To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Colin Rhinesmith. I am a Supporter of Access SF. Without public access television, cities and towns across this country would lose a vital community resource – they would lose the ability to see themselves and their neighbors on television. Just like libraries, community media centers create stronger and more vibrant communities. As a community media worker living in Massachusetts, I have seen how community media centers, such as Access SF, can serve their residents with the communication tools needed to participate in a 21st century culture and global society. Community media provide physical community places so needed in this age of online social networks and other Internet-based media tools. Community media connect individuals through the act of communicating, creating and making media with one another. We need community media and we need Access SF!
I am greatly concerned about the future of public access in San Francisco. Access SF provides community members training in television and Internet production as well as access to channels on which their programs can be shown. Without public access, the City loses diverse, community-based programming developed by independent media producers and nonprofits.
A new State law known as the Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA) threatens public access funding. Because of the law, cities are no longer permitted to negotiate local cable franchises nor require operational funding for public access. Without this source of revenue, the City has limited operational funds to grant to the local operator of public access.
The City (through the Department of Technology) is planning to drastically cut operational funding for Access SF July 1, 2009. The level of funding being proposed would result in greatly reduced staffing causing significant cuts in services.
I strongly urge you to find a way to support public access in San Francisco. The training, facilities, and expertise provided by this community center cannot be replaced by YouTube or any similar Internet-based video site. Cable operators provide millions of dollars per year to the City as part of their franchise agreements. Currently, San Francisco allocates only about $100,000 of these millions to support public access. In addition, Congress and the State Legislature must change the provision in the Telecommunications Act of 1934 and DIVCA eliminating the prohibition of these funds from being used for operational expenses.
I urge you to work with the management of Access SF, as well as with a strong coalition of public access individuals and non-profit organizations in San Francisco to help solve this critical funding problem before June 30, 2009.
Colin Rhinesmith
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DIVCA sets a terrifying precedent.