Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Government channel CITY 16 on Cox Cable schedule July 27-August 2, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE CITY 16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 27-August 2, 2008
SUNDAY, July 27
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
8:15 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
10:30 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
11:30 a.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
12:45 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
2:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
3:15 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trail Program
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Board of Adjustment: July 7
5:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
8:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
9:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
10:00 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
MONDAY, July 28
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
8:00 a.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July17
9:30 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 10
11:30 a.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July10
2:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Planning Commission-LIVE
8:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
9:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:00 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
11:30 p.m. Spay Arkansas
11:45 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
TUESDAY, July 29
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
8:15 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
8:30 a.m. Community Event Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 28
12:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
3:15 p.m. Spay Arkansas
3:30 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
4:00 p.m. Community Event Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 28
9:30 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 2811:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, July 30
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
8:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
11:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 28
2:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
4:00 p.m. Community Event Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Outdoor Recreation Camp
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
8:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July17
9:00 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
11:00 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
THURSDAY, July 31
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
8:15 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
11:00 a.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
2:15 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
2:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
5:15 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
6:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
7:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
8:00 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
College Avenue Construction Update
8:45 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
10:45 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
FRIDAY, August 1
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
8:15 a.m. Spay Arkansas
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
12:00 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
2:15 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
10:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
11:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
SATURDAY, August 2
12:00 a.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
12:30 a.m. CDBG In the Park
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
12:00p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
1:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
2:00 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
5:45 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
6:15 p.m. Spay Arkansas
6:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
9:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 28
12:30 a.m. CDBG In the Park
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 27-August 2, 2008
SUNDAY, July 27
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
8:15 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
10:30 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
11:30 a.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
12:45 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
2:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
3:15 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trail Program
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Board of Adjustment: July 7
5:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
8:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
9:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
10:00 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
MONDAY, July 28
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
8:00 a.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July17
9:30 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 10
11:30 a.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July10
2:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Planning Commission-LIVE
8:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
9:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:00 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
11:30 p.m. Spay Arkansas
11:45 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
TUESDAY, July 29
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
8:15 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
8:30 a.m. Community Event Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 28
12:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
3:15 p.m. Spay Arkansas
3:30 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
4:00 p.m. Community Event Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 28
9:30 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 2811:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, July 30
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
8:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
11:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 28
2:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
4:00 p.m. Community Event Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Outdoor Recreation Camp
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
8:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July17
9:00 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
11:00 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
THURSDAY, July 31
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
8:15 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
11:00 a.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
2:15 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
2:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
5:15 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
6:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
7:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
8:00 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
College Avenue Construction Update
8:45 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
10:45 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
FRIDAY, August 1
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
8:15 a.m. Spay Arkansas
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
12:00 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
2:15 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
10:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
11:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
SATURDAY, August 2
12:00 a.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
12:30 a.m. CDBG In the Park
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Event Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
12:00p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
1:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
2:00 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 29
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 23
5:45 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
6:15 p.m. Spay Arkansas
6:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
9:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 28
12:30 a.m. CDBG In the Park
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Northwest Arkansas Times reports Telecom subcommittee discussion on policy
Telecommunication issues still under discussion
BY MARSHA L. MELNICHAK Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/67439
Most of the core issues about forums on Fayetteville’s Government Channel remain under discussion.
The Telecommunications Board Subcommittee on Government Channel Policy and Procedures met Wednesday to try to come closer to a recommendation to give the Telecom Board so the Telecom Board can prepare a recommendation for the City Council by the end of August.
“ It’s got to be done. That’s the way I feel about it, ” said Aubrey Shepherd, chairman of the subcommittee.
He said the subcommittee will certainly have a recommendation for the Telecom Board at its next meeting, although he described their position as “ terribly tentative. ”
They agreed that limited public forums should be allowed on the Government Channel.
Still open for discussion: whether citizens should be allowed to request forums, whether outside agencies should be allowed to produce forums and if there should be a fairness committee.
Subcommittee members Shepherd, Jim Bemis, former cable administrator Marvin Hilton and Angie Graves appeared to agree that forums should be allowed on the Government Channel — under certain limitations.
Bemis said making “limited public forum” part of policy instead of procedure makes the policy “almost bullet proof ” because it identifies city business.
“We need to make the point that the channel itself is a limited public forum,” Shepherd said.
He said the Government Channel cannot and should not become a traditional public forum.
Consensus on other issues was less clear for the subcommittee.
The draft recommendation proposes a fairness committee. Who should be on it and what their duties should be remain unanswered questions. If the membership and duties should be presented as a concept or in detail is still open, too.
They agreed that two council members could request a forum but remained undecided as to whether 20 citizens should be allowed to request an issue forum.
For Bemis and Hilton, that answer is an obvious “yes.”
Shepherd said he believes the majority of people will agree that the public should have input about what is on the Government Channel.
Hilton said the fairness committee could approve the limited public forums, determine if they are fair and balanced and if they fit the channel policy.
He and Bemis both expressed concern about city administration, now or in the future, limiting what is shown.
Graves disagreed.
She referred to earlier comment by City Attorney Kit Williams that when judgment calls are made, First Amendment issues arise.
“That’s part of the core of this,” said Graves. “Are we saying that the fairness committee would be the entity that makes that call on what’s pertinent or not pertinent, that judgment call that seems to be at the root of the debate?”
Graves also disagreed with Hilton and Bemis about allowing 20 citizens to request a forum.
Hilton said it was a safety valve for citizens who felt government was overlooking something.
Graves said citizens have many other ways to address government, but Shepherd countered that “it’s not that easy” for citizens to get on a city government agenda.
“ I don’t think the right is, ‘You have the right to petition the government for an issue forum on your issue.’ I think the right is you can petition your government. And you can,” she said.
The question of outside agencies producing programs also ties to the question of some individual or group having to make a judgment call, Graves said.
“Does it relate to government or does it not relate to government?” she asked.
She prefers the “black-and-white” definition in a policy previously approved by the Telecom Board. Under that policy, programming would be limited to ballot issues, candidates and items on agendas of government meetings.
The subcommittee will meet again before the next Telecom Board meeting. A date has not been set.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Latest draft of proposed policy of Fayetteviille Government Channel to be discussed by subcommittee during 7 p.m. meeting today. Public invited
The public is invited to comment during the 7 p.m. Policy Committee meeting today.
DRAFT
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Compiled by Marvin Hilton July 13, 2008, revised July 14, 2008
(per subcommittee discussion added section X.B, July 15, 2008)
(per subcommittee discussion change “Cable Administrator” to “Government Channel Manager”, July 23, 2008)
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory local government. The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government. The channel is administered by the City’s Government Channel Manager under guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter 33, which authorizes the board “to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast program content selection, time guidelines for program content, viewer and facility user complaint/feedback practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration,” of the Government Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish (a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without determining the programming content.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. NONPARTISAN: Not controlled or influenced by, or supporting, any
single political party, faction or viewpoint.
B. PARTISAN: Controlled or influenced by, or supporting, a particular
political party, faction or viewpoint.
C. INFORMATIONAL: Facts delivered from all perspectives without an element of persuasion or partisanship and designed to assist the listener to make informed decisions.
POLICIES
III. PRIORITY OF COVERAGES/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental meetings, regardless of the format in which they are conducted. City of Governmental meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville, which meet FOIA criteria, including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government Channel will be given to nonpartisan informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA CRITERIA
Third level priority for use for use of the Government Channel will be given for any meeting that meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the Citizens of Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County, regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain Solid Waste District, and Fayetteville Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to Washington County, regional, state, federal agencies and Boston Mountain Solid Waste District.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities. In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will be given to two types of limited public forums: candidate forums and issue forums. Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters, will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
A limited public forum has the following criteria:
a. It is devoted to public expression and the free exchange of ideas and is conducted in a public place.
b. All candidates or sides of an issue are given an equal opportunity to appear.
c. Reasonable time, place, manner, and format restrictions will be applied without reference to content.
d. The Government Channel Manager may contact a non-partisan organization to organize the forum.
e. The forum will be limited or sponsored by a non-partisan person or organization that will ensure equity. All candidates and organizations participating in the forum will have the right of approval of the moderator from a list prepared by the Cable Administration Division. During the forum, the debate will be timed and the moderator will solicit and select audience input, and decide points of order.
f. If it becomes apparent that only one side of a forum is willing to participate, the forum shall be conducted with only one side participating. In such a case, all of the rules as stated here for conducting a forum shall remain and be applied.
Candidate forums:
g. For purposes of this policy, a person is considered to be a candidate from the time of announcing publicly for any public office until the election has been held.
h. This restriction that candidates can appear only in a limited public forum does not apply to persons who receive incidental air time as part of public meetings being cablecast on the channel, nor to officials acting as part of their regular duties when such activities do not involve partisan politics.
i. Ongoing series or programs featuring any elected City official may not be broadcast within 30 days of a contested primary or general election involving seats on the council or the mayor.
j. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, shall conduct one candidate forum for each contested office, for which a request is made, before each election. As resources permit, forums shall be conducted for school board and any government office representing the Fayetteville area, including City, County, State and Federal offices. These are the only candidate forums that will appear on the Government Access Channel.
k. Candidate forums for any contested office must be requested in writing by at least one of the declared candidates for that office.
l. No candidate forums will be held before the last filing deadline.
Issue forums:
In addition to the limited public forum criteria:
m. Issue forums must be requested by at least two elected city officials or twenty Fayetteville citizens, who are registered voters, living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
n. The issue must be related to government ordinances, policies, or activities, thereby serving a compelling government interest.
o. Issue forums may be sponsored by non-partisan or partisan entities, but they must satisfy all criteria listed above for limited public forums, with particular attention to all sides of the issue being given equal opportunity to appear and to the moderator being mutually agreeable to all entities involved in the forum.
p. Requests for issue forums must be made to the Cable Administration Division at least two weeks in advance. The Government Channel Manager will verify that all criteria have been met and that resources are available to record the event (on a first come, first served and third-priority basis). If resources are not available, the forum will not be taped by the Government Channel staff for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
q. All decisions by the Government Channel Manager will be communicated in writing to the requesting parties. Appeals to the Administrator’s decisions will follow the appeal process outlined in this policy.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the “Government Channel Bulletin Board.” The bulletin board will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other “free” community events and activities.
