Sunday, August 31, 2008

Government channel schedule for August 31 through September 6, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 31- September 6, 2008

SUNDAY, August 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. Water & Sewer Committee: August 26
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: August 25
12:15 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
2:15 p.m. Ward 4: August 25
3:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Debate
4:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 25
7:45 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
9:45 p.m. Ward 4: August 25
11:00 p.m. Street Committee: August 28

MONDAY, September 1
1:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
3:00 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 Internet Subcommittee: August 27 8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. PEG Center Equipment Committee: August 28
11:00 a.m. Ward 4: August 25
12:15 p.m. Animal Services Feline Temperament Test Information
Animals That Need Homes Now!
Feline Temperament Test Demonstration
Farmers Market
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 28
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Fayette Junction Van Tour
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
8:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board: August 28
11:30 p.m. Telecom Internet Subcommittee: August 27

TUESDAY, September 2
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. PEG Center Equipment Committee: August 28
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
11:00 a.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21
1:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Debate
3:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Debate
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
6:00 p.m. City Council-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Telecom Internet Subcommittee: August 27

WEDNESDAY, September 3
12:00 a.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 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. Street Committee: August 28
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council: September 2
1:00 p.m. Telecommunications Board: August 28
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Animal Services Feline Temperament Test Information
Feline Temperament Test Demonstration
Park Pavilions
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council: September 2
10:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 25

THURSDAY, September 4
1:30 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 1: August 18
7:45 a.m. Fayette Junction Van Tour
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: August 28
12:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Debate
2:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: September 2
4:00 p.m. Street Committee: August 28
6:00 p.m. CAT Board-LIVE
8:00 p.m. Special Water & Sewer Public Discussion On Mt. Sequoyah
Pressure Plane: August 21
10:00 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: August 26

FRIDAY, September 5
12:00 a.m. Ward 1: August 18
12:45 a.m. West Mud Creek Trail Nature Walk
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. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Debate
9:00 a.m. CAT Board: September 4
11:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: August 28
2:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Debate
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Debate
6:30 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: August 26
10:30 p.m. Street Committee: August 28

SATURDAY, September 6
12:30 a.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Debate
1:30 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. Fayette Junction Van Tour
7:45 a.m. West Mud Creek Trail Nature Walk
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: September 2
1:00 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 25
2:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Debate
3:00 p.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
4:15 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 28
7:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Debate
9:30 p.m. Telecom Internet Subcommittee: August 27
11:30 p.m. Ward 4: August 25

Friday, August 29, 2008

Times story not the complete story on Telecom meeting

Jim Bemis' early comments on the Telecom Board meeting.
So much for the Times' coverage, which doesn't mention the complete policy prepared by the Board's Subcommittee on policy and procedure or the obvious disagreement on the Council's instructions to the Board.

The Council now will have to deal with a whole different policy proposed in the Bell "report" to the Telecom Board of last June, which introduces its own can of worms, rather than the complete policy prepared by the Subcommittee.

My guess is that the Council is not likely to want to turn the government channel over to the discretion of the City Administration to decide which meetings to show on both the government channel and/or the new webstreaming facilities on the Internet.
The Board also delayed any discussion of the Internet Policy until 2009, for a subcommittee also headed by Bell.
In any event, we aren't likely to see issue forums on the government channel until after the elections. The executive branch will have bypassed both the Council (legislative branch) and the Telecom Board, which are supposed to be "Fairness Committees" to assure checks and balances on the use of all the PEG channels.


Jim

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Times
Government Channel for government only
BY DUSTIN TRACY Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/68573/
The city’s Government Channel will only air programming specific to government activity.
A 3-3 tie on Thursday by the Fayetteville Telecommunications Board could not pass several proposed changes to the city’s policy that would have allowed the airing of issue forums or round-table discussions that were not part of a government meeting.
Board members Richard Drake, Aubrey Shepherd and Fred Cusanelli voted for the changes. Angie Graves, Shelli Bell and Eric Sales voted against them.
The board was following through with its promise to present a policy by the end of August on whether the Government Channel could air discussions not related to government meetings.
Bell, who is the board’s chairman, said that if a citizen or private group wished to have a forum discussion aired on television, they could get in touch with the Community Access Television station and use the resources there.
" If the Government Channel did only air meetings, I think it would be accomplishing its purpose, " Graves said.
Former cable administrator Marvin Hilton told the telecom board that he would like to see the Government Channel become another public access channel. He tried to convince members that both stations are getting government funding, so there’s no reason they should not be open to the public.
" Do you want a specific Government Channel, or do you want multiple public access channels ? " Hilton asked.
Drake was adamant about passing some sort of measure to send on to the City Council. He said the process seemed to take forever and that the vote, in a sense, justified the board’s existence.
The discussion ended a four-month debate on what type of programming would be allowed on the Government Channel.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Monday, August 25, 2008

