How does COMMUNITY ACCESS work?
WE PLAY WHAT WE GET, IN THE ORDER WE GET IT, FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME. Guilford TV Board Member J. Lincoln

Community Access programming is generally defined as non-commercial programming produced or sponsored by members of the community and
made available to all subscribers in a cable operator’s service area as a
part of the operator’s basic service offering. Community Access includes
public, educational and governmental access and for that reason is
sometimes referred to as P.E.G.

The purpose of Community Access programming, as delineated in Connecticut regulations:

• enhance First Amendment Rights
• provide for dissemination of diverse views and for a
  marketplace of ideas and information
• capitalize on possibilities inherent in “narrowcasting,”
  as contrasted with broadcasting
• provide for viable alternatives to commercial programming
• enhance a sense of community among residents of the
  town and franchise area

In our franchise area, the DPUC assigned the responsibility for management of community access operations to seven independent, nonprofit community-based organizations.

We have to try not to confuse the means of production and the means of distribution.

When I started in Access, before some of you were born, almost nobody had personal video equipment. Almost nobody knew how to produce.

Jumping forward, the equipment is cheaper, better understood and more pervasive.

This is an opportunity to expand the effective production base of the access center and to redirect limited capital funds in ways which increase the community resource: incorporate the community equipment base.

Remember that the advent of studio production had to do with the size and electrical needs of cameras, the amount of light needed by the tubes and the amount of air conditioning these behemoths required. It is natural that decentralization of the means of production would decentralize the location of production.

The pervasiveness of basic equipment and familiarity means that the type of training may shift from "white balancing" (whatever that is) to editing syntax. From "don't burn the tubes" to "how can I effectively communicate our message?" Does this mean that training is not necessary?

Access centers have been fairly transparent about distribution over cable. This is a process which required mostly training in the rules and procedures and philosophies of democratic community programming. It definitely now needs to include technical training in the use of additional means of distribution via the internet and other forms. You-Tube can be a great additional means of distribution for someone who understands the nature of community organizing. A group with understanding of community media can transform the random and chaotic interaction into one with direction and impact. But it requires luck or an understanding of community, and promotion.

For instance, the popularity of the Daily Show net-neutrality piece was tremendously enhanced by its long availability on You-Tube. But it did not originate on You-Tube. It originated on Comedy Central-- cable. It was promoted by communities of media activists through pre-existing lines of communication. That makes three interconnected media forms, minimum. They do not substitute for each other-- they must enhance one another.

We have to make sure we do not make the same mistake with the exciting new internet tools that many made with PEG early on: We are not the equipment we use.

We must not resist new tools, nor should we adopt new tools just because they are there. Most of our centers do not have the capital funds for very many random experiments. As stewards of public funds, we are obligated to look at the community need first and adopt solutions second. It does not mean we cannot lead. It means that we MUST lead through responsible decision-making processes.

Let’s focus on the people, not the tubes.

Anthony T. Riddle
Alliance for Community Media
09/2006