The Cable Administration staff reserves the right to edit for reasons of style and length all announcements/messages submitted for showing on the Government Channel Bulletin Board.
IV. COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings and informational programs will be televised at the request of a City of Fayetteville government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville division head or a committee chair.
B. Meetings and informational programs of any governmental entity that impacts the city of Fayetteville community, in addition to those of the City of Fayetteville, may be televised at the request of representatives of that entity.
C. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or any other governmental entity, provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets the FOIA criteria.
D. All requested meetings and other programs will be televised, provided the resources are available and there exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting or program with a higher priority as outlined in this document. The Government Channel Manager has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
E. Governmental entities, other than the City of Fayetteville, that request productions to be performed by the Fayetteville Government channel staff, shall be charged the direct labor costs of such productions.
F. The Government Channel will not duplicate the “gavel to gavel” recording or cable casting of a meeting of another governmental entity when that entity has given assurance that they will provide such recording and cable casting.
V. EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2) when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including limited public forums, will be cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial service or product, or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
VI. USE OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF
A. City of Fayetteville employees wishing to use the video equipment and studio facilities, for City of Fayetteville Productions, shall make arrangements through the Cable Administrator. Loaning of equipment for personal or outside use shall not be authorized under these policies. Other citizens, groups, and organizations may apply to the Community Access Television provider for use of their equipment, facilities, and staff.
VII. SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL FOR CABLECAST OF PROGRAMMING
PRODUCED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Before a program or other spot is scheduled for cablecasting, it must meet minimum technical and broadcast aesthetic standards. These standards will be determined by the Cable Administration Division. Where a tape, slide show or film has been furnished by an entity other than city government, it must be viewed by the Cable Administration Division before it is scheduled or cablecast to ensure that it meets those standards.
B. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies, which include declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating a partisan cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature, must be approved by the fairness committee, to ensure balance, before cable casting on the Government Access Channel. Only such forums that concern governmental matters that impact the citizens of Fayetteville will be eligible.
C. All outside agencies, groups, or citizens desiring to cablecast programming other than forums on the Government Access Channel shall submit programs to the Cable Administration Division no later than one week prior to the requested air date. The Cable Administration shall ensure that it meets the policies stated here.
D. The requestor will ensure the Cable Administration Division of the program’s eligibility under the criteria and requirements listed above.
E. The requestor will ensure that the program has obtained all necessary copyright clearances and permissions where legally required.
F. The Cable Administration Division shall review the program, decide whether to grant or deny the request, and notify the requestor.
VIII. PUBLIC MEETING RECORDING POLICY
A. Council desk audio coverage is gavel-to-gavel only. Ambient microphone will not be used to transmit general room noise before and after the actual meeting.
B. Video of room as it fills up or empties is acceptable, but Council microphones are closed. Only wide shots of the room are acceptable before and after a meeting to minimize the possibility of visually editorializing.
C. The person speaking will be on camera.
D. Individual reaction shots (shots of those not actually speaking or being addressed) are not allowed.
E. A brief wide shot of the room is acceptable to break up a long, spoken delivery or as a transition between agenda items and shots.
F. If a person is being directly addressed, a brief shot can be taken of that person in anticipation of that person’s response.
IX. SCHEDULING
A. The Cable Administration Division will be responsible for scheduling appropriate programs and spots on the Government Access Channel and for publicizing the schedule.
B. Programs will be scheduled for cablecasting according to the same order of priority as indicated in the policy with allowances for first run of new programs, and timeliness in regard to viewers as follows:
1. Announcements or programs concerning emergencies affecting residents’ health or safety.
2. Regularly scheduled, recurring programs including informational series and cablecasts of regular public meetings.
3. One-time, special, or non-regular informational programs or cablecasts of meetings or other activities by government units.
4. Public service announcements.
5. Programs produced by persons, agencies, or groups outside of Fayetteville City government with whom the City contracts or to whom it grants money. These programs must be submitted and approved for use on the Government Access Channel (See procedures for submission and approval of programming of other agencies above).
6. Limited public forums for both candidates and issues.
7. Additional replays of City archived meetings and informational programs may be requested to be replayed by elected officials and any registered voter living within the city of Fayetteville.
8. Programs and meetings originally requested by agencies, other than the City, may also be requested for such replays by the originating agency or any citizen who is a registered voter living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
9. Informational programs may be replayed from time to time, at the
discretion of the Government Channel staff, to create continuous programming and more effectively disseminate information.
10. Informational programs may be withdrawn from playback by the
person or entity who originally authorized the program to be produced.
Records shall be kept of such withdrawn programs indicating who requested the withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal.
X. RECORDING RETENTION
A. Program recordings that have been made of public meetings, informational programs, limited public forums, and other spots will be kept intact for three weeks after their final cablecast and are then subject to erasure unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Any tapes of public meetings are unofficial and will not serve as an official record of the meetings.
B. City elected officials, Department and Division heads may request recordings to be archived. Recordings may also be archived at the discretion of the Government Channel staff.
XI. CITIZEN ACCESS
A. Citizens may view any of the programs or meetings archived by the City at the PEG Television Facility.
B. Citizens may purchase, at cost, any programs or meetings archived by the City.
XII. APPEAL OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee composed of five members who collectively shall have expertise in law, communication, government regulations, journalism and human relations.
B. The “fairness” committee will monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions will be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action will be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
An appeal of a telecom Board Fairness committee decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a written appeal in the City Clerk’s office within ten working days of the committee’s decision.
DRAFT
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Compiled by Marvin Hilton July 13, 2008, revised July 14, 2008
(per subcommittee discussion added section X.B, July 15, 2008)
(per subcommittee discussion change “Cable Administrator” to “Government Channel Manager”, July 23, 2008)
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory local government. The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government. The channel is administered by the City’s Government Channel Manager under guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter 33, which authorizes the board “to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast program content selection, time guidelines for program content, viewer and facility user complaint/feedback practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration,” of the Government Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish (a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without determining the programming content.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. NONPARTISAN: Not controlled or influenced by, or supporting, any
single political party, faction or viewpoint.
B. PARTISAN: Controlled or influenced by, or supporting, a particular
political party, faction or viewpoint.
C. INFORMATIONAL: Facts delivered from all perspectives without an element of persuasion or partisanship and designed to assist the listener to make informed decisions.
POLICIES
III. PRIORITY OF COVERAGES/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental meetings, regardless of the format in which they are conducted. City of Governmental meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville, which meet FOIA criteria, including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government Channel will be given to nonpartisan informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA CRITERIA
Third level priority for use for use of the Government Channel will be given for any meeting that meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the Citizens of Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County, regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain Solid Waste District, and Fayetteville Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to Washington County, regional, state, federal agencies and Boston Mountain Solid Waste District.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities. In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will be given to two types of limited public forums: candidate forums and issue forums. Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters, will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
A limited public forum has the following criteria:
a. It is devoted to public expression and the free exchange of ideas and is conducted in a public place.
b. All candidates or sides of an issue are given an equal opportunity to appear.
c. Reasonable time, place, manner, and format restrictions will be applied without reference to content.
d. The Government Channel Manager may contact a non-partisan organization to organize the forum.
e. The forum will be limited or sponsored by a non-partisan person or organization that will ensure equity. All candidates and organizations participating in the forum will have the right of approval of the moderator from a list prepared by the Cable Administration Division. During the forum, the debate will be timed and the moderator will solicit and select audience input, and decide points of order.
f. If it becomes apparent that only one side of a forum is willing to participate, the forum shall be conducted with only one side participating. In such a case, all of the rules as stated here for conducting a forum shall remain and be applied.
Candidate forums:
g. For purposes of this policy, a person is considered to be a candidate from the time of announcing publicly for any public office until the election has been held.
h. This restriction that candidates can appear only in a limited public forum does not apply to persons who receive incidental air time as part of public meetings being cablecast on the channel, nor to officials acting as part of their regular duties when such activities do not involve partisan politics.
i. Ongoing series or programs featuring any elected City official may not be broadcast within 30 days of a contested primary or general election involving seats on the council or the mayor.
j. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, shall conduct one candidate forum for each contested office, for which a request is made, before each election. As resources permit, forums shall be conducted for school board and any government office representing the Fayetteville area, including City, County, State and Federal offices. These are the only candidate forums that will appear on the Government Access Channel.
k. Candidate forums for any contested office must be requested in writing by at least one of the declared candidates for that office.
l. No candidate forums will be held before the last filing deadline.
Issue forums:
In addition to the limited public forum criteria:
m. Issue forums must be requested by at least two elected city officials or twenty Fayetteville citizens, who are registered voters, living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
n. The issue must be related to government ordinances, policies, or activities, thereby serving a compelling government interest.
o. Issue forums may be sponsored by non-partisan or partisan entities, but they must satisfy all criteria listed above for limited public forums, with particular attention to all sides of the issue being given equal opportunity to appear and to the moderator being mutually agreeable to all entities involved in the forum.
p. Requests for issue forums must be made to the Cable Administration Division at least two weeks in advance. The Government Channel Manager will verify that all criteria have been met and that resources are available to record the event (on a first come, first served and third-priority basis). If resources are not available, the forum will not be taped by the Government Channel staff for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
q. All decisions by the Government Channel Manager will be communicated in writing to the requesting parties. Appeals to the Administrator’s decisions will follow the appeal process outlined in this policy.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the “Government Channel Bulletin Board.” The bulletin board will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other “free” community events and activities.
The Cable Administration staff reserves the right to edit for reasons of style and length all announcements/messages submitted for showing on the Government Channel Bulletin Board.
IV. COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings and informational programs will be televised at the request of a City of Fayetteville government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville division head or a committee chair.
B. Meetings and informational programs of any governmental entity that impacts the city of Fayetteville community, in addition to those of the City of Fayetteville, may be televised at the request of representatives of that entity.
C. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or any other governmental entity, provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets the FOIA criteria.
D. All requested meetings and other programs will be televised, provided the resources are available and there exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting or program with a higher priority as outlined in this document. The Government Channel Manager has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
E. Governmental entities, other than the City of Fayetteville, that request productions to be performed by the Fayetteville Government channel staff, shall be charged the direct labor costs of such productions.
F. The Government Channel will not duplicate the “gavel to gavel” recording or cable casting of a meeting of another governmental entity when that entity has given assurance that they will provide such recording and cable casting.
V. EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2) when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including limited public forums, will be cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial service or product, or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
VI. USE OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF
A. City of Fayetteville employees wishing to use the video equipment and studio facilities, for City of Fayetteville Productions, shall make arrangements through the Cable Administrator. Loaning of equipment for personal or outside use shall not be authorized under these policies. Other citizens, groups, and organizations may apply to the Community Access Television provider for use of their equipment, facilities, and staff.
VII. SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL FOR CABLECAST OF PROGRAMMING
PRODUCED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Before a program or other spot is scheduled for cablecasting, it must meet minimum technical and broadcast aesthetic standards. These standards will be determined by the Cable Administration Division. Where a tape, slide show or film has been furnished by an entity other than city government, it must be viewed by the Cable Administration Division before it is scheduled or cablecast to ensure that it meets those standards.
B. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies, which include declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating a partisan cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature, must be approved by the fairness committee, to ensure balance, before cable casting on the Government Access Channel. Only such forums that concern governmental matters that impact the citizens of Fayetteville will be eligible.
C. All outside agencies, groups, or citizens desiring to cablecast programming other than forums on the Government Access Channel shall submit programs to the Cable Administration Division no later than one week prior to the requested air date. The Cable Administration shall ensure that it meets the policies stated here.
D. The requestor will ensure the Cable Administration Division of the program’s eligibility under the criteria and requirements listed above.
E. The requestor will ensure that the program has obtained all necessary copyright clearances and permissions where legally required.
F. The Cable Administration Division shall review the program, decide whether to grant or deny the request, and notify the requestor.
VIII. PUBLIC MEETING RECORDING POLICY
A. Council desk audio coverage is gavel-to-gavel only. Ambient microphone will not be used to transmit general room noise before and after the actual meeting.
B. Video of room as it fills up or empties is acceptable, but Council microphones are closed. Only wide shots of the room are acceptable before and after a meeting to minimize the possibility of visually editorializing.
C. The person speaking will be on camera.
D. Individual reaction shots (shots of those not actually speaking or being addressed) are not allowed.
E. A brief wide shot of the room is acceptable to break up a long, spoken delivery or as a transition between agenda items and shots.
F. If a person is being directly addressed, a brief shot can be taken of that person in anticipation of that person’s response.
IX. SCHEDULING
A. The Cable Administration Division will be responsible for scheduling appropriate programs and spots on the Government Access Channel and for publicizing the schedule.
B. Programs will be scheduled for cablecasting according to the same order of priority as indicated in the policy with allowances for first run of new programs, and timeliness in regard to viewers as follows:
1. Announcements or programs concerning emergencies affecting residents’ health or safety.
2. Regularly scheduled, recurring programs including informational series and cablecasts of regular public meetings.
3. One-time, special, or non-regular informational programs or cablecasts of meetings or other activities by government units.
4. Public service announcements.
5. Programs produced by persons, agencies, or groups outside of Fayetteville City government with whom the City contracts or to whom it grants money. These programs must be submitted and approved for use on the Government Access Channel (See procedures for submission and approval of programming of other agencies above).
6. Limited public forums for both candidates and issues.
7. Additional replays of City archived meetings and informational programs may be requested to be replayed by elected officials and any registered voter living within the city of Fayetteville.
8. Programs and meetings originally requested by agencies, other than the City, may also be requested for such replays by the originating agency or any citizen who is a registered voter living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
9. Informational programs may be replayed from time to time, at the
discretion of the Government Channel staff, to create continuous programming and more effectively disseminate information.
10. Informational programs may be withdrawn from playback by the
person or entity who originally authorized the program to be produced.
Records shall be kept of such withdrawn programs indicating who requested the withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal.
X. RECORDING RETENTION
A. Program recordings that have been made of public meetings, informational programs, limited public forums, and other spots will be kept intact for three weeks after their final cablecast and are then subject to erasure unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Any tapes of public meetings are unofficial and will not serve as an official record of the meetings.
B. City elected officials, Department and Division heads may request recordings to be archived. Recordings may also be archived at the discretion of the Government Channel staff.
XI. CITIZEN ACCESS
A. Citizens may view any of the programs or meetings archived by the City at the PEG Television Facility.
B. Citizens may purchase, at cost, any programs or meetings archived by the City.
XII. APPEAL OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee composed of five members who collectively shall have expertise in law, communication, government regulations, journalism and human relations.
B. The “fairness” committee will monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions will be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action will be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
An appeal of a telecom Board Fairness committee decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a written appeal in the City Clerk’s office within ten working days of the committee’s decision.
Questions to be considered during 7 p.m. meeting of policy committee
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL POLICY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Compiled by Marvin Hilton 07.23.08
1. How can the Government Channel do forums without becoming another public access channel?
a. By having the policy state that all programming, including the forums, fall within the definition of a “Limited Public Forum” for example:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
b. Does the above definition of a “Limited Public Forum” need to be inserted in the introduction of the policy or is the present definition adequate?
2. Who shall decide what topics will be discussed in the “Limited Public Forums”?
a. Ballot issues (requested same as any other topic of government concern)
b. Elected Official requests (one or two?)
c. Twenty registered voters living within the City Limits of Fayetteville may petition for a Limited Public Forum on a Governmental matter that impacts the citizens of Fayetteville. (is twenty the best number?)
d. Shall “c” above apply to all governmental entities with jurisdiction which includes Fayetteville, such the quorum court and the public schools?
e. All approved by the “Fairness” committee.
3. Who shall choose the forum participants?
a. Ad Hoc committee can coordinate the choice of participants
b. Gov Channel staff can coordinate the choice of participants
c. Fairness committee shall approve the participants
4. Shall a Fairness committee be established and with what functions and composition?
5. Shall Section VII.B be changed to read: “Programming of forums produced by outside agencies of declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.”?
6. Section X.A: What shall the archiving policy be?
a. Shall all meetings be archived?
b. If all meetings are not archived, how shall it be determined which to archive?
7. Shall “Cable Administrator” be changed to “Government Channel Manager”?
Compiled by Marvin Hilton 07.23.08
1. How can the Government Channel do forums without becoming another public access channel?
a. By having the policy state that all programming, including the forums, fall within the definition of a “Limited Public Forum” for example:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
b. Does the above definition of a “Limited Public Forum” need to be inserted in the introduction of the policy or is the present definition adequate?
2. Who shall decide what topics will be discussed in the “Limited Public Forums”?
a. Ballot issues (requested same as any other topic of government concern)
b. Elected Official requests (one or two?)
c. Twenty registered voters living within the City Limits of Fayetteville may petition for a Limited Public Forum on a Governmental matter that impacts the citizens of Fayetteville. (is twenty the best number?)
d. Shall “c” above apply to all governmental entities with jurisdiction which includes Fayetteville, such the quorum court and the public schools?
e. All approved by the “Fairness” committee.
3. Who shall choose the forum participants?
a. Ad Hoc committee can coordinate the choice of participants
b. Gov Channel staff can coordinate the choice of participants
c. Fairness committee shall approve the participants
4. Shall a Fairness committee be established and with what functions and composition?
5. Shall Section VII.B be changed to read: “Programming of forums produced by outside agencies of declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.”?
6. Section X.A: What shall the archiving policy be?
a. Shall all meetings be archived?
b. If all meetings are not archived, how shall it be determined which to archive?
7. Shall “Cable Administrator” be changed to “Government Channel Manager”?
Telecom board committees to meet at 5:30 and 7 p.m. today
Two subcommittees of the telecommunicaton board are to meet this evening.
The Internet subcommittee is to meet at 5:30 p.m. and the Policy and Procedures subcommittee is to meet at 7 p.m. Both meetings are to be in Room 111 of Fayetteville City Hall. The public is invited to attend and comment at either meeting.
The Internet subcommittee is to meet at 5:30 p.m. and the Policy and Procedures subcommittee is to meet at 7 p.m. Both meetings are to be in Room 111 of Fayetteville City Hall. The public is invited to attend and comment at either meeting.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Government channel CITY 16 on Cox Cable schedule July 20-JULY 26, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 20-26, 2008
SUNDAY, July 20
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
7:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:15 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
6:30 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
8:00 p.m. City Council: July 15
MONDAY, July 21
12:15 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
12:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
8:00 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
8:15 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:45 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
12:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
2:15 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
6:45 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
8:15 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
10:45 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
TUESDAY, July 22
12:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
9:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
11:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
12:15 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:45 p.m. Gulley Park Concert: Patrice Pike and the Black Box Rebellion
3:00 p.m. Green Valley Reception For Kei Izawa
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
7:00 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
10:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
WEDNESDAY, July 23
12:00 a.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. John Coleman & Matt Mihalevich Talk About Trails
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
11:30 a.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
1:45 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
2:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
3:30 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
3:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
5:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2007: Claid Cleaves
THURSDAY, July 24
12:15 a.m. Graffiti Removal Information
12:30 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update Park Pavilions
12:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:45 a.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
12:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
5:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
7:00 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:00 p.m. John Coleman & Matt Mihalevich Talk About Trails
11:45 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
FRIDAY, July 25
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. FPL: History Of The Apple Industry in Northwest Arkansas.