Northwest Arkansas Times says NO to Telecom board subcommittee's proposed fairness committee

Times Editorials : Overly complicated
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/68473/
To quote Tuesday’s edition, “ The Policies and Procedures subcommittee of the city’s Telecommunications Board is preparing a proposal that would establish a Fairness Committee to “ monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure. ”

For the record, this thoughtful proposal is a bad idea, one that needs to be dumped ASAP.

For years Fayetteville has been broadcasting informative issue forums on the Government Channel without incident. Several months ago City Attorney Kit Williams woke up and decided that these telecasts could be seen by some as unconstitutional, opening the city up to potential litigation from residents who believe their views aren’t being reflected.

Thus, it has been suggested that practically anything not directly related to governmental operations (city council and committee meetings, informational segments shining a light on local works programs, and possibly candidate debates ) should be kicked to the curb — and aired on Community Access Television, where the anything-goes style means First Amendment concerns would be much less of a concern.

At first we thought Williams and others were overreacting, presenting a solution where no problem existed. But the longer this debate goes on and the closer we inch to the establishment of a “ fairness committee” that intends to appoint monitors of what’s “ fair and balanced, ” the more the idea sounds overly and unnecessarily complex.

A fairness committee doesn’t solve the problems Williams is talking about — i. e., government deciding what is allowable and what isn’t. That’s exactly the sort of thing a fairness committee, appointed by the government, would be busy doing. Frankly, if this is the price the public must pay to leave issue forums and the like on the Government Channel, then we’re not interested.

This is a recipe for a committee (does Fayetteville really need yet another committee ?) that will be constantly in turmoil and producing plenty of conflict. Hey, that’d be great for news copy, we’re sure, but believe it or not, sometimes simplifying things really is the preferable route.

Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Government Channel CITY 16 on Cox Cable schedule August 24-30, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE CITY 16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 24-30, 2008
SUNDAY, August 24
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. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: August 19

1:00 p.m. Ward 1 Meeting: August 18
1:45 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit 2:15 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
3:00 p.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 19
10:30 p.m. Street Committee: August 18

MONDAY, August 25
12:45 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
2:45 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. Ordinance Review: August 20
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Special Water & Sewer Public Discussion On Mt. Sequoyah
Pressure Plane: August 21
12:00 p.m. Street Committee: August 18
2:15 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
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. Quorum Court: August 14
10:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19

TUESDAY, August 26
12:00 a.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
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 1 Meeting: August 18
7:45 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: August 25
12:00 p.m. City Council: August 19
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Street Committee: August 18
6:45 p.m. Planning Commission: August 25
9:45 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 25
11:45 p.m. Special Water & Sewer Public Discussion On Mt. Sequoyah
Pressure Plane: August 21

WEDNESDAY, August 27
2:30 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. Walton Arts Center Council: August 25
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: August 26
11:00 a.m. Water & Sewer Committee: August 26

1:00 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video

5:30 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit 6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 26
8:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 25
10:30 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21

THURSDAY, August 28
12:30 a.m. Partners For Better Housing: August 19
2:30 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: August 26
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Forum
11:00 a.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Forum
12:00 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20
2:00 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
5:15 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!

