From letter dated December 20, 2005

Public Access Channel Information and Survey

This site serves to provide information regarding changes to the Public Access Channel which will be implemented on January 1, 2006. Public access producers are encouraged to complete the following Public Access Survey that will help the City compile important information regarding the needs of public access producers.

Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) was approved by the Texas Legislature in the second special session and signed by the Governor on September 7, 2005. Under SB 5, the City’s cable franchise agreements will be replaced with State issued franchise agreements through the Public Utility Commission of Texas. These State issued franchise agreements will now contain the requirements of cable and video service providers with respect to the Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) access channels.

With the expiration of Time Warner Cable's (TWC) franchise agreement with the City of San Antonio on December 31, 2005, TWC will no longer be required to provide these services with respect to PEG access channels. Under SB 5, cable and video providers are only required to transmit and distribute the access channel signal and the City becomes responsible for the operation of these access channels.

On December 15, 2005, City staff briefed the San Antonio City Council on the proposed recommendations to keep the PEG system viable after January 1, 2006. The following recommendations were made with respect to the Public Access Channel:

• The City will accept pre-produced programs on a monthly basis only (date and location for drop-off to be determined);
• Purchase production equipment to play back pre-produced programs;
• The City will purchase remote equipment for check-out (date and location for equipment check-out to be determined);
  • 5 production kits that include digital video cameras and tripods
• The City will hire one (1) full-time staff programming person;
• No studio facility will be available;
• Policies and procedures will be established for checking out equipment and airing programs; and
• The 2005 programming schedule will stay the same through 2006.

Due to the timing on the purchase and installation of required equipment, there may be no programming on the Public Access Channel until February 2006. The City will keep you updated as circumstances warrant through future correspondence. Additionally, information will be posted to this website. Producers also are asked to fill out the survey on this site. If you need to contact the Office of Communications who will oversee the public access channel, you can call 207-7235 or e-mail questions and comments to the Communications Office. Additionally, subsequent to January 1, 2006, City staff will coordinate a public access input forum with producers to obtain feedback.

Note: Public access producers must pick up any programs delivered to Time-Warner to air in January by December 30 during normal business hours.

• Ben Gorzell
  Director of Public Utilities
  City of San Antonio

Copy of letter mailed to public access producers (Adobe PDF)