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
3:00 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Kid's Bike Safety Rodeo 2008
6:00 p.m. FPL Women’s Health Series: Stress Management
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
9:15 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
SATURDAY, July 26
12:30 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
12:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:15 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
3:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. City Council: July 15
10:45 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 20-26, 2008
SUNDAY, July 20
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
7:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:15 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
6:30 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
8:00 p.m. City Council: July 15
MONDAY, July 21
12:15 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
12:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
8:00 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
8:15 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:45 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
12:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
2:15 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
3:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
6:45 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
8:15 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
10:45 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
TUESDAY, July 22
12:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
9:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
11:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
12:15 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:45 p.m. Gulley Park Concert: Patrice Pike and the Black Box Rebellion
3:00 p.m. Green Valley Reception For Kei Izawa
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
7:00 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
10:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
WEDNESDAY, July 23
12:00 a.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. John Coleman & Matt Mihalevich Talk About Trails
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
11:30 a.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: July 17
1:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
1:45 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
2:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
3:30 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
3:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
5:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2007: Claid Cleaves
THURSDAY, July 24
12:15 a.m. Graffiti Removal Information
12:30 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update Park Pavilions
12:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:45 a.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
12:45 p.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
5:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
7:00 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:00 p.m. John Coleman & Matt Mihalevich Talk About Trails
11:45 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
FRIDAY, July 25
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
11:00 a.m. FPL: History Of The Apple Industry in Northwest Arkansas.
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
3:00 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Kid's Bike Safety Rodeo 2008
6:00 p.m. FPL Women’s Health Series: Stress Management
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
9:15 p.m. Telecom Board Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 23
11:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
SATURDAY, July 26
12:30 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
12:45 a.m. Outdoor Recreation Camp
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 14
Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:15 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
3:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
Park Pavilions
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
6:30 p.m. City Council: July 15
10:45 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
11:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Nace Brothers
Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
My vote against the first of the proposed pair of suggestions at last month's meeting and my unannounced abstention from voting on the second were the result of a something that might be described as an epiphany that something was seriously wrong about the motion coming without due consideration. We didn't adequately discuss the questions and the problem became clear a few minutes later when it was made clear that Mrs. Bell had done that volunteer effort in going to meet with representatives of the city administration but was not even a member of the policy and procedure committee, the proper group to consider such questions.
It was proper to follow that realization with the two subcommittee meetings that have been held and all members of the board were invited to attend and participate.
I believe that the only way to meet the twice-confirmed will of the City Council that we consider all policies and present our recommendations to the council in August is to spend enough time going over the specifics of the subcommittee's draft during the full meeting tonight to ensure that we can agree to all the parts NOW.
If a special meeting is needed before the final draft goes to the council, then we must do it. We have clarified the language that City Attorney Kit Williams cited in email a couple of weeks ago and read aloud at the council meeting on Tuesday and made other small but significant changes in the policy.
The council has enough homework to do each week to boggle anyone's mind and we have an obligation to provide as clear and simple document as possible. And the council will have access to replays or DVDs of the meetings in which these issues have been discussed and can review it as much as they choose to internalize the process. Obviously, we want everyone interested to have a chance to follow this process and understand the principles behind the subcommittee's recommendations.
It was proper to follow that realization with the two subcommittee meetings that have been held and all members of the board were invited to attend and participate.
I believe that the only way to meet the twice-confirmed will of the City Council that we consider all policies and present our recommendations to the council in August is to spend enough time going over the specifics of the subcommittee's draft during the full meeting tonight to ensure that we can agree to all the parts NOW.
If a special meeting is needed before the final draft goes to the council, then we must do it. We have clarified the language that City Attorney Kit Williams cited in email a couple of weeks ago and read aloud at the council meeting on Tuesday and made other small but significant changes in the policy.
The council has enough homework to do each week to boggle anyone's mind and we have an obligation to provide as clear and simple document as possible. And the council will have access to replays or DVDs of the meetings in which these issues have been discussed and can review it as much as they choose to internalize the process. Obviously, we want everyone interested to have a chance to follow this process and understand the principles behind the subcommittee's recommendations.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Draft rewrite of policy and procedures for the Government Channel by subcommittee
DRAFT ONLY NOT COMPLETE
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Compiled by Marvin Hilton July 13, 2008
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory local government. The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government. The channel is administered by the City’s Cable Administrator under guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter 33, which authorizes the board “to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast program content selection, time guidelines for program content, viewer and facility user complaint/feedback practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration,” of the Government Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish (a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without determining the programming content.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. NONPARTISAN: Not controlled or influenced by, or supporting, any
single political party, faction or viewpoint.
B. PARTISAN: Controlled or influenced by, or supporting, a particular
political party, faction or viewpoint.
C. INFORMATIONAL: Facts delivered from all perspectives without an element of persuasion or partisanship and designed to assist the listener to make informed decisions.
POLICIES
III. PRIORITY OF COVERAGES/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental meetings, regardless of the format in which they are conducted. City of Governmental meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville, which meet FOIA criteria, including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government Channel will be given to nonpartisan informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA CRITERIA
Third level priority for use for use of the Government Channel will be given for any meeting that meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the Citizens of Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County, regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain Solid Waste District, and Fayetteville Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to Washington County, regional, state, federal agencies and Boston Mountain Solid Waste District.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities. In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will be given to two types of limited public forums: candidate forums and issue forums. Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters, will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
A limited public forum has the following criteria:
a. It is devoted to public expression and the free exchange of ideas and is conducted in a public place.
b. All candidates or sides of an issue are given an equal opportunity to appear.
c. Reasonable time, place, manner, and format restrictions will be applied without reference to content.
d. The Cable Administrator may contact a non-partisan organization to organize the forum.
e. The forum will be limited or sponsored by a non-partisan person or organization that will ensure equity. All candidates and organizations participating in the forum will have the right of approval of the moderator from a list prepared by the Cable Administration Division. During the forum, the debate will be timed and the moderator will solicit and select audience input, and decide points of order.
f. If it becomes apparent that only one side of a forum is willing to participate, the forum shall be conducted with only one side participating. In such a case, all of the rules as stated here for conducting a forum shall remain and be applied.
Candidate forums:
g. For purposes of this policy, a person is considered to be a candidate from the time of announcing publicly for any public office until the election has been held.
h. This restriction that candidates can appear only in a limited public forum does not apply to persons who receive incidental air time as part of public meetings being cablecast on the channel, nor to officials acting as part of their regular duties when such activities do not involve partisan politics.
i. Ongoing series or programs featuring any elected City official may not be broadcast within 30 days of a contested primary or general election involving seats on the council or the mayor.
j. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, may conduct one candidate forum for each contested office before each election. As resources permit, forums may be conducted for school board and any government office representing the Fayetteville area, including City, County, State and Federal offices. These are the only candidate forums that will appear on the Government Access Channel.
k. Candidate forums for any contested office must be requested in writing by at least one of the declared candidates for that office.
l. No candidate forums will be held before the last filing deadline.
Issue forums:
In addition to the limited public forum criteria:
m. Issue forums must be requested by at least two elected city officials or twenty Fayetteville citizens, who are registered voters, living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
n. The issue must be related to government ordinances, policies, or activities, thereby serving a compelling government interest.
o. Issue forums may be sponsored by non-partisan or partisan entities, but they must satisfy all criteria listed above for limited public forums, with particular attention to all sides of the issue being given equal opportunity to appear and to the moderator being mutually agreeable to all entities involved in the forum.
p. Requests for issue forums must be made to the Cable Administration Division at least two weeks in advance. The Cable Administrator will verify that all criteria have been met and that resources are available to record the event (on a first come, first served and third-priority basis). If resources are not available, the forum will not be taped by the Government Channel staff for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
q. All decisions by the Cable Administrator will be communicated in writing to the requesting parties. Appeals to the Administrator’s decisions will follow the appeal process outlined in this policy.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the “Government Channel Bulletin Board.” The bulletin board will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other “free” community events and activities.
The Cable Administration staff reserves the right to edit for reasons of style and length all announcements/messages submitted for showing on the Government Channel Bulletin Board.
IV. COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings and informational programs will be televised at the request of a City of Fayetteville government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville division head or a committee chair.
B. Meetings and informational programs of any governmental entity that impacts the city of Fayetteville community, in addition to those of the City of Fayetteville, may be televised at the request of representatives of that entity.
C. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or any other governmental entity, provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets the FOIA criteria.
D. All requested meetings and other programs will be televised, provided the resources are available and there exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting or program with a higher priority as outlined in this document. The Cable Administrator has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
E. Governmental entities, other than the City of Fayetteville, that request productions to be performed by the Fayetteville Government channel staff, shall be charged the direct labor costs of such productions.
F. The Government Channel will not duplicate the “gavel to gavel” recording or cable casting of a meeting of another governmental entity when that entity has given assurance that they will provide such recording and cable casting.
V. EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2) when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including limited public forums, will be cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial service or product, or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
VI. USE OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF
A. City of Fayetteville employees wishing to use the video equipment and studio facilities, for City of Fayetteville Prodcutions, shall make arrangements through the Cable Administrator. Loaning of equipment for personal or outside use shall not be authorized under these policies. Other citizens, groups, and organizations may apply to the Community Access Television provider for use of their equipment, facilities, and staff.
VII. SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL FOR CABLECAST OF PROGRAMMING
PRODUCED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Before a program or other spot is scheduled for cablecasting, it must meet minimum technical and broadcast aesthetic standards. These standards will be determined by the Cable Administration Division. Where a tape, slide show or film has been furnished by an entity other than city government, it must be viewed by the Cable Administration Division before it is scheduled or cablecast to ensure that it meets those standards.
B. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies, which include declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating a partisan cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature, must be approved by the fairness committee, to ensure balance, before cable casting on the Government Access Channel. Only such forums that concern governmental matters that impact the citizens of Fayetteville will be eligible.
C. All outside agencies, groups, or citizens desiring to cablecast programming other than forums on the Government Access Channel shall submit programs to the Cable Administration Division no later than one week prior to the requested air date. The Cable Administration shall ensure that it meets the policies stated here.
D. The requestor will ensure the Cable Administration Division of the program’s eligibility under the criteria and requirements listed above.
E. The requestor will ensure that the program has obtained all necessary copyright clearances and permissions where legally required.
F. The Cable Administration Division shall review the program, decide whether to grant or deny the request, and notify the requestor.
