Goals for the 2012 Franchise Negotiation

Submitted by dlastowka on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 6:33pm

In 2012, the City of Denver will sign a new Franchise Agreement with Comcast, determining the future of Public Access TV in Denver.

Negotiated every decade or so, the Franchise Agrement gives Comcast the permission to “construct, operate, upgrade, and maintain a cable system in the public rights-of-way.” In other words, it gives them permission to build their cable network over utility poles or under public streets.  In exchange for use of these “public rights-of-way”, cable operators provide compensation to the community.  This compensation can range from one city to the next, but generally includes channels set aside for Public Access, Educational, and Government (PEG) programming, as well as a small portion of revenues to cover the capital equipment necessary to maintain PEG channels.

Across the nation, public access channels are closing as cable operators pressure local governments to reduce the strain of such concessions. Denver has one of Colorado's few remaining Public Access Stations in Denver Open Media. While DOM receives no operating support from Denver or Comcast, the City does allocate some of Comcast's PEG fees to provide state-of-the-art production equipment, studios, and editing systems so that everyone in Denver has access to the tools they need to communicate via the Cable TV network, which is still today the most popular medium for mass communications.

OMF has been good stewards of these resources.  Where Denver's previous Public Access provider relied on Franchise and PEG funds for their entire budget, OMF has leveraged under $300,000 worth of equipment funds into an $1.5million annual budget, multiplying the Capital Equipment investment 5-fold. OMF has brought national grant funds into the city, provided affordable media services to the nonprofit & public sector, and created jobs, with more employees and members than Denver's previous Public Access TV station, which received double or triple the amount of PEG and Franchise funds allocated to DOM). 

The Open Media Foundation has identified three primary goals in the upcoming franchise negotiation. With dwindling government budgets, this is a unique opportunity to help maximize public benefit at zero cost to the taxpayer, and we need community support to make them a reality. 

  1. The Establishment of a Permanent Public Access Facility: Franchise Agreements often include sizeable "franchise grants" to cover the greatest capital need for Public Access TV: the facility. OMF/DOM's current home is unstable due to the previous owner falling into bankruptcy.  Unlike Franchise Grants written into previous Franchise Agreements, this investment would ensure long-term sustainability for Public Access TV in Denver.
  2. Increased Capital/PEG fees: Because we receive no operating support for the PEG channels, OMF has developed a highly-automated, web-based workflow which empowers our community members and reduces staff workload.  The model necessitates increased capital funds to support the equipment and systems required for the community to manage their TV stations.
  3. Upgrade of PEG channels to High Definition: As audiences become accustomed to an HD experience, it is important that PEG channels not be relegated to outdated technologies. Once the majority of channels on the Comcast network in Denver are provided in HD, the PEG channels should be available in HD as well.

Denver's City Council is just now beginning to engage in the Franchise Negotiation process. If you or your organization are willing to reach-out to your local or at-large council rep, please click here to have our E.D. contact you about important opportunities are relevant to you in the new franchise, and help you draft a personal letter of support.