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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12022014 - C.136RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE the updated Contra Costa Television Policies and Procedures, attached. FISCAL IMPACT: None. BACKGROUND: On June 26, 2012, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) a review of the policies and procedures governing the operations of Contra Costa Television (CCTV). CCTV was established in 1994 to provide local government and educational programming to the citizens of Contra Costa County. It is funded by franchise fees collected by cable providers and remitted to the County. Policies and procedures governing CCTV are updated on an as-needed basis and were last updated by the Board of Supervisors in 2009. On August 13, 2012, the IOC received a presentation from staff on the history of CCTV and the reasons for considering an update to policies and procedures. The IOC directed staff to return with updated policies and procedures for review. On October 8 and November 13, 2012, and September 9, 2013, the IOC received status reports from the Office of Communications and Media (OCM) Director. The IOC directed the OCM Director to additionally create interim policies to expand programming on additional channels managed or to be managed by CCTV. The additional capacity would allow for Public Access programming guidelines in addition to updated Government Access programming guidelines. However, further work on the policy/procedures update was suspended due to a notification from the Contra Costa College District that it intended to cease operation of APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 12/02/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: BETSY BURKHART 925-313-1180 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: December 2, 2014 , County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Stacey M. Boyd , Deputy cc: OCM Director, IOC Staff C.136 To:Board of Supervisors From:INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Date:December 2, 2014 Contra Costa County Subject:CONTRA COSTA TELEVISION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES UPDATE BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) the Educational Access channel that serves Contra Costa County. On September 9, 2013, the IOC further directed CCTV to take steps to provide channel management and signal maintenance for the countywide Education Channel, which was in danger of going being shut down. The Internal Operations Committee further directed the OCM to incorporate all three aspects of Public, Education and Government Access Television (PEG) into a proposed countywide needs assessment to develop a road map for PEG programming throughout the county. The Committee directed the OCM to continue to work on a Memorandum of Understanding with additional cities seeking channel management, and pursue Board of Supervisors approval of management of the Education Channel once programming capability exists. CCTV’s operational policy and procedures have been updated to reflect current Government Access needs, and will be communicated to eligible users inside and outside the county once feedback is considered from key channel users. The policy allows for the expanded use of CCTV to better showcase government programs and services, encouraging CCTV’s use as a marketing and outreach tool for the County. It streamlines requests for services, and moves multiple paper-driven processes online. It also provides for more logical programming blocks on CCTV so that viewers can know what to expect, and allows presentations before the Board of Supervisors to be shown on the channel independently of the Board meetings themselves. A greater emphasis on using CCTV to effectively communicate the programs and services provided by the County will inform the public of how their tax dollars are being used. The current “pay to play” model, requiring eligible users to pay for production costs of any video, continues to be a disincentive for County departments with strapped budgets. It also gives non-General Fund supported departments a broader opportunity for video outreach since they can afford to cover costs. The Office of Communications and Media is currently auditing CCTV content to better gauge patterns of use by eligible users, both for video and bulletin board content. It is expected that the results will be presented to the Internal Operations Committee for direction on whether or not the cost structure should be modified. In the area of Public Access, CCTV reached out to program producers previously served by Comcast and has aired only those programs that were on the channel when the cable company abandoned operations in late 2012. CCTV is phasing in new programming over the remaining months of 2014 to encourage public interest in the countywide needs assessment that will be conducted on behalf of all three legs of PEG. In the area of Education Access, CCTV is continuing to provide the signal maintenance for the channel. CCTV is pursuing avenues to secure educational programming to populate the channel with a head-start to what a fully functioning station might have to offer. For both the Public and Educational Access channels, it is important to note that expanding CCTV’s operational reach does not presume CCTV will eventually handle channel management or operations. There are many successful models for PEG channel operation, and at this point CCTV is not advocating for any one over another. The IOC approved CCTV’s 2013 public engagement grant request to seek funding for a countywide PEG needs assessment, but Contra Costa was not among those entities funded. Contra Costa Television is approaching its 20th anniversary as a public service of the Board of Supervisors. CCTV plans to enter the 21st year of operations with a broader mission of engaging viewers through an expanded base of Public, Education and Government access programming, coupled with expanded web video outreach to meet users where they are watching video, whether it is on television, a computer, tablet or phone. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: Not applicable. ATTACHMENTS 2014 CCTV Operating Policies and Procedures Contra Costa Television Operating Policy and Procedures: 2014 Updated Guidelines Contra Costa Television (CCTV) is the County’s Government Access cable television channel. It’s a public service of the Board of Supervisors, committed to producing and television quality programming on issues of countywide interest or concern. Who can use CCTV? Government Access is intended to make cable television available for use by local governments, agencies and special districts. Local governmental bodies, boards and commissions located in Contra Costa County may request to have programs produced and/or aired on CCTV. State and Federal governmental bodies may also request use of the channel in association with official governmental activities that affects the interests of Contra Costa County residents. CCTV access may not be used for political advertising or to promote or oppose a candidate for public office. How can access be requested? Program requests may be made online or in writing to the Office of Communication and Media. What costs are associated with using CCTV? There is no charge for channel time, facilities or equipment when the applicant is producing a program for airing on CCTV. Charges are incurred if the eligible user requires CCTV staff or contractors to provide services relating to the creation of the program. What types of programs are eligible for airing? Suitable programs should have a countywide interest and a connection to a government program, service or community need. Eligible users have broad discretion to propose programming of interest to their viewers. Denial of program airing requests by the Office of Communications and Media may be appealed to the County Administrator. Between live and pre-recorded programming, CCTV airs an electronic bulletin board. What types of announcements can be aired? Bulletin board announcements can include government sponsored events, job recruitments, public meeting announcements and other information that can be shared in a series of slides. Submission guidelines and the submission form are located on the CCTV website. (Link to form page) What types of products and services are available through CCTV? Use of the studio, production facilities and equipment Rental of facility for non-government access use (per Use of County Facilities Policy) Production Services, including end-to-end services or a la carte depending upon the need. Producers, editors, directors, videographers are among the services that can be provided by staff or contractors hired by CCTV. DVD and web file production How can programs that are not eligible for Government Access be aired? Only Government Access programming will air on CCTV, but the station can assist program producers with public or educational video content access other channels within the Contra Costa County cable television footprint.