VIII. PUBLIC MEETING RECORDING POLICY
A. Council desk audio coverage is gavel-to-gavel only. Ambient microphone will not be used to transmit general room noise before and after the actual meeting.
B. Video of room as it fills up or empties is acceptable, but Council microphones are closed. Only wide shots of the room are acceptable before and after a meeting to minimize the possibility of visually editorializing.
C. The person speaking will be on camera.
D. Individual reaction shots (shots of those not actually speaking or being addressed) are not allowed.
E. A brief wide shot of the room is acceptable to break up a long, spoken delivery or as a transition between agenda items and shots.
F. If a person is being directly addressed, a brief shot can be taken of that person in anticipation of that person’s response.
IX. SCHEDULING
A. The Cable Administration Division will be responsible for scheduling appropriate programs and spots on the Government Access Channel and for publicizing the schedule.
B. Programs will be scheduled for cablecasting according to the same order of priority as indicated in the policy with allowances for first run of new programs, and timeliness in regard to viewers as follows:
1. Announcements or programs concerning emergencies affecting residents’ health or safety.
2. Regularly scheduled, recurring programs including informational series and cablecasts of regular public meetings.
3. One-time, special, or non-regular informational programs or cablecasts of meetings or other activities by government units.
4. Public service announcements.
5. Programs produced by persons, agencies, or groups outside of Fayetteville City government with whom the City contracts or to whom it grants money. These programs must be submitted and approved for use on the Government Access Channel (See procedures for submission and approval of programming of other agencies above).
6. Limited public forums for both candidates and issues.
7. Standard replay of meetings shall be one in the morning hours and one in the afternoon or evening hours, in addition to any live telecasting.
8. Additional replays of City archived meetings and informational programs may be requested to be replayed by elected officials and any registered voter living within the city of Fayetteville. Such replays will be limited to one morning and one evening replay of any particular program for any six month period.
9. Programs and meetings originally requested by agencies, other than the City, may also be requested for such replays by the originating agency or any citizen who is a registered voter living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
10. Informational programs may be replayed from time to time, at the
discretion of the Government Channel staff, to create continuous programming and more effectively disseminate information.
11. Informational programs may be withdrawn from playback by the
person or entity who originally authorized the program to be produced.
Records shall be kept of such withdrawn programs indicating who requested the withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal.
X. RECORDING RETENTION
A. Program recordings that have been made of public meetings, informational programs, limited public forums, and other spots will be kept intact for three weeks after their final cablecast and are then subject to erasure unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Any tapes of public meetings are unofficial and will not serve as an official record of the meetings.
XI. CITIZEN ACCESS
A. Citizens may view any of the programs or meetings archived by the City at the PEG Television Facility.
B. Citizens may purchase, at cost, any programs or meetings archived by the City.
XII. APPEAL OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee composed of five members who collectively shall have expertise in law, communication, government regulations, journalism and human relations.
B. The “fairness” committee will monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions will be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action will be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
An appeal of a telecom Board Fairness committee decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a written appeal in the City Clerk’s office within ten days of the committee’s decision.
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Compiled by Marvin Hilton July 13, 2008
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory local government. The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government. The channel is administered by the City’s Cable Administrator under guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter 33, which authorizes the board “to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast program content selection, time guidelines for program content, viewer and facility user complaint/feedback practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration,” of the Government Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish (a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without determining the programming content.
II. DEFINITIONS:
A. NONPARTISAN: Not controlled or influenced by, or supporting, any
single political party, faction or viewpoint.
B. PARTISAN: Controlled or influenced by, or supporting, a particular
political party, faction or viewpoint.
C. INFORMATIONAL: Facts delivered from all perspectives without an element of persuasion or partisanship and designed to assist the listener to make informed decisions.
POLICIES
III. PRIORITY OF COVERAGES/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental meetings, regardless of the format in which they are conducted. City of Governmental meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville, which meet FOIA criteria, including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government Channel will be given to nonpartisan informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA CRITERIA
Third level priority for use for use of the Government Channel will be given for any meeting that meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the Citizens of Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County, regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain Solid Waste District, and Fayetteville Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to Washington County, regional, state, federal agencies and Boston Mountain Solid Waste District.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities. In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. LIMITED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will be given to two types of limited public forums: candidate forums and issue forums. Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters, will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
A limited public forum has the following criteria:
a. It is devoted to public expression and the free exchange of ideas and is conducted in a public place.
b. All candidates or sides of an issue are given an equal opportunity to appear.
c. Reasonable time, place, manner, and format restrictions will be applied without reference to content.
d. The Cable Administrator may contact a non-partisan organization to organize the forum.
e. The forum will be limited or sponsored by a non-partisan person or organization that will ensure equity. All candidates and organizations participating in the forum will have the right of approval of the moderator from a list prepared by the Cable Administration Division. During the forum, the debate will be timed and the moderator will solicit and select audience input, and decide points of order.
f. If it becomes apparent that only one side of a forum is willing to participate, the forum shall be conducted with only one side participating. In such a case, all of the rules as stated here for conducting a forum shall remain and be applied.
Candidate forums:
g. For purposes of this policy, a person is considered to be a candidate from the time of announcing publicly for any public office until the election has been held.
h. This restriction that candidates can appear only in a limited public forum does not apply to persons who receive incidental air time as part of public meetings being cablecast on the channel, nor to officials acting as part of their regular duties when such activities do not involve partisan politics.
i. Ongoing series or programs featuring any elected City official may not be broadcast within 30 days of a contested primary or general election involving seats on the council or the mayor.
j. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, may conduct one candidate forum for each contested office before each election. As resources permit, forums may be conducted for school board and any government office representing the Fayetteville area, including City, County, State and Federal offices. These are the only candidate forums that will appear on the Government Access Channel.
k. Candidate forums for any contested office must be requested in writing by at least one of the declared candidates for that office.
l. No candidate forums will be held before the last filing deadline.
Issue forums:
In addition to the limited public forum criteria:
m. Issue forums must be requested by at least two elected city officials or twenty Fayetteville citizens, who are registered voters, living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
n. The issue must be related to government ordinances, policies, or activities, thereby serving a compelling government interest.
o. Issue forums may be sponsored by non-partisan or partisan entities, but they must satisfy all criteria listed above for limited public forums, with particular attention to all sides of the issue being given equal opportunity to appear and to the moderator being mutually agreeable to all entities involved in the forum.
p. Requests for issue forums must be made to the Cable Administration Division at least two weeks in advance. The Cable Administrator will verify that all criteria have been met and that resources are available to record the event (on a first come, first served and third-priority basis). If resources are not available, the forum will not be taped by the Government Channel staff for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
q. All decisions by the Cable Administrator will be communicated in writing to the requesting parties. Appeals to the Administrator’s decisions will follow the appeal process outlined in this policy.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the “Government Channel Bulletin Board.” The bulletin board will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other “free” community events and activities.
The Cable Administration staff reserves the right to edit for reasons of style and length all announcements/messages submitted for showing on the Government Channel Bulletin Board.
IV. COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings and informational programs will be televised at the request of a City of Fayetteville government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville division head or a committee chair.
B. Meetings and informational programs of any governmental entity that impacts the city of Fayetteville community, in addition to those of the City of Fayetteville, may be televised at the request of representatives of that entity.
C. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or any other governmental entity, provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets the FOIA criteria.
D. All requested meetings and other programs will be televised, provided the resources are available and there exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting or program with a higher priority as outlined in this document. The Cable Administrator has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
E. Governmental entities, other than the City of Fayetteville, that request productions to be performed by the Fayetteville Government channel staff, shall be charged the direct labor costs of such productions.
F. The Government Channel will not duplicate the “gavel to gavel” recording or cable casting of a meeting of another governmental entity when that entity has given assurance that they will provide such recording and cable casting.
V. EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2) when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including limited public forums, will be cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial service or product, or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
VI. USE OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF
A. City of Fayetteville employees wishing to use the video equipment and studio facilities, for City of Fayetteville Prodcutions, shall make arrangements through the Cable Administrator. Loaning of equipment for personal or outside use shall not be authorized under these policies. Other citizens, groups, and organizations may apply to the Community Access Television provider for use of their equipment, facilities, and staff.
VII. SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL FOR CABLECAST OF PROGRAMMING
PRODUCED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Before a program or other spot is scheduled for cablecasting, it must meet minimum technical and broadcast aesthetic standards. These standards will be determined by the Cable Administration Division. Where a tape, slide show or film has been furnished by an entity other than city government, it must be viewed by the Cable Administration Division before it is scheduled or cablecast to ensure that it meets those standards.
B. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies, which include declared candidates for any public office and persons advocating a partisan cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular nature, must be approved by the fairness committee, to ensure balance, before cable casting on the Government Access Channel. Only such forums that concern governmental matters that impact the citizens of Fayetteville will be eligible.
C. All outside agencies, groups, or citizens desiring to cablecast programming other than forums on the Government Access Channel shall submit programs to the Cable Administration Division no later than one week prior to the requested air date. The Cable Administration shall ensure that it meets the policies stated here.
D. The requestor will ensure the Cable Administration Division of the program’s eligibility under the criteria and requirements listed above.
E. The requestor will ensure that the program has obtained all necessary copyright clearances and permissions where legally required.
F. The Cable Administration Division shall review the program, decide whether to grant or deny the request, and notify the requestor.
VIII. PUBLIC MEETING RECORDING POLICY
A. Council desk audio coverage is gavel-to-gavel only. Ambient microphone will not be used to transmit general room noise before and after the actual meeting.
B. Video of room as it fills up or empties is acceptable, but Council microphones are closed. Only wide shots of the room are acceptable before and after a meeting to minimize the possibility of visually editorializing.
C. The person speaking will be on camera.
D. Individual reaction shots (shots of those not actually speaking or being addressed) are not allowed.
E. A brief wide shot of the room is acceptable to break up a long, spoken delivery or as a transition between agenda items and shots.
F. If a person is being directly addressed, a brief shot can be taken of that person in anticipation of that person’s response.
IX. SCHEDULING
A. The Cable Administration Division will be responsible for scheduling appropriate programs and spots on the Government Access Channel and for publicizing the schedule.
