City Manager to cut WCCA funding 8%

Today we read the City Manager's recommendations that he plans to cut funding allocations as early as next year and leaves us in the dark as to what to expect for years 3 and 5 of the remaining term of the cable franchise.

If the Manager's recommendations (PDF) are enacted, WCCA's funding would be cut 8% in 2009. No funding level would be guaranteed after 2009.

What you can do: Contact your City Councilor and, if possible, attend the September 23 City Council meeting (7pm, City Hall). Ask the Council to pressure the Manager to negotiate a better deal with WCCA.

Throughout the entire cable franchise ascertainment process the community had strongly voiced their request that the city of Worcester make assurances for increased funding and channel capacity for WCCA TV. At every Cable Advisory meeting and Public Service and Transportation cable hearing we attended we never heard calls, except from the government channel coordinator, for increased funding for the government channel or the school channel. In fact we found over a million dollar surplus combined of monies left unused from channels 11 and 12.

WCCA TV and community members clearly demonstrated a need for increased provisions to support the growth and capacity of WCCA TV to meet community media needs.

The City Manager's communication to the council comes without advanced notice to WCCA. We have received no offer or proposal. We did have the the opportunity to negotiate. We hope there is still time for that.

The City Manager's letter:

September 23,2008

TO THE WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILORS

I respectfully submit for the information of your Honorable Body the following update on the allocation of funding for the Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access Channels, including the status of the contract with the City's public access television provider, WCCA, lnc.

I requested the Cable Television Advisory Committee (CTAC), in conjunction with members of my Administration, review the current entities receiving PEG funds associated with the Cable License upon execution of the Renewal Cable Television License with Charter Communications this past spring. This review included analysis of national best practices and models, determination of capital needs, development of performance standards, identification of strategies to ensure financial accountability to the subscribers and the development of long-term pans for enhancing access and strengthening outreach to residents.

After review and deliberation of those recommendations, it is my intention to further enhance the City's government access channel (Channel 12) to offer increased programming and a greater level of coverage and service to bring City government to the people. In addition to expanded coverage of public meetings at City Hall, my administration intends to afford City Council the ability to broadcast Standing Committee meetings from neighborhoods throughout the City on Channel 12. The City is also pursuing enhance Channel 12 coverage during emergency situations such as snowstorms, tropical weather, and extreme heat/cold. A comprehensive
report outlining my administration's strategy utilize PEG funding to take government to the
people will be submitted in the coming weeks and will likely include recommendations
for display monitors in City Hall to broadcast Channel 12, updated camera and broadcast equipment, a vehicle to support mobile broadcasts, computer and editing hardware and
software, and improved infrastructure in City Hall.

Adhering to this commitment, I have developed an allocation formula that will seek to
address these goals of bringing better access to residents and those subscribers who
fund the cable license revenues. I have determined the following course of action with
respect to the cable license fee revenues and capital payments:

1. The PEG Equipment/Facilities Funding allocation will be 60-20-20. Thus, of the
$500,000 payment to the City for equipment and facility funding, the PEG entities will receive the following:

a. 60% Public Access or $300,000
b. 20% Educational Access or $100,000
c. 20% Government Access or $100,000

2. The cable license fee revenue allocation for the five-year term of the current
Renewal Cable Television License with Charter Communications will be:

a. Calendar Year 1: Through December, 2008 the allocation formula will remain the same as the prior license agreement:

. 60% Public Access

. 20% Educational Access

. 20% Government Access

b. Calendar Year 2: Commencing January 1, 2009, the allocation formula will be:

. 55% Public Access
. 20% Educational Access
. 25% Government Access

3. Years 3 through 5: the allocation formula will be addressed based on identified
needs and measured performance of each of the access entities.

This new approach to the allocation process and the utilization of cable revenues will
involve coordination of multiple municipal departments and cooperation among the City
Administration, Worcester Public Schools, and WCCA, Inc. This Approach will include
performance measures, evaluation tools, benchmarks, strategic planning, and targeting
of resources and will provide for enhanced accountability and fiduciary responsibility for
all PEG entities

To ensure a seamless transition for WCCA, Inc, the City has offered WCCA a contract
that will take effect October 1, 2008, ensuring a continuous contractual relationship with
WCCA, Inc and provide the organization funding continuity over the full term of the
agreement.

I will ensure that the cable license fee revenues support increased and innovative programming, vital community and neighborhood outreach, and the ability to bring government and services to the people while holding all parties accountable to reasonable performance standards

Respectfully submitted,
Michael V O'Brien
City Manager