5:30 p.m. Telecommunications Board-LIVE
8:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Forum
9:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Forum
11:30 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21

FRIDAY, August 29
12:30 a.m. PEG Center Equipment Committee: August 28
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. PEG Center Equipment Committee: August 28
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar

9:00 a.m. Telecommunications Board: August 28
12:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 28
3:00 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: August 19
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View

8:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Forum
9:30 p.m. Special Water & Sewer Public Discussion On Mt. Sequoyah
Pressure Plane: August 21
11:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Oreo Blue

SATURDAY, August 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. Ward 1 Meeting: August 18
7:45 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Special Water & Sewer Public Discussion On Mt. Sequoyah
Pressure Plane: August 28

11:00 a.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Forum
12:00 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Forum
2:00 p.m. Telecom Internet Subcommittee: August 27
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar

4:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 1 Candidate Forum
6:30 p.m. Fayetteville School Board Position 2 Candidate Forum
7:30 p.m. Street Committee: August 18
9:45 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20
11:45 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: August 19

Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org

Sunday, August 17, 2008

AUGUST 17-23, 2008, schedule of government-channel programs

FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 17-23, 2008
SUNDAY, August 17
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. Historic District Commission: August 14
8:00 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
11:45 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
12:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
12:45 p.m. Airport Board: August 13
2:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
5:15 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
7:15 p.m. Quorum Court: August 14
8:45 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: The Nace Brothers
11:00 p.m. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville

11:45 p.m. Light Rail Transit System: Rodney E. Slater, Former Secretary Of Transportation
MONDAY, August 18
12:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
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. Environmental Concerns: August 14
7:45 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
8:15 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
9:15 a.m. Historic District Commission: August 14

10:15 a.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14

11:00 a.m. Tree Rings: Recorders of Fayetteville's Environmental History
12:00 p.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
1:15 p.m. Gulley Park Concert: Patrice Pike and the Black Box Rebellion
2:30 p.m. Quorum Court: August 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
6:15 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
7:00 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
9:45 p.m. Street Committee: August 18
11:45 p.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
TUESDAY, August 19
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. Airport Board: August 13
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
9:45 a.m. Street Committee: August 18

11:45 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6

1:45 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
2:00 p.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14
2:45 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
3:15 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
3:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. USGBC: How Close To Zero Can We Afford?
5:45 p.m. College Avenue Construction Update
6:00 p.m. City Council-LIVE

10:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6

WEDNESDAY, August 20
12:00 a.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19
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. Street Committee: August 18
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council: August 19
1:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: August 14
2:00 p.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. City View: New Urbanism
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 19
10:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
10:45 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
11:15 p.m. Discouraging Underage Drinking
THURSDAY, August 21
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. Historic District Commission: August 14
8:00 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
9:15 a.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19
11:15 a.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
11:45 a.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 20
1:45 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: August 19
3:00 p.m. Historic District Commission: August 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
4:45 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20
6:45 p.m. Quorum Court: August 14
8:15 p.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19

10:15 p.m. Partners For Better Housing: August 19

FRIDAY, August 22
12:15 a.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
12:45 a.m. College Avenue Construction Update
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. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: August 14
10:30 a.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 20
12:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19
2:30 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Mayor’s Press Conference Concerning Ozark Regional Transit
6:00 p.m. Amanda Adams Concert At Gulley Park
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Historic District Commission: August 14
9:30 p.m. Housing Authority Board: August 19
11:30 p.m. Ordinance Review: August 20

SATURDAY, August 23
1:30 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. Library Seeing Nature In A New Way: Art Hobson On Global Warming
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 20

11:00 a.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14
11:45 a.m. Airport Board: August 13
1:45 p.m. Council Of Neighborhoods: August 21
3:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Boston Mountain Solid Waste: August 21
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 19
10:30 p.m. Walton Arts Center Council: August 20

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Northwest Arkansas Times questions Telecom board subcommittee's discussion of creating a fairness committee

Setting policy for the operation of the city's government channel is open for discussion. There is no simple answer and public input is needed before the August 28, 2008, meeting of the Telecom board.
Please offer comment under this story and under the draft policy document posted below it.

 
Merits of Fairness Committee debated
BY MARSHA L. MELNICHAK Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/68173
Northwest Arkansas Times questions merits of fairness committee for government channel