B. Programs will be scheduled for cablecasting according to the same order of priority as indicated in the policy with allowances for first run of new programs, and timeliness in regard to viewers as follows:
1. Announcements or programs concerning emergencies affecting residents’ health or safety.
2. Regularly scheduled, recurring programs including informational series and cablecasts of regular public meetings.
3. One-time, special, or non-regular informational programs or cablecasts of meetings or other activities by government units.
4. Public service announcements.
5. Programs produced by persons, agencies, or groups outside of Fayetteville City government with whom the City contracts or to whom it grants money. These programs must be submitted and approved for use on the Government Access Channel (See procedures for submission and approval of programming of other agencies above).
6. Limited public forums for both candidates and issues.
7. Standard replay of meetings shall be one in the morning hours and one in the afternoon or evening hours, in addition to any live telecasting.
8. Additional replays of City archived meetings and informational programs may be requested to be replayed by elected officials and any registered voter living within the city of Fayetteville. Such replays will be limited to one morning and one evening replay of any particular program for any six month period.
9. Programs and meetings originally requested by agencies, other than the City, may also be requested for such replays by the originating agency or any citizen who is a registered voter living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
10. Informational programs may be replayed from time to time, at the
discretion of the Government Channel staff, to create continuous programming and more effectively disseminate information.
11. Informational programs may be withdrawn from playback by the
person or entity who originally authorized the program to be produced.
Records shall be kept of such withdrawn programs indicating who requested the withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal.
X. RECORDING RETENTION
A. Program recordings that have been made of public meetings, informational programs, limited public forums, and other spots will be kept intact for three weeks after their final cablecast and are then subject to erasure unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Any tapes of public meetings are unofficial and will not serve as an official record of the meetings.
XI. CITIZEN ACCESS
A. Citizens may view any of the programs or meetings archived by the City at the PEG Television Facility.
B. Citizens may purchase, at cost, any programs or meetings archived by the City.
XII. APPEAL OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee composed of five members who collectively shall have expertise in law, communication, government regulations, journalism and human relations.
B. The “fairness” committee will monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions will be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action will be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
An appeal of a telecom Board Fairness committee decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a written appeal in the City Clerk’s office within ten days of the committee’s decision.
Explanation of policy changes
DRAFT ONLY SUBJECT TO REVISION
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL POLICY CHANGES
SHELLI BELL SUGGESTIONS & ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS
(Compiled by Marvin Hilton, July 12, 2008)
I. CHANGES SUGGESTED BY BELL, 06.19.07
A. BELL CHANGE #1:
1. “Intent is to further define ‘Limited Public Forum’ by changing the terminology to ‘Moderated Public Forums.”
2. Alternative Comment & recommendation: The question is, does the term “moderated” lend more clarity, especially in a legal sense? The term “Limited Public Forum” has been in use by many cities, including Fayetteville, for a long time as indicated in the definition below from the City of University Place, WA:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose
restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
Before making this change, the legal terminology needs to be ascertained.
3. “Justification is to ensure that forums are limited to candidate debates and ballot issues.”
Alternative comment: This actually changes the policy from allowing forums on all subjects concerning government to only those on the ballot. This does not follow the open, involved and participatory spirit of the Telecom Board ordinance and the Government Channel policy currently in effect. The alternative changes below will maintain that spirit.
4. “Justification to ensure that programming on the Government Channel is specific to government activity with regard to meetings, policy formation, services.”
Alternative comment: This does narrow the possibilities of what governmental concerns can be communicated to the public during issue forums but does not ensure that “informational” programs will not contain elements of partisanship and subjects that have little or no pertinence to local government. The problem of inappropriate subjects has been much greater with such “informational” programs than with issue forums.
5. Description of Change: Requires a new committee to oversee all public forums.
Alternative Comment: Such a committee should help ensure that forums are properly conducted according to policy. “This idea has been expanded in the Alternative Suggestions below, which suggests that a “Fairness Committee” could also monitor “informational” programs to ensure that those programs also follow policy.
B. BELL CHANGE #2:
1. Intent is to Clarify that any government meeting is eligible to be televised on the Government Channel, regardless of the format and to specifically allow the televising of official government meetings conducted in any format such as “round table” or forum.
2. Alternative Comment: This should help clarify that any government meeting can be televised, regardless of the physical format or the location and is included in the alternative suggestions below.
3. Alternative Question: Since this is a clarification and not an actual change in policy that affects program content, shouldn’t the two “round tables” about FHS and the Walton Arts Center that were requested by an Alderman be allowed under this policy suggested here and the present policy in effect?
C. IMPACT OF BELL CHANGES:
1. Alternative Comments: The Bell proposed changes do clarify that the physical format of a meeting doesn’t affect whether or not a meeting is covered and narrows the subject matter of forums to “ensure that programming on the Government Channel is specific to government activity.” And the suggested committee will help ensure that forums are conducted according to policy.
2. However it violates the spirit of the citizen requested forums, leaves some items that are clearly policy as “procedures” and makes an ambiguous statement that, “Citizen driven requests and concerns are handled through the normal course of business” which is vague.
3. Also nothing addresses the possibility that “informational” programs will contain inappropriate elements and that much of the content is controlled by government with only minimal involvement and influence by citizens.
4. The following Alternative Suggestions are meant to be a further clarification of the policy and following more closely ordinance 4504 and create a good balance of citizen input.
II. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS:
A. BROAD INTENT:
1. A Government Channel this is directly answerable to the viewers (the governed tax payers) and helps create an open and participatory government and also allows the local government to express itself .
B. BROAD JUSTIFICATION:
1. ORDINANCE 4504 states that the “The goal is to create an informed and involved citizenry.” & “…provide information about… issues faced by local governments.”
2. RESOLUTION 27-06 states that the government channel “…is intended to…help create an open and participatory local government.”
3. To avoid having a Government Channel with programming content produced solely at the discretion of the government.
C. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #1: DEFINE FORUMS
1. Retain a definition of issue forums that clearly allows forums to be held on various governmental topics of concern to the Fayetteville community. Since the City Attorney has declared the present forums to be “Constitutional and legal” the traditional term “Limited Public Forum” is probably best, for example the definition below:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
2. Use the issue policy wording from the July 2004 version of the Government Channel policy, which defines and describes “limited public forums” in detail. Where necessary, refine the definition and description that will best clarify and will be legally sound.
In the phrasing, which describes issue forums, make the following changes striking the words “any cause” and adding the words a partisan and, concerning governmental matters, creating the new wording below:
Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating any cause, a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
Add the phrase to the policy introduction: “The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government.”
3. Justification: This will retain flexibility and allow issues that are of pressing concern to local governments to be discussed publicly and fairly with all sides represented. It will also clarify that the Government Channel is not another public access channel and is only about government issues and concerns, which seems to have been one of the main justifications for Bell’s changes.
D. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #2: CLARIFY PROCEDURES/POLICY
1. Move the items that were removed from the July 2004 policy and then written as “procedures” back into policy. Define procedures as items that can be changed without significantly affecting the content of programming. An example of such procedure would be how requests are received, whether by phone, written, email and etc.
2. Justification: This will clear up much confusion that has existed since the policy was revised in February of 2006. The government channel policy has been discussed for hours and hours using untold staff, board members time and TV time. Much of this confusion was caused by leaving who can request issue forums silent in the policy.
E. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #3: CLARIFY “REQUESTS”
1. Clarify that elected officials and other government representatives are authorized to request (initiate) all types of programs, including informational, meetings and Limited Public Forums that concern the governmental body that they represent.
Justification: Eliminate questions about who can request which type of program and to inform all local government representatives how they can use the Government Channel to express the concerns and activities of the governmental body that they represent.
2. Clarify that citizens are authorized to request any FOIA meeting of any governmental body with jurisdiction that includes Fayetteville and that Citizens are not authorized to request “informational” programs.
Justification: This parallels the FOIA laws and can be considered the electronic version of “open meetings.”
3. Reinstate the policy from July 2004 that authorizes Citizens to request “Limited Public Forums” with the exception that 20 citizens, instead of five, will be required to make such a request.
Justification: This allows citizens to see government issues that they are concerned about discussed in public and encourages government officials to discuss issues that they might not otherwise discuss. Twenty citizens instead of five will lend more representation and legitimacy. It is also in the spirit of the first amendment of the US constitution where it says that citizens shall have the right to petition the government. In addition it encourages citizens to be involved and participate in government. All of these items are called for in the Telecom Board ordinance and present policy.
Further justification and Public Access: Not everyone has the ability and /or money to pay CAT to have an issue forum produced. Equal opportunity is not the same as equal capability. Also Issue forums are cannot be required to be fair and balanced on Public Access but must be balanced on the Government Channel.
F. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #4: EXPAND ON BELL’S SUGGESTION FOR A “FAIRNESS” COMMITTEE
1. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee to
monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions shall be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action shall be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
2. Justification: This expands on Bell’s idea of a committee to monitor forums and addresses the possibility that “informational” programs will contain inappropriate elements, which has actually been a much greater tendency than inappropriate elements appearing in forums.
G. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS #5: INCLUDE DEFINITIONS
1. Include definitions of key items, such as:
• Partisan
• Nonpartisan
• Informational
2. Justification: To clarify and avoid misunderstandings.
H. ALTERNATIVE QUESTION
1. Should the Government Channel Policy be an ordinance rather than a resolution?
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL POLICY CHANGES
SHELLI BELL SUGGESTIONS & ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS
(Compiled by Marvin Hilton, July 12, 2008)
I. CHANGES SUGGESTED BY BELL, 06.19.07
A. BELL CHANGE #1:
1. “Intent is to further define ‘Limited Public Forum’ by changing the terminology to ‘Moderated Public Forums.”
2. Alternative Comment & recommendation: The question is, does the term “moderated” lend more clarity, especially in a legal sense? The term “Limited Public Forum” has been in use by many cities, including Fayetteville, for a long time as indicated in the definition below from the City of University Place, WA:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose
restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
Before making this change, the legal terminology needs to be ascertained.
