7 : 30 8: 00 Block 2 9 : 00 9 : 30 10: 00 Block 3 11: 00 11: 30 MAX: 1 Block/week or 2 Blocks/2 wks per producer 9 Draft Resolution of the CAAB Establishing the Offices of Vice-Chairperson and Ombudsman By this Resolution, the Community Access Advisory Board creates the positions of vice- chairperson and ombudsperson, to be filled as follows: A)Vice-Chairperson. The community Access Advisory Board will elect one of its members to be vice-chairperson. The vice-chair will conduct meetings when the chairperson cannot be present and will assume the other duties of the chair during any prolonged absence of the chairperson. B)Ombudsperson. The board will elect one of its members to be ombudsperson. On request of any access volunteer with direct involvement in a dispute or problem, the ombudsperson will lend assistance in problem solving,conflict resolution,and mediation. It is hoped that the ombudsperson's impartiality and good judgment will lead to acceptance of his/her suggestions, though neither the ombudsperson nor the CAAB has the authority to enforce the ombudsperson's recommendations. Draft- Procedures for Mediation by the Cable Access Advisory Board - Draft 1 )The fastest, simplest, and most direct way of having a conflict mediated by a CRAB representative is to request the assistance of the access Ombudsman. The ombudsman is a member of the CRAB whose appointed role is to mediate disputes and solve problems involving access volunteers. The ombudsman will consider a conflict and attempt to mediate a satisfactory resolution between the disputing parties. The ombudsman can only make recommendations;resolution of the dispute depends on the willingness of the parties to the dispute to accept them. The current ombudsman's phone number and address are listed below. 2)A special panel of the CRAB may be convened to provide mediation. Those in the following situations may request a hearing by this panel: a) Anyone on whom the Access Coordinator has imposed a penalty for a major violation may request a hearing by the panel. After the hearing, the panel will advise the Access Coordinator to remove, reduce, increase or leave in effect the penalties that were imposed. b) The Access Coordinator may request that the panel mediate in the case of an alleged violation of access center rules. The panel may recommend penalties be imposed in accordance with provisions in the access Policies and Procedures manual, or it may recommend that the matter be dropped. c) Disputing parties may voluntarily submit a disagreement for mediation by the panel, with an understanding in advance that the final recommendations of the panel will be acceptable to both parties. d) Others involved in conflicts pertaining to access may request a hearing by the panel. It is at the CAAB's discretion whether or not to create a panel to hear such cases. After any such hearing, the panel will offer its non-binding recommendations to the those involved in the dispute. If you wish to request a hearing by the CAAB, please contact the ombudsman or the chairperson. Ombudsman: Chairperson: Jim Blizzard Peter Hess 44 E. Miller Rd. 1 1 1 W.Jay St, Ithaca, NY 14850 Ithaca, NY 14850 272-7563 272-1831 Resolutions Regarding the Purchase of a Modulator for the Educational Access Channel The city and ACC are currently at odds over how to pay for transmission equipment needed to operate access channels(modulators, routing switchers etc.). ACC wants to pay for this equipment out of the access capital budget. The city's position,which was developed with advice from the CAAB, is that this budget ought not be used for purchase of transmission equipment, but only for purchase of production equipment (cameras, editing decks,etc.). The city has asked ACC not to purchase additional transmission equipment for access until this issue is resolved,and ACC has agreed to this. Both sides have sent the matter to their legal counsel. The CRAB,ACC, the Cable Commission,and the access community share an interest in activating the educational access channel (ch. 54)at the earliest possible date. it is highly desirable that the channel be operational by the beginning of the '90-'91 school year so that Ithaca College can move its programming there, thus freeing two evenings a week for other programming on the public access channel. The process is currently stalled, however, by the impasse described above. if the CRAB wishes to take a timely stand on this matter, it may wish to take some action at its May meeting. The following resolutions represent a range of possibilities which are consistant with the CAAB's ear ler position. 1) The CRAB reiterates its recommendation that no additional transmission equipment should be purchased for access until the issue of how it is to be paid for is resolved. We recognize the need for such equipment to activate the educational access channel and feel strongly about the urgency of making this channel operational. Nonetheless, we believe establishing the precedent that transmission equipment is not to be purchased out of access funds is a higher priority. 2) The CAAB recommends that the City and ACC negotiate an interim solution to the dispute about payment for transmission equipment,so that such equipment can be purchased promptly to make channel 54 operational. Although we remain concerned that no precedent be set for paying for such equipment out of access capital budget,we feel it is very important that channel 54 be available for use as soon as possible. We believe that an interim agreement can and should be reached which will leave the question of how the equipment is paid for open for the present. 3) The CAAB recommends that the Cable Commission instruct ACC to proceed with purchase of a modulator for channel 54 immediately out of access capital funds,so as to allow ch. 54 to be activated without delay. The CAAB continues to believe in the principle that access capital funds ought not be used to purchase transmission equipment and recommends that the Cable Commission and the city continue to strongly advocate this position. In view of the intransigence of both sides on this issue and the great importance of making ch. 54 operational as soon as possible, however, we wish to remove any impediments to the earliest possible activation of the educational access channel. Orientation Information for New Members of the Cable Access Advisory Board 1. Duties of the CRAB. The following passage is extracted from the franchise: "The advisory board shall report regularly to the City Cable Comm ission...The advisory board shall review and monitor all access policies and procedures but will remain advisory in nature. ACC shall consult with the Advisory board on the purchase of new equipment, the studio hours available for access users,and access rules. ACC shall provide quarterly reports to the board on the purchase and maintenance of equipment, the schedules of access staff and the use of studio time." A committee of the CRAB is currently working to develop a more specific list of duties and responsibilities. 