The purpose of public access television.
Public access serves a unique role in our communities. It encourages communication and creative self-expression. It helps us build relationships with our neighbors.
Public access TV provides alternative programming to the commercially-sponsored shows and specialized channels that dominate today's choices. Despite antiquated rules and the best efforts of people and groups with agendas trying to control what we see, public access TV has remained free and open to the people.
Why is public access TV in danger?
Every year or two, communities around the country negotiate with their local cable companies on a " cable franchise contract." This contract affects many things such as service rates and funding for local programming. In recent years, some major markets have completely lost their public access TV stations. The ones remaining are struggling to keep going.
Another developing threat to the existence of public access is satellite cable systems. They advertise that subscribers will receive local programming. That's almost true - the only channel you won't receive on Seattle satellite cable is SCAN. Alluring offers of discounts and persistent telemarketers are trying to silence community access TV, too.
Why is the existence of this community service being endangered? Has it become a threat to those who seek to control our viewing habits? Has it become subversive to share information with one another? Or is it just something that's easily cancelled when budgets are tight?
Why is Seattle's public TV so important?
Seattle is famous worldwide for its creative energy. This is the home of unique ideas, daring entrepreneurial pursuits, discoveries, vision and adventures in music, technology and science. Seattle has a unique urban pulse.
These same qualities characterize Seattle's community access TV programs. It's little wonder that the world is watching.
The reality of community television.
SCAN-TV's studios are not large. The equipment is not new. Budget cuts, staff shortages and higher demand than can be accommodated seem to plague the station.
Despite the challenges, SCAN offers incredibly diverse programming.
Have you heard any SCAN Buzz?
Whether it's around the water cooler at work, on the evening news or while riding the bus, if you've ever heard people talking about public access shows or topics, that's proof for you that SCAN is being watched and discussed. It has value to the community.
Why care about keeping SCAN-TV on the air?
Perhaps you have a a favorite program that gets aired on SCAN. As Americans, places where we can speak freely are slowly disappearing. This is a great place to share your point of view when you care enough about something to get involved.
We can improve the situation at SCAN.
It looks like some of the contractual obligations from the last round have not been fulfilled. There's problems, but they cannot be fixed if the station is shut down.The budget will not last much longer than the current contract period. If new agreements are not reached in a timely fashion, the way I understand things, three things will happen:
SCAN will be broke, and
SCAN will go off the air, and
Public access TV in Seattle will be GONE.
What can you do?
1. Educate yourself about the issues.
It's been difficult to find out where the negotiations are at now. At one point the local cable companies were offering to pay for the cost of equipment, but no overhead or basic costs of operation. Why aren't they keeping up their part of the bargain, as in years past? What was the city's response to this?
If you can learn what's being done on behalf of the citizens of Seattle, please let us know at tellamerica@graffiti.net. In the meantime, let's all make our voices heard!
2. Contact the Key Players.
In the eyes of leaders, one voice represents many voices. When one person calls about an issue, they expect that several more people are concerned about that issue who did not call. With politicians, one voice also represents one vote in future elections. If enough people contact them, our collective voice will be heard loudly.
Call the City Council Members.
When I called city council members, often I reached their assistants and had to leave a message. One of them, Richard Conlin, called me back to ask for more information. That encouraged me to keep trying.
Call the Mayor.
I spoke with the mayor when he was on a live call-in show. He said that he was concerned about the situation and encouraged me to write with more details.
Send email to these people.
Mayor Greg Nickels
206-684-CITY Online Form: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm
Seattle City Council Members:
Jim Compton - 206-684-8802 jim.compton@seattle.gov
Richard Conlin -206-684-8805 richard.conlin@seattle.gov
David Della - 206-684-8806 david.della@seattle.gov
Jan Drago - 206-684-8801 jan.drago@seattle.gov
Jean Godden - 206-684-8807 jean.godden@seattle.gov
Nick Licata - 206-684-8803 nick.licata@seattle.gov
Richard McIver - 206-684-8800 richard.mciver@seattle.gov
Tom Rasmussen - 206-684-8808 tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov
Peter Steinbrueck - 206-684-8804 peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov
Contact the SCAN management.
Ann Suter, Executive Director
SCAN Community Media Center
1125 North 98th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 522-4758 ext. 103
Email: anns@scantv.org
3. Tell everyone you want Public Access TV to continue.
Tell people whats happening, why you care and what you want to see happen. Here are some examples of what I've told people:
"Public access television is vitally important to our community and to me. I have several favorite programs. So do my friends."
"The cable franchise agreement is currently being negotiated. I want you to make sure it receives priority attention and that the necessary funding is approved."
"Fees that are charged to producers need to be kept down because this channel belongs to the entire community. This is one of those services that our taxes are supposed to be paying for, right?"
"I will be monitoring the progress of talks and looking for news about the station. If nothing is being said, I will be contacting you again to make sure this issue still has your attention."
"Thank you for your time." (A bit of politeness goes a long way with people who are accustomed to being cursed at and generally treated in an unkind fashion.)
4. Get others involved.
Since this is a community issue, virtually every person you see every single day is a potential ally in this cause. Here are some ideas for bringing up the topic of saving SCAN-TV:
"Did you see that show on public access last night ...?" Whether they did or not, you've brought up the topic, so ask if they care about saving the channel.
"Have you ever thought about getting your own TV show?" This question catches people off guard. I think that deep inside everyone believes they could be a star -- at something! No matter what their reaction, you can reply, "Well, you could have your own TV show on the public access channel!"
"You [look just like/remind me of] this cool person I saw on public access last night." Most people like being thought of in such a positive light, and this can open the door for you to ask their help in contacting Key Players to save the local public access channel.
See the Results.
One way you can see the results of your action is the continued broadcasting of Call 4 Investigation every Saturday night at 6:30 pm PT on channels 77/29. Viewers may also watch live streaming video of the show.
As long as SCAN stays on the air, truth and free speech have a chance!
This is a fight we can win as a community!