3. “Justification is to ensure that forums are limited to candidate debates and ballot issues.”
Alternative comment: This actually changes the policy from allowing forums on all subjects concerning government to only those on the ballot. This does not follow the open, involved and participatory spirit of the Telecom Board ordinance and the Government Channel policy currently in effect. The alternative changes below will maintain that spirit.
4. “Justification to ensure that programming on the Government Channel is specific to government activity with regard to meetings, policy formation, services.”
Alternative comment: This does narrow the possibilities of what governmental concerns can be communicated to the public during issue forums but does not ensure that “informational” programs will not contain elements of partisanship and subjects that have little or no pertinence to local government. The problem of inappropriate subjects has been much greater with such “informational” programs than with issue forums.
5. Description of Change: Requires a new committee to oversee all public forums.
Alternative Comment: Such a committee should help ensure that forums are properly conducted according to policy. “This idea has been expanded in the Alternative Suggestions below, which suggests that a “Fairness Committee” could also monitor “informational” programs to ensure that those programs also follow policy.
B. BELL CHANGE #2:
1. Intent is to Clarify that any government meeting is eligible to be televised on the Government Channel, regardless of the format and to specifically allow the televising of official government meetings conducted in any format such as “round table” or forum.
2. Alternative Comment: This should help clarify that any government meeting can be televised, regardless of the physical format or the location and is included in the alternative suggestions below.
3. Alternative Question: Since this is a clarification and not an actual change in policy that affects program content, shouldn’t the two “round tables” about FHS and the Walton Arts Center that were requested by an Alderman be allowed under this policy suggested here and the present policy in effect?
C. IMPACT OF BELL CHANGES:
1. Alternative Comments: The Bell proposed changes do clarify that the physical format of a meeting doesn’t affect whether or not a meeting is covered and narrows the subject matter of forums to “ensure that programming on the Government Channel is specific to government activity.” And the suggested committee will help ensure that forums are conducted according to policy.
2. However it violates the spirit of the citizen requested forums, leaves some items that are clearly policy as “procedures” and makes an ambiguous statement that, “Citizen driven requests and concerns are handled through the normal course of business” which is vague.
3. Also nothing addresses the possibility that “informational” programs will contain inappropriate elements and that much of the content is controlled by government with only minimal involvement and influence by citizens.
4. The following Alternative Suggestions are meant to be a further clarification of the policy and following more closely ordinance 4504 and create a good balance of citizen input.
II. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS:
A. BROAD INTENT:
1. A Government Channel this is directly answerable to the viewers (the governed tax payers) and helps create an open and participatory government and also allows the local government to express itself .
B. BROAD JUSTIFICATION:
1. ORDINANCE 4504 states that the “The goal is to create an informed and involved citizenry.” & “…provide information about… issues faced by local governments.”
2. RESOLUTION 27-06 states that the government channel “…is intended to…help create an open and participatory local government.”
3. To avoid having a Government Channel with programming content produced solely at the discretion of the government.
C. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #1: DEFINE FORUMS
1. Retain a definition of issue forums that clearly allows forums to be held on various governmental topics of concern to the Fayetteville community. Since the City Attorney has declared the present forums to be “Constitutional and legal” the traditional term “Limited Public Forum” is probably best, for example the definition below:
Limited Public Forum: Sub-category of a designated public forum that “refers to a type of non-public forum that the government has intentionally opened up to certain groups or to certain topics. It is permissible for governments to impose restrictions that are viewpoint neutral and reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum.
2. Use the issue policy wording from the July 2004 version of the Government Channel policy, which defines and describes “limited public forums” in detail. Where necessary, refine the definition and description that will best clarify and will be legally sound.
In the phrasing, which describes issue forums, make the following changes striking the words “any cause” and adding the words a partisan and, concerning governmental matters, creating the new wording below:
Declared candidates for any public office, and persons advocating any cause, a partisan viewpoint, or proposed policy of a particular nature, concerning governmental matters will be eligible to appear only in a limited public forum venue.
Add the phrase to the policy introduction: “The Fayetteville Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government.”
3. Justification: This will retain flexibility and allow issues that are of pressing concern to local governments to be discussed publicly and fairly with all sides represented. It will also clarify that the Government Channel is not another public access channel and is only about government issues and concerns, which seems to have been one of the main justifications for Bell’s changes.
D. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #2: CLARIFY PROCEDURES/POLICY
1. Move the items that were removed from the July 2004 policy and then written as “procedures” back into policy. Define procedures as items that can be changed without significantly affecting the content of programming. An example of such procedure would be how requests are received, whether by phone, written, email and etc.
2. Justification: This will clear up much confusion that has existed since the policy was revised in February of 2006. The government channel policy has been discussed for hours and hours using untold staff, board members time and TV time. Much of this confusion was caused by leaving who can request issue forums silent in the policy.
E. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #3: CLARIFY “REQUESTS”
1. Clarify that elected officials and other government representatives are authorized to request (initiate) all types of programs, including informational, meetings and Limited Public Forums that concern the governmental body that they represent.
Justification: Eliminate questions about who can request which type of program and to inform all local government representatives how they can use the Government Channel to express the concerns and activities of the governmental body that they represent.
2. Clarify that citizens are authorized to request any FOIA meeting of any governmental body with jurisdiction that includes Fayetteville and that Citizens are not authorized to request “informational” programs.
Justification: This parallels the FOIA laws and can be considered the electronic version of “open meetings.”
3. Reinstate the policy from July 2004 that authorizes Citizens to request “Limited Public Forums” with the exception that 20 citizens, instead of five, will be required to make such a request.
Justification: This allows citizens to see government issues that they are concerned about discussed in public and encourages government officials to discuss issues that they might not otherwise discuss. Twenty citizens instead of five will lend more representation and legitimacy. It is also in the spirit of the first amendment of the US constitution where it says that citizens shall have the right to petition the government. In addition it encourages citizens to be involved and participate in government. All of these items are called for in the Telecom Board ordinance and present policy.
Further justification and Public Access: Not everyone has the ability and /or money to pay CAT to have an issue forum produced. Equal opportunity is not the same as equal capability. Also Issue forums are cannot be required to be fair and balanced on Public Access but must be balanced on the Government Channel.
F. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION #4: EXPAND ON BELL’S SUGGESTION FOR A “FAIRNESS” COMMITTEE
1. The Telecommunications Board shall establish a Fairness Committee to
monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. This committee will monitor forums to see that they are fair and balanced and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Provisions shall be made that will allow any citizen, whether elected official, staff or committee member, to submit any Government Channel program to the committee and receive a prompt fairness determination. In the event that it is determined that a program was improperly biased, proper action shall be taken, such as allowing the “opposition” to have equal time for a rebuttal.
2. Justification: This expands on Bell’s idea of a committee to monitor forums and addresses the possibility that “informational” programs will contain inappropriate elements, which has actually been a much greater tendency than inappropriate elements appearing in forums.
G. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS #5: INCLUDE DEFINITIONS
1. Include definitions of key items, such as:
• Partisan
• Nonpartisan
• Informational
2. Justification: To clarify and avoid misunderstandings.
H. ALTERNATIVE QUESTION
1. Should the Government Channel Policy be an ordinance rather than a resolution?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Policy and Procedures committee meeting running on City 16 tonight
The second meeting of the Telecom board's subcommittee held on Monday afternoon July 14, 2008, was shown after 4 p.m. Tuesday (today) and is to be run again at midnight TONIGHT (Tuesday into Wednesday) and again at 7 a.m. Thursday and at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2008.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Government channel off the air from 9 or 10 p.m. Saturday until 2:30 p.m. Sunday but was restarted at about 2:30 or 2:45 p.m. with event calendar
SUNDAY, July 13
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
The items above were omitted and the first show began after 3 p.m. and it was a park ribbon cutting followed by a replay of the opening of the new fire station.
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar RAN as scheduled.
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9 RAN as scheduled as of 4:45.
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
The items above were omitted and the first show began after 3 p.m. and it was a park ribbon cutting followed by a replay of the opening of the new fire station.
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar RAN as scheduled.
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9 RAN as scheduled as of 4:45.
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Government channel off the air from 9 or 10 p.m. Saturday until 2:30 p.m. Sunday but was restarted at about 2:30 or 2:45 p.m. with event calendar
SUNDAY, July 13
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
The items above were omitted and the first show began after 3 p.m. and it was a park ribbon cutting followed by a replay of the opening of the new fire station.
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar RAN as scheduled.
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9 RAN as scheduled as of 4:45.
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
The items above were omitted and the first show began after 3 p.m. and it was a park ribbon cutting followed by a replay of the opening of the new fire station.
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar RAN as scheduled.
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9 RAN as scheduled as of 4:45.
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
Saturday, July 12, 2008
July 13-19 schedule of Government Channel City 16 on Cox Cable
FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 13-19, 2008
SUNDAY, July 13
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
MONDAY, July 14
12:30 a.m. Solar Bug Tug
12:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
2:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Planning Commission-LIVE
8:30 p.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 8
10:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
11:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
TUESDAY, July 15
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 8
11:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 14
2:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
5:45 p.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
6:00 p.m. City Council-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
WEDNESDAY, July 16
12:00 a.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
Solar Bug Tug
12:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
Solar Bug Tug
7:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
Partners For Better Housing: July 15
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Trinity Wind Power Project
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council: July 15
10:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
11:30 p.m. Police: Dale Messmer -- Make the Smart Choice
THURSDAY, July 17
12:30 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
11:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
2:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
4:15 p.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
5:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board-LIVE
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
11:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: July 16
FRIDAY, July 18
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Sustainability Pioneer Amory Lovins At Fayetteville Public Library
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
12:00 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 16
3:00 p.m. Fire Station 7's Solar Water Heater
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
11:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
SATURDAY, July 19
12:00 a.m. Snowbirds 2005 Air Show
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Conference On Renewable Energy & Efficiency
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
7:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
9:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 13-19, 2008
SUNDAY, July 13
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
12:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
2:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
6:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
10:45 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
MONDAY, July 14
12:30 a.m. Solar Bug Tug
12:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
2:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Planning Commission-LIVE
8:30 p.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 8
10:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
11:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
TUESDAY, July 15
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 8
11:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 14
2:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: July 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
5:45 p.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
6:00 p.m. City Council-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
WEDNESDAY, July 16
12:00 a.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
Solar Bug Tug
12:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
Solar Bug Tug
7:45 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: July 15
Partners For Better Housing: July 15
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Trinity Wind Power Project
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council: July 15
10:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
11:30 p.m. Police: Dale Messmer -- Make the Smart Choice
THURSDAY, July 17
12:30 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
Solar Bug Tug
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: July 10
11:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
2:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
4:15 p.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
5:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board-LIVE
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: July 14
11:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: July 16
FRIDAY, July 18
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Sustainability Pioneer Amory Lovins At Fayetteville Public Library
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
12:00 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 16
3:00 p.m. Fire Station 7's Solar Water Heater
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: July 15
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
11:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
SATURDAY, July 19
12:00 a.m. Snowbirds 2005 Air Show
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Conference On Renewable Energy & Efficiency
8:15 a.m. Fire Station #3 Opening Celebration
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 15
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 17
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Quorum Court: July 10
7:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails Task Force: July 9
9:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board: July 17
Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org
Telecom board committee to discuss policies and procedures at 4 p.m. Monday
At the request of members, there will be a meeting of the Policy and
Procedures Sub-Committee Monday (July 14) at 4pm- Room 111, City Hall.