Would a fairness committee for Fayetteville’s Government Channel be fair? Is it common sense or a challenge to the First Amendment? The Policies and Procedures subcommittee of the city’s Telecommunications Board is preparing a proposal that would establish a Fairness Committee to “monitor all Government Channel programming for adherence to the policy regarding coverage, priority and procedure.”
Aubrey Shepherd, chairman of the Policies and Procedures subcommittee, sees establishing a Fairness Committee as common sense, a way to protect the channel from misuse by the city administration or the City Council.
City Attorney Kit Williams, on the other hand, said he sees a red flag about a committee making discretionary decisions about what is fair and balanced.
“The trouble is, the courts don’t want us using good judgment in a First Amendment context. They just don’t want that because they are constantly afraid that is going to be a cloak for people favoring one point of view and disfavoring another,” Williams said. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, to which Williams referred, prohibits abridging free speech.
Fairness Committee
The five volunteer members of the Fairness Committee are to collectively have expertise in law, communication, government regulations, journalism and the public’s right to know, according to the latest draft of the proposal. It states that the committee would monitor forums to see that they are “fair and balanced” and that “informational” programs are free from partisan elements.
Under the proposal, anyone could ask that any program on the channel be challenged as to its fairness and receive a prompt determination. “It’s primarily to distance the government from having full control (of the Government Channel), Shepherd said. The subcommittee’s proposal, of which the fairness committee will be a part, will be brought to the Telecom Board for consideration. Members of that board will then make a recommendation to the City Council. “The purpose is to alleviate the fear that developed that the station would become a public access television statement (station was the intended word) and to have some people who are not directly part of government, in other words, to distance those decisions from government, ” Shepherd said. He said the proposed policy recognizes the need to allow public input into programming decisions.
What’s fair ?
Both Shepherd and Williams said Government Channel programming should not be biased.
“I would rather see the truly partisan stuff go onto our free-speech network and leave the more boring, bland government stuff on the Government Channel,” said Williams.
Shepherd said some of the informational programs now running on the Government Channel could be considered partisan.
“Informational programs stray from city government more than forums have in the past,” Shepherd said.
“Unless (guidelines are) so tightly drawn that you almost don’t need any good judgment on the committee, then it’s probably going to depend upon, to some extent, the discretion of the committee and what they believe is fair and what they don’t believe is fair, and that’s exactly the kind of stuff that courts don’t like,” Williams said.
Shepherd said the Fairness Committee would offer a “reassuring level of distance” between the city administration or the council and the decisions about what programs are aired on the channel.
He said having a committee would take decisions away from judgments made by one person or by city staff who would have to worry about their jobs if their decisions differed from city administrators’ decisions or directions regarding programming.
“That’s potential for abuse that a fairness committee could stop,” Shepherd said.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Draft of proposed revision of government-channel policy

POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF
THE GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
AJS 11 Revised August 10, 2008, per committee meeting of August 6, 2008

INTRODUCTION

The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is intended to give Fayetteville residents information about City government services, programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help to 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 administrator of the government channel 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 by which Governmental entities and related organizations are deemed 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 about government business.


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 Fayetteville Governmental meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville that 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 of the Government Channel will be given for any meeting that meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly affects residents 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 people 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.
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 administrator of the government channel may contact a non-partisan organization to organize the forum or suggest that an ad hoc committee be formed to organize and coordinate the forum.
e. The forum will be moderated or sponsored by a non-partisan person or organization that will ensure equity. In addition, the participants may form an ad hoc committee, with input and approval by all participants, to organize and coordinate the forum.
f. All candidates and organizations participating in the forum will have the right of approval of the moderator. During the forum, the debate will be timed, if the participants agree to such a format. The moderator will solicit and select audience input, and decide points of order.
g. 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:
h. 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.
i. This restriction that candidates can appear only in a limited public forum does not apply to people 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.
j. 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 mayorality.
k. 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.
l. Candidate forums for any contested office must be requested in writing by at least one of the declared candidates for that office.
m. No candidate forums will be held before the last filing deadline.

Issue forums:
In addition to the limited public forum criteria:

n. Issue forums must be requested by at least two elected officials who have jurisdiction within Fayetteville, or twenty registered voters living within the city limits of Fayetteville.
o. The issue must be related to government ordinances, policies, or activities, thereby serving a compelling government interest.
p. 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.
q. Requests for issue forums must be made to the Cable Administration Division at least two weeks in advance of the production date. The administrator of the government channel 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.
r. All decisions by the administrator of the government channel will be communicated in writing to the requesting parties. Appeals of 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 information in text form 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 chairman.

B. Meetings and informational programs of any governmental entity that affects 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 administrator of the government channel 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 it will provide such recording and cable casting.


V. EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES

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 program being cablecast.

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 material or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.

VI. USE OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF

City of Fayetteville employees wishing to use the video equipment and studio facilities for City of Fayetteville productions shall make arrangements through the administrator of the government channel. Lending of equipment for personal or outside use shall not be authorized under these policies. Other people, 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 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. All outside agencies, groups, or individuals 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.

