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2. Government Access Channel PolicyCity of Kalispell Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406) 758-7000 Fax - (406) 758-7758 REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Katharine Thompson, Assistant to the City Manager James H. Patrick, City Manager SUBJECT: Cable Channel MEETING- DATE: April 7, 2008 BACKGROUND: In the past the City of Kalispell has relied on Bresnan Communications to televise Kalispell City Council meetings and to find or create additional programming to fill in the remaining air time throughout each week for Cable Channel 9. With the franchise agreement entered into on September 4, 2007 it is now the City's responsibility to set policy for and operate Cable Channel 9. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allows such channels be used for public, educational and governmental (PEG) use or for governmental use only in which case it is referred to as a government access channel (GAC). Briefly, these uses are defined as: Public access channels are available for use by the general public. A public access channel requires that opposing viewpoints be given equal time and that this time be closely monitored for equity. Educational access channels are used by educational institutions for educational programming. Government access channels are used for programming by local government. The franchising authority directly controls the channel and uses the channel to communicate information of import to area residents. RECOMMENDATION: After careful study it is the recommendation of Staff that the City of Kalispell utilize Cable Channel 9 as a Government Access Channel. The benefits of the Government Access Channel are many including informing citizens of Kalispell about the work of their local government and opportunities for them to participate in its processes and services. The City would continue to televise Council meetings live and other meetings of boards as appropriate. Additionally, under the Government Access Channel designation the City may televise such information as a calendar of meetings, Parks and Recreation schedule of events, Public Works notices, board vacancies, and meetings of other area governments. No political programming would be allowable. Please find attached a draft of policy for Cable Channel 9 under the Government Access Channel format for your review. Respectively submitted, Katharine Thompson James H. atric Assistant to the City Manager City Manager Kalispell Government Access Channel Policy MISSION STATEMENT The City of Kalispell's Government Access Channel 9 will strive to keep residents of the Flathead valley informed of the services, programs and activities of the City of Kalispell, and other local governing bodies through the video medium. The primary purpose of Kalispell Government Access Channel 9 is.. t. ..... `. vide coverage of a variety of meetings of boards and commissions of the City of Kalispell and :tither local governments within the reasonable constraints of time. The purpose is to augmen.... t..�I government's statutory and constitutional mandate to provide the public with mean:n .' p p g�'access >�ts governmental processes. Other programming will be used to provide residents � direct, non-eftd.ral information and to provide public information materials sponsored b pity of Kalispell or etr governmental entities. Priority will be given to programs or announcements ancerning public safety, health or welfare information. The cable channel is not intended to be a 1itical f6rum nor a mechanism for building isupport for aParticular policy, prograrrssue. POLITICAL PROGRAMMING No political advertising will be permitted on Kalispell Government Access Channel 9. Factual information on any ballot issue directly affecting the local residents may be permitted. EDITING POLICY Public meetings shall not be edited nor subjected to editorial comment. Programs produced in the studio that summarize legislative activity may include edited segments of meetings previously shown in their entirety. Full editorial control of programs will be made by the City of Kalispell Television staff. Any video submitted to the Kalispell Government Access Channel 9 may be modified or edited as appropriate.