TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Long Beach Community Action Partnership to operate Public Access television in Long Beach for a period of two years with the option to extend for two additional one year periods at the discretion of the City Manager; and increase appropriations in the General Services Fund (IS 385) and the Department of Technology Services (TS) by $524,472. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Enactment of the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006 (DIVCA) marked a major change in the regulation of video service providers in California. Essentially, DIVCA replaced the local franchising process with a State process under the authority of the California Public Utilities Commission. The legislation allowed cable operators to vacate their local franchises. As a result, cable operators were not required to provide Public Access facilities, equipment, and staff support for residents to produce programs after January 2, 2009. Public Access television in Long Beach has been dark since then because there was no entity, with the requisite funds, to operate the channel. It should be noted, however, that the cable operators have reserved a channel for Public Access in their Long Beach channel lineups.
In November 2008, Technology Services began meeting with representatives from the Public Access community to discuss the future of the medium in Long Beach. Over the next few months, staff met with the group several times to identify potential solutions to continue Public Access operations. Unfortunately, neither a short- nor long-term viable solution could be identified. The primary issue was the lack of funding for Public Access operations. While Public, Education and Government (PEG) funding was available, it could only be used for capital uses, such as equipment, and could not be used for staffing, rent, and other operational expenses.
In April 2009, at the City Council’s direction, the City...
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