C. The requestor will ensure the Cable Administration Division of the program’s eligibility under the criteria and requirements listed above.

D. The requestor will ensure that the program has obtained all necessary copyright clearances and permissions where legally required.

E. 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

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.

Video of the room as it fills 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.

The person speaking will be on camera.

Individual reaction shots (shots of those not actually speaking or being addressed) are not allowed.

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.

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 individuals, 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 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
entity or person 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. The recording will remain in the archive.

X. RECORDING RETENTION
A. All government channel programming shall be archived. Recordings of public meetings are unofficial and will not serve as an official record of the meetings.
DVD copies are the current format of archived copies of tapes of items used on government channel. The quality of the permanently archived copy must be certified by a staff member before the original recording is erased or recorded over. Preparation and storage of at least one additional copy of each item in a different and secure place is required. A storage hard drive or other electronic storage device may be created to offer another retrieval method.

The Fayetteville Library would be an appropriate place for duplicates of all government channel productions to be archived permanently. Future researchers must be able to retrieve complete copies in whatever format becomes dominant at a given time. Making all such archived video available online free for public use and copying by all will be assured.


XI. ACCESS ASSURANCE
A. Anyone may view any of the programs or meetings archived by the City at the PEG Television Facility.
B. People 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 the public’s right to know.

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 anyone, 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 may be made to the Telecommunications Board within 10 working days of the committee’s decision. An appeal of a Telecommunications Board decision to the City Council must be sponsored by an alderman filing a written appeal in the City Clerk’s office within 10 working days of the Board’s decision.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Democrat-Gazette editorial supports Telecom Board subcommittee

 
Keep talking sense
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/234056

THANK GOODNESS, at last
somebody’s talking sense about the
future of the Government Channel in Fayetteville. That would be the subcommittee of the Telecommunications Board. The subcommittee is putting together proposed new policies for how the channel is to be used.
The board has been in an uproar for months now—ever since Susan Thomas, the unelected information czar of Fayetteville, killed one of the best and most popular features on the Government Channel, or at least sent it into a deep coma. We’re talking about the forums devoted to topics of public interest in town. Ms. Thomas called a halt to those forums after the city attorney—Kit Williams—wondered out loud about their possibly being unfair to somebody or other. The problems weren’t constitutional or legal, he added. But his reservations were enough for Ms. Thomas, whose formal job title at City Hall is public information officer. In this case, she’s acted to squelch public information by shutting down the forums. This is happening in Fayetteville—a city proud of its reputation for vigorous debate.
Now this subcommittee is working up some recommendations for public information in town, and the first one is that the public forums on the Government Channel be restored. To which we say: Hooray !
Ms. Thomas’ worries that the forums might be unfair never seemed well grounded in fact. Quite the contrary. For years, going back at least to 1992, these shows have provided worthwhile information on topics of interest to local residents. There haven’t been any significant complaints about the forums, which present all sides of an issue. What could be more fair than that ?
And what were the subjects of the two pending forums that were cancelled by Ms. Thomas ? Why, the future location of Fayetteville High School and possibly moving the Walton Arts Center out of town—two of the hottest local issues around. How can limiting discussion of them help inform the public ? Answer: It can’t—and it shouldn’t be allowed to. Not in the free republic of Fayetteville.
The subcommittee is still working on the specifics of the proposed new policy, but the ideas already put forth sound sensible: The channel is not to be considered a public access channel (there’s already one of those in Fayetteville ). Only programs directly related to government would be allowed on the Government Channel, specifically including forums for candidates and issues. A new committee on fairness would be established by the Telecom Board to resolve the kind of problems that Kit Williams had theorized about, and that have so unnerved Ms. Thomas.
The full board plans to take up the subcommittee’s recommendations later this month, then present the final version to the city council. Sounds democratic to us. A lot more so than the dictates of the city administration’s unelected minister of propaganda.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Northwest Arkansas Times questions Telecom board's effort to clarify policies of government