Richard S. Drake
Procedures Sub-Committee Monday (July 14) at 4pm- Room 111, City Hall.
Richard S. Drake
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Real world:American basket flower (Centaurea Americana) blooming on World Peace Wetland Prairie and other unmowed places throughout northwest Arkansas
Please click on image to ENLARGE photo of American basketflower made on July 10, 2008.
American basketflower photos and description˜
American basketflower photos and description˜
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
City Council discusses forums on Government Channel in agenda-setting session for Jan. 15 meeting
What’s the limits? : City officials in search of concrete rules for channel programming
BY KATE WARD Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/66953/
Fayetteville aldermen don’t want to monitor the content of the city’s Government Channel.
“ That’s what we want (the Telecommunications Board ) to do, ” Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody said Tuesday during a Fayetteville City Council agenda setting session at the City Administration Building. “ We want them to spell out the language of a limited forum. That’s the core problem. ”
At its last meeting in June, the Telecom Board recommended that the current policies and procedures be honored until new ones are accepted by the City Council.
The board also recommended changes in policy related to the ongoing question of whether forums and round-table discussions should be shown on the city’s Government Channel. Under the policy changes being recommended, any government meeting would be eligible to be televised on the Government Channel, even if the government body chooses to conduct the meeting in a round-table or forum format.
“ This policy needs to be in perpetuity, ” Coody said. “ It needs to be a policy we can finalize. ”
Members of the Telecom Board plan to make a final recommendation to the City Council in August.
Last month, Telecom Board members accused the city of violating existing policy when it halted production of forums about the location of Fayetteville High School and the future of the Walton Arts Center.
Government Channel procedure states a council member can request airing a forum. Ward 2 Alderman Nancy Allen said she requested the forums be aired, but they were both pulled from production.
“ I don’t understand why that was the appropriate thing to do, ” Allen said. “ It seems to me that the forums go for ward. The Telecom Board recommended that until they formulated their view of what they thought we should use for our guide, that we proceed the way we had in the past. ”
Susan Thomas, the city’s public information officer and policy adviser, said confusion regarding the city’s existing policy resulted in the two forums being taken off the air.
“ After the April 30 forum on forums, it was my interpretation of what a limited forum was and what the policy allows, which seems to be very limited in scope, ” she said. “ The heart of the matter here is do you want a public forum or not. If you choose to move forward with those two forums, you are making the decision to be an open forum. ”
Aldermen agreed that the Government Channel should have a limited forum for government meetings.
“ It’s your decision, ” Thomas told the City Council. “ You can create whatever channel you want to create, but understand that we have to implement that. It has to be exactly what you want to do. We don’t need to be involved in mandating what goes on a channel that protects free speech. ”
By implementing stricter guidelines, she said, content of the Government Channel wouldn’t be left to the City Council’s discretion. Public forums could still be aired on Community Access Television, she said.
“ We’ve been dealing with this since I’ve been on the City Council, and nothing has ever really been decided, ” Ward 4 Alderman Shirley Lucas said. “ What we need to do is let the Telecom Board do their job and say, ‘ OK, let’s do it by August. ’”
Ward 3 Alderman Robert Rhoads agreed, suggesting that the Telecom Board reapproach the City Council with a final policy recommendation rather than recommending policy changes for one or two specific forums.
Aldermen opted to table the issue until next month since Thomas and Lucas won’t be able to attend the meeting on Tuesday.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com
BY KATE WARD Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/66953/
Fayetteville aldermen don’t want to monitor the content of the city’s Government Channel.
“ That’s what we want (the Telecommunications Board ) to do, ” Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody said Tuesday during a Fayetteville City Council agenda setting session at the City Administration Building. “ We want them to spell out the language of a limited forum. That’s the core problem. ”
At its last meeting in June, the Telecom Board recommended that the current policies and procedures be honored until new ones are accepted by the City Council.
The board also recommended changes in policy related to the ongoing question of whether forums and round-table discussions should be shown on the city’s Government Channel. Under the policy changes being recommended, any government meeting would be eligible to be televised on the Government Channel, even if the government body chooses to conduct the meeting in a round-table or forum format.
“ This policy needs to be in perpetuity, ” Coody said. “ It needs to be a policy we can finalize. ”
Members of the Telecom Board plan to make a final recommendation to the City Council in August.
Last month, Telecom Board members accused the city of violating existing policy when it halted production of forums about the location of Fayetteville High School and the future of the Walton Arts Center.
Government Channel procedure states a council member can request airing a forum. Ward 2 Alderman Nancy Allen said she requested the forums be aired, but they were both pulled from production.
“ I don’t understand why that was the appropriate thing to do, ” Allen said. “ It seems to me that the forums go for ward. The Telecom Board recommended that until they formulated their view of what they thought we should use for our guide, that we proceed the way we had in the past. ”
Susan Thomas, the city’s public information officer and policy adviser, said confusion regarding the city’s existing policy resulted in the two forums being taken off the air.
“ After the April 30 forum on forums, it was my interpretation of what a limited forum was and what the policy allows, which seems to be very limited in scope, ” she said. “ The heart of the matter here is do you want a public forum or not. If you choose to move forward with those two forums, you are making the decision to be an open forum. ”
Aldermen agreed that the Government Channel should have a limited forum for government meetings.
“ It’s your decision, ” Thomas told the City Council. “ You can create whatever channel you want to create, but understand that we have to implement that. It has to be exactly what you want to do. We don’t need to be involved in mandating what goes on a channel that protects free speech. ”
By implementing stricter guidelines, she said, content of the Government Channel wouldn’t be left to the City Council’s discretion. Public forums could still be aired on Community Access Television, she said.
“ We’ve been dealing with this since I’ve been on the City Council, and nothing has ever really been decided, ” Ward 4 Alderman Shirley Lucas said. “ What we need to do is let the Telecom Board do their job and say, ‘ OK, let’s do it by August. ’”
Ward 3 Alderman Robert Rhoads agreed, suggesting that the Telecom Board reapproach the City Council with a final policy recommendation rather than recommending policy changes for one or two specific forums.
Aldermen opted to table the issue until next month since Thomas and Lucas won’t be able to attend the meeting on Tuesday.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com
Sunday, July 6, 2008
July 6-12 schedule of Government Channel
Official updates of government-channel listings are to appear here
FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
July 6-12, 2008
SUNDAY, July 6
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
8:45 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
9:00 a.m. City Council: July 1
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 3
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
6:30 p.m. Energy Efficiency Construction Committee: July 2
8:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 3
11:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
12:45 p.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
MONDAY, July 7
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Charles Banks Wilson At FPL
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Water Infrastructure: Successful Strategies For Local Leadership
8:45 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
9:00 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
11:00 a.m. CAT Board: July 3
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 3
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
6:30 p.m. City Council: July 1
9:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 3
TUESDAY, July 8
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Waste Water Treatment Plant Ribbon Cutting
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Managing River Flows For Bio-diversity
9:00 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
11:00 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
1:00 p.m. CAT Board: July 3
2:30 p.m. Energy Efficiency Construction Committee: July 2
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Chase Missy
6:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 3
9:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: July 7
11:30 p.m. Energy Efficiency Construction Committee: July 2
WEDNESDAY, July 9
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Sustainability Spotlight On O.M.I.
7:45 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: July 8
11:00 a.m. CAT Board: July 3
1:00 p.m. Energy Efficiency Construction Committee: July 2
3:00 p.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
5:45 p.m. Swedish Moving Floor Press Conference And Demonstration
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 8
8:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
10:30 p.m. CAT Board: July 3
THURSDAY, July 10
12:30 a.m. Managing River Flows For Bio-diversity
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Recovery & The Family: Extending Treatment To Everyone
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
8:45 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
9:00 a.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
11:00 a.m. Sidewalk & Trails: July 9
1:00 p.m. Energy Efficiency Construction Committee: July 2
3:00 p.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 8
7:00 p.m. Quorum Court-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
FRIDAY, July 11
12:00 a.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
7:45 a.m. USGBC: LEED For Schools: Beyond The Financial Benefit
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Close The Loop: Buy Recycled
8:45 a.m. Holland Park Ribbon Cutting
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: July 10
12:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Internet Policy Subcommittee: July 2
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. City Council: July 1
11:30 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
SATURDAY, July 12
1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
5:00 a.m. Fire Training Video
6:00 a.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
7:00 a.m. Animal Service’s Renovated Shelter Opens
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
10:30 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: July 7
12:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails: July 9
2:30 p.m. Russell Mahan’s “Lincoln Talk” At FPL
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Sustainability Pioneer Amory Lovins @ FPL 1535
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: July 8
8:30 p.m. Historic District Commission: July 10
10:30 p.m. Sidewalk & Trails: July 9
12:30 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: June 30
Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org
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