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Edited Longmont Public Media post

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@ -14,40 +14,38 @@ assumed it was unlikely to change hands. But the *Observer* presented an
unusual idea, one that sparked imaginations by proposing to reconfigure unusual idea, one that sparked imaginations by proposing to reconfigure
notions of media ownership. notions of media ownership.
If you walk into one of Longmont Public Media's (the *Observer*'s public If you walk into one of Longmont Public Media's community organizing meetings, you'll find 20 to 30
access branch) community organizing meetings you'll find 20 to 30 enthusiastic individuals happy to greet you and excited to work. Longmont Public Media is the *Observer*'s new public
enthusiastic individuals happy to greet you and excited to work. Whether access branch. The energy of this eclectic group is palpable.
its gathered around a small table in their office, or in the back room
of the local coffee shop, the energy of this eclectic group is palpable.
Many in Longmont are excited to be pioneering their own model for public Many in Longmont are excited to be pioneering their own model for public
access television. access television.
The notion of public access television was devised in the late 1960s and The notion of public access television was devised in the late 1960s and
early 1970s. In the era of the first televised war NBC, CBS and ABC early 1970s. In the era of the first televised war, NBC, CBS and ABC
controlled broadcast coverage of the cultural, political and social controlled broadcast coverage of the cultural, political and social
conflict. They depicted the gruesome fighting over seas and the civil conflict. They depicted the gruesome fighting overseas and the civil
unrest here in the United States. The effects were extraordinary. Screen unrest here in the United States. The effects were extraordinary. Screen
media began to have a major influence on public policy and mass media began to have a major influence on public policy and mass
upheaval. TV began to be seen as a uniquely powerful force; one that was upheaval. TV began to be seen as a uniquely powerful force, one that was
dictated by commercial broadcast networks. Recognizing the power of the dictated by commercial broadcast networks. Recognizing the power of the
medium, counterculture movements and media scholars began to advocate medium, counterculture movements and media scholars began to advocate
for what was referred to as "Guerrilla Television." Michael Shamberg for what was referred to as "[Guerrilla Television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_television)." Michael Shamberg
pioneered the term in 1971 stating, "Guerrilla Television is grassroots pioneered the term in 1971, stating, "Guerrilla Television is grassroots
television. It works with the people, not from above them."[^1] television. It works with the people, not from above them."
Recognizing the importance of community driven media, the FCC developed Recognizing the importance of community driven media, the FCC developed
regulations authorizing state and local governments to require cable regulations authorizing state and local governments to require cable
television networks to set aside channels for public access. Cable television networks to set aside channels for public access. Cable
companies entered franchise agreements with municipalities in which companies entered franchise agreements with municipalities in which
access to infrastructure (telephone poles, sidewalks, etc.) was granted access to infrastructure——telephone poles, sidewalks, etc.——was granted
in exchange for 5 percent of companies' gross revenue. This franchise in exchange for 5 percent of companies' gross revenue. This franchise
fee was paid to the city, which often reinvested this money into public fee was paid to the city, which often reinvested this money into public
access. Initially many local municipalities adopted this model granting access. Initially many local municipalities adopted this model, granting
community members access to production and distribution methods. community members access to production and distribution methods.
However, as pressure for public access decreased and many municipalities However, as pressure for public access decreased and many municipalities
began experiencing increased financial burdens. Funding for public began experiencing increased financial burdens, funding for public
access became less feasible. Some communities shut down public access access became less feasible. Some communities shut down public access
channels entirely while others limited them to local legislative channels entirely, while others limited them to local legislative
proceedings. Public access shifted from a place where community members proceedings. Public access shifted from a place where community members
could develop skills and exhibit ideas to a droning of traffic court and could develop skills and exhibit ideas to a droning of traffic court and
city council hearings. city council hearings.