NWAT

Times Editorial : TV worth watching?
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Friday, August 8, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/67897
The Government Channel on Fayetteville’s cable system has been a home for years to a variety of programs, from live airing of City Council meetings to rebroadcasts of concerts in Gulley Park. City Attorney Kit Williams had come to the conclusion that forum discussions (often starring a quality cast thoughtfully discussing community topics ) ought to be moved to Community Access Television.
Why ? Although he doesn’t believe these forums are unconstitutional, Williams worries they could expose the city to litigation by someone who feels their views are not represented. Since CAT permits anyone to produce a program, putting forums on public access and leaving the Government Channel for very specific uses, the city’s litigation exposure would be reduced, Williams says.
Forums have never been an issue in the past, but Williams says he wants to prevent this from turning into a problem in the future.
Williams ’ concerns led to handing off the debate over the matter to the Telecommunications Board, which appointed a subcommittee that suggests the Government Channel should only televise programs directly related to government. They include in that advice the continued airing of candidate and issues forums, the latter of which would seem to fly in the face of the city attorney’s concerns.
To deal with that, the subcommittee suggests the creation of a “ fairness committee” that would work to make sure issues-oriented programming appearing on the Government Channel would be fair and balanced and free of “ partisan elements. ”
A government-created fairness committee ? Just the sound of it makes one cringe. Do we also need a purity committee ? A truth committee ? Don’t the well-intentioned folks behind this idea realize that with every extra detail that attempts to keep forums on the Government Channel they’re actually proving the city attorney’s point about the difficulty of limiting content and his preference for seeing public forums shipped off to public access ?
From the beginning, Williams has advocated keeping the shows on the Government Channel limited to meetings, meetings and more meetings, and forums for candidates seeking public office. That simplifies things a lot. And while the government issues forums of the past have been informational, are they worth setting up a whole new layer of government appointees to establish fairness of content ? No.
We never saw the harm of the government issue forums being broadcast on Channel 16, but today it’s hard to see the harm of shifting these forum productions to the Community Access Television station on Channel 18, then letting CAT producers (which any citizen can become ) produce the forums they want. That would be preferable to setting up a government bureaucracy on determining “ fairness. ”
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Government channel CITY 16 on Cox Cable schedule August 10 to 16, 2008

revised version published on Friday, August 8, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 10-16, 2008

SUNDAY, August 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. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
10:15 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4

11:15 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6 DID NOT RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher 3:15 p.m. Three Bridge Scull Creek Crossing
3:30 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 5
8:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher

MONDAY, August 11
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. Understanding Energy Consumption In Multi-Family Housing
8:15 a.m. Troops, Trains & Planes 2008
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. CAT Board: August 7
11:00 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
1:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
3:15 p.m. Sustainability Spotlight On O.M.I.
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. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4

9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
11:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith

TUESDAY, August 12
12:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
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. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
7:45 p.m. Green Valley Reception For Kei Izawa
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: August 11
12:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11

2:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
5:45 p.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
6:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
9:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
11:30 p.m. Charles Banks Wilson At FPL

WEDNESDAY, August 13
12:30 a.m. LED Street Light Trial
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. Green Or Too Green
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: August 12
11:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
1:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
3:00 p.m. FPL Kids' Lab: Archeology
3:45 p.m. LED Street Light Trial
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
8:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
10:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
11:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
THURSDAY, August 14
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. Large Scale Wind Power: A Good Fit For Arkansas?
8:15 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
11:00 a.m. Airport Board: August 13
1:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
3:00 p.m. Snowbirds 2005 Air Show
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar

4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
6:30 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
7:00 p.m. Quorum Court-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Airport Board: August 13

FRIDAY, August 15
12:00 a.m. Library Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: The Language of Quilts
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. Airport Board: August 13
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: August 14
12:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
3:00 p.m. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
3:45 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher

SATURDAY, August 16
12:30 p.m. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
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. Environmental Concerns: August 14
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Airport Board: August 13
11:00 a.m. Historic District Commission: August 14
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
11:30 p.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14

Friday, August 8, 2008

Telecom Board survey of city Internet users

Please click on image to ENLARGE for easy reading.

Please print and fill out and return to
Aubrey Shepherd,
PO Box 3159
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

Comments submitted using the comment link below this item will also be accepted.

