Pinole Municipal Code Art. XV Access Channel Management

It is the intent of the grantor to ensure that access and community channels, provided for in any franchise agreement, shall be managed in the best public interest, so that programming on such channels will be free of censorship, open to all residents, and available for all forms of public expression, community information and debate of public issues. Pursuant to these objectives, the grantor may delegate the responsibility for access channel management to an access channel manager, which may include, but not limited to any of the following:

A. A non profit public corporation; or

B. An access management commission or committee appointed by the grantor, and, representing a broad spectrum of the community; or

C. An established nonprofit entity with special cable casting capability, such as a local or regional community college; or

D. The City Manager or his/her designee. (Ord. 02-101 § 19(part), 2002).

The access channel manager shall have the following functions:

A. Responsibility for program production for and management of the PEG Access Channels and all other channels as may be designated for community-based programming in the franchise agreement. Community channels may include public access, educational and government access channels.

B. Establishment of budgets on an annual basis and utilization of funds and resources received from the grantor, for the purpose of PEG Access programming.

C. To assure that no censorship or control over program content of the public access and community channel(s) exist, except as necessary to comply with FCC prohibition of

material that is obscene, or contains commercial advertising, or conducts a lottery, and to assure that public access and community channels are made available to all residents of the city on a nondiscriminatory, first-come, first-served basis.

D. To devise, establish, and administer all rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to the use and scheduling of the public access and community channels.

E. To prepare, in conjunction with the grantee, such regular or special reports as may be required or desirable.

F. To hire, and supervise staff.

G. To make all purchases for material and equipment that may be required.

H. To develop additional sources of funding, such as foundation or federal or state grants, to further community programming.

I. To perform such other functions relevant to the public and community channel(s) as may be appropriate. (Ord. 02-101 § 19(part), 2002).

The access channel manager shall provide a report to the grantor, at least annually, indicating achievements in community-based programming and services. (Ord. 02-101 § 19(part), 2002).