2. CAAB Membership - The CAAB consists of nine members. Seven of these are voting members. The two non-voting members are a representative of the Cable Commission and the ACC access coordinator. Three of the seven voting members are appointed from within the City of Ithaca, two are non-city residents,and two have institutional affiliations. A quorum of four voting members is required to conduct business. 3. Length of Term - CAAB Members are appointed for a two year term. Terms begin in March. Nothing prohibits members from serving consecutive terms. Members appointed to complete an unexpired term serve out the remainder of the term, 4. CAAB Officers: •Chairperson - The chair of the CAAB is appointed by the City Cable Commission, from among CRAB members. The chairperson conducts CAAB meetings, makes sure that members receive information they need to meet their responsibilities,and oversees the work of the board to keep it on track and on schedule. •Vice-chairperson - The board will elect one of its members to be vice-chairperson. The vice-chair will conduct meetings when the chairperson cannot be present and will assume the other duties of the chair during any prolonged absence. •Ombudsperson - The board will elect one of its members to be ombudsperson. The ombudsperson will assist in solving problems that develop between access users or access users and access staff. 5. Time and place of meetings - Meetings take place on the first Monday of each month. They begin at 7:00 pm,and are scheduled to end promptly at 9:00 pm. In addition to the monthly meetings,the capital equipment purchase procedure requires one extra CAAB meeting per year to review spending needs. 6. Meeting protocol - The agenda of the board's monthly meeting is usually full and it is a challenge to get through it. To do so requires that members arrive at meetings promptly, come well prepared, and keep statements brief. Each meeting includes a report from the Cable Commission,a report from the Access Coordinator,and a public comment period. Public comments are limited to 5 minutes per person (three minutes if there are many who want to speak). To assure all board members equal opportunity to speak at meetings, members who wish to be recognized during a fast paced discussion should raise their hands. 7.Attendance - Members who miss three consecutive meetings without notification and cause will be dismissed from the board,as will members who miss 5 out of 12 meetings. Members should notify the chair if they must miss a meeting. 8, Minutes. Minute taking is rotated among the board members. The minutes should include any resolutions passed at the meeting,typed on a separate sheet. Minutes should be given to the chairperson by ten days prior to the next CRAB meeting. The chairperson will number resolutions in accordance with a prescribed sequence,and will bring the minutes to the City Clerk to be copied and mailed to board members. Board members should bring these materials to the next meeting. 9. Other Submissions. The following items should also be submitted to the chair ten days prior to the meeting. If received in time, they will be mailed to Board members with the minutes. •Resolutions to be brought before the board by CAAB members. •Reports of committees which met during the month. •Proposals by members for new committees, projects,etc. •Any written submission that will expedite and/or clarify the business of the board. 10. Committees - Because the work that the CRAB is called upon to do cannot be entirely accomplished at monthly meetings,committee work is important to the board's functioning. Participation in committees is voluntary, but encouraged. Peter Hess 111 W. Jay St Ithaca, NY 14850 Apri125, 1991 DearRobin, I am writing to you on behalf of the Cable Access Advisory Board in response to your March 19th letter to Lauren Stefanelli,which you copied to me and to the board. I cannot intelligently discuss many of the incidents you cited in your letter because I was not present, and the reports of those who were disagree. I will limit my remarks to matters with which I am familiar. The CAAB maintains that neitherit nor any other agency has the right to censor program content,except where there is obscenity. We do not feel that line has been crossed in the case of Bill McCormick's `Round AboutIthaca program. The freedom of speech on access is an expression of our first amendment rights,and we believe it is to be valued highly even when the speech itself is objectionable. Your program has been a platform for free speech of the most diverse sort, so I assume in most instances you agree with this premise. The CAAB's willingness to be tolerant towards objectionable speech does not extend to behaviorin the access facility. We strongly support the access center staff in any effort to curb aggressive or rude behavior towards volunteers,staff members,or anyone else within the access facility. Unlike callers to and viewers of access programming,people in the access building have not chosen to put themselves in the fray. Nor are there any first amendment rights at issue. Again,from the comments in your letter,I assume you agree with this position. We are very concerned both about the assertions Lauren has made regarding your behavior,and those you made concerning Bill McCormick in your letter. Although there is no way of reconciling the opposing perspectives on these events, I will say that based on my observations both sets of charges are credible. As access coordinator,it is Lauren's responsibility to maintain decorum in the access studio. We believe that she has managed this difficult task well. In the past she has been very forthright about her actions and has been eager to seek counsel. We strongly support her efforts to resolve the conflicts that are currently disrupting the access facility,and we have every confidence in her ability to do so. Lauren has made clear that she has a great deal of respect for your contributions to access and has shown no indication of bias against you in our discussions. Lauren has asked the CAAB to address itself to the issue of conflicts which arise from access interactions. The board is currently working on devising a procedure to assist in conflict resolution,including some mechanism for us to hear unresolved disputes. I expect this to be discussed at our May meeting. When it is passed,the procedure will be posted at the access studio. Please do not hesitate to avail yourself of it now, or inthefuture. I would be happy to discuss these matters with you further,and any serious suggestions from you about how a bad situation might be improved will be seriously considered by the CAAB. Thanks you for conveying your thoughts to us. Sincerely, Peter Hess,Chairperson,CAAB cc:Members of the Cable Access Advisory Board