@ -56,21 +54,21 @@ To complicate the matter further, in August 2019 the FCC approved an
amendment to their 1970s regulation. The change in legislation allows amendment to their 1970s regulation. The change in legislation allows
cable companies to deduct "in-kind provisions" from their franchise cable companies to deduct "in-kind provisions" from their franchise
fees. This means cable companies can now assert that the market value of fees. This means cable companies can now assert that the market value of
public access networks (the value of the channel) can be deducted from public access networks is deductible from
the revenue they pay to the municipalities. In 2017 Longmont allocated the revenue they pay to the municipalities. In 2017 Longmont allocated
25 percent of the franchise fees collected from Comcast (or \$187,924) 25 percent of the franchise fees collected from Comcast (or \$187,924)
to public access television. According to the Colorado Sun, that is to public access television. [According to the _Colorado Sun_](https://coloradosun.com/2019/02/11/cable-franchise-fee-limit-public-access-channels/), that is
enough funding to cover one full-time employee and two part-time enough funding to cover one full-time employee and two part-time
employees[^2]. The diminishment of franchise fees will seriously impact employees. The diminishment of franchise fees will seriously impact
the ability of cities and states to maintain public access television. the ability of cities and states to maintain public access television.
President of Rocky Mountain PBS told the Colorado Sun, "Going from The president of Rocky Mountain PBS told the _Colorado Sun_, "Going from
having franchise fees to not having them, typically what happens in that having franchise fees to not having them, typically what happens in that
case is the public access goes away." It's clear that new models must be case is the public access goes away." It's clear that new models must be
developed in order to maintain public access. developed in order to maintain public access.
Longmont Public Media has taken on the challenge of innovating public Longmont Public Media has taken on the challenge of innovating public
access. They have suggested that public access television can truly access. Its founders have suggested that public access television can truly
function as it was intended; as a resource created for and by the function as it was intended, as a resource created for and by the
masses. They have proposed a cooperative model of media ownership in masses. They have proposed a cooperative model of media ownership in
which members pay a small fee and in exchange can produce and exhibit which members pay a small fee and in exchange can produce and exhibit
their work. The studio that houses Longmont Public Access will be their work. The studio that houses Longmont Public Access will be
@ -78,28 +76,20 @@ transformed into a media makerspace, serving as a venue for community
members to create, collaborate, share infrastructure and distribute members to create, collaborate, share infrastructure and distribute
work. Each member of the co-op contributes to ideas around governance, work. Each member of the co-op contributes to ideas around governance,
programming, events and space utilization. As Michael Shamberg explained programming, events and space utilization. As Michael Shamberg explained
when he was innovating public access, "The inherent potential of when he was proposing public access, "The inherent potential of
information technology can restore democracy in America if people become information technology can restore democracy in America if people become
skilled with information tools.[^3]" skilled with information tools."
This is not Longmont's first foray into municipal ownership of community This is not Longmont's first foray into municipal ownership of community
media. In 2014 Longmont launched NextLight, a municipally owned media. In 2014 Longmont launched NextLight, a municipally owned
broadband enterprise. NextLight has dethroned Google Fiber as the broadband enterprise. NextLight has dethroned Google Fiber as the
fastest fiber-optic network, and is now a national model for publically fastest fiber-optic network, and it is now a national model for publicly
owned internet access. Five years later Longmont is building on this owned internet access. Five years later, Longmont is building on this
precedent through the creation of Longmont Public Media. precedent through the creation of Longmont Public Media.
When Longmont Public Media asked MEDLab to get involved——to help When Longmont Public Media asked MEDLab to get involved——to help
formulate this model of cooperative public access——I knew it was an formulate this model of cooperative public access——I knew it was an
opportunity not to be missed. Thursday nights have become one of my opportunity not to be missed. Thursday nights have become one of my
favorite parts of the week; when I slide past the local middle school favorite parts of the week, when I slide past the local middle school
choir and the couples quietly nestled sipping lattes to the back room of choir and the couples quietly nestled sipping lattes to the back room of
the local coffee shop where we work to revolutionize media ownership. the local coffee shop, where we work to revolutionize media ownership.
[^1]: Shamberg, Michael & Raindance Corporation.  *Guerrilla
Television*. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, 1971.
[^2]: https://coloradosun.com/2019/02/11/cable-franchise-fee-limit-public-access-channels/
[^3]: Shamberg, Michael & Raindance Corporation.  *Guerrilla
Television*. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, 1971.