August 10-16, 2008, schedule of government-channel programs

revised version published on Friday, August 8, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 10-16, 2008

SUNDAY, August 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. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
10:15 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
11:15 a.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
1:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher 3:15 p.m. Three Bridge Scull Creek Crossing
3:30 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 5
8:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher

MONDAY, August 11
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. Understanding Energy Consumption In Multi-Family Housing
8:15 a.m. Troops, Trains & Planes 2008
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. CAT Board: August 7
11:00 a.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
12:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
1:15 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
3:15 p.m. Sustainability Spotlight On O.M.I.
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. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
9:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
11:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith

TUESDAY, August 12
12:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
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. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
7:45 p.m. Green Valley Reception For Kei Izawa
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Planning Commission: August 11
12:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
2:00 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
5:45 p.m. Animal Service's Renovated Shelter Opens
6:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
9:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
11:30 p.m. Charles Banks Wilson At FPL

WEDNESDAY, August 13
12:30 a.m. LED Street Light Trial
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. Green Or Too Green
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: August 12
11:00 a.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
1:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
3:00 p.m. FPL Kids' Lab: Archeology
3:45 p.m. LED Street Light Trial
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Woolsey Wet Prairie: Eradicating Invasives & Plant Identification
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
8:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
10:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
11:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher
THURSDAY, August 14
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. Large Scale Wind Power: A Good Fit For Arkansas?
8:15 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
11:00 a.m. Airport Board: August 13
1:00 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
3:00 p.m. Snowbirds 2005 Air Show
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Telecom Board's Policy & Procedures Subcommittee: August 6
6:30 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
7:00 p.m. Quorum Court-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Airport Board: August 13

FRIDAY, August 15
12:00 a.m. Library Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: The Language of Quilts
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. Airport Board: August 13
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Quorum Court: August 14
12:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
3:00 p.m. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
3:45 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
10:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Tiffany Christopher

SATURDAY, August 16
12:30 p.m. City View: USGS Stream Flow Monitoring In Fayetteville
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. Environmental Concerns: August 14
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Airport Board: August 13
11:00 a.m. Historic District Commission: August 14
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: August 14
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Advertising & Promotion Commission: August 11
6:30 p.m. City Council Agenda: August 12
8:30 p.m. Planning Commission: August 11
11:30 p.m. Environmental Concerns: August 14

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Northwest Arkansas Times reports on meeting of the Telecom Board's policy subcommittee

 
Subcommittee creates plan to keep forums on Government Channel
BY MARSHA L. MELNICHAK Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Thursday, August 7, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/67861

The next step for possible policies for Fayetteville’s Government Channel is a trip to the city attorney’s office.
The city’s Telecommunications Board subcommittee on the use and programming of the Government Channel agreed Tuesday that it was time to move ahead. The subcommittee is deciding what should go to the Telecom Board so the Telecom Board can decide what should go to the Fayetteville City Council for consideration. The plan is to present a policy document to the council by the end of the month.
While there were still changes to be made when the meeting ended, the consensus was the document could be finalized soon so Chairman Aubrey Shepherd could take it to City Attorney Kit Williams before the Telecom Board’s meeting later this month. That meeting may be held Aug. 28.
“ 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, ” states the document compiled by Marvin Hilton, the city’s former cable administrator.
It states that the Government Channel is not a public access channel and will televise only programs that are directly related to government.
As proposed by the subcommittee, the Government Channel would continue to air candidate and issue forums, with detailed attention to definitions and criteria.
Six criteria are identi- fied for what the subcommittee refers to as a limited public forum. Among them are “ equal opportunities” to appear and a “ free exchange of ideas. ”
If the proposed policy is adopted by City Council, two aldermen or 20 registered voters in Fayetteville could request an issue forum.
Williams has said in the past that he doesn’t think issue forums should be aired on the Government Channel. That led to forums being pulled from production and, finally, to the council asking the Telecom Board for advice on any potential policy changes regarding forums.
The city attorney has said the forums are not illegal or unconstitutional, but he also said he had freedom of speech concerns about limiting the content or viewpoints expressed in the forums.
To solve that problem, the subcommittee will recommend a “ fairness committee” that could respond to a variety of questions and issues.
According to the proposed policy, “ 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. ”
The five-member fairness committee could also be called on to determine if programs submitted by others meet “ minimum technical and broadcast aesthetic standards. ”
Hilton gave as an example someone who had an obscene picture on the wall behind the speaker or a light that glared into the camera.
Other aspects of the document refer to matters of time, such as when and how requests for programming must be made, when programs will and won’t appear, and who can request what kinds of programs.
Copyright © 2001-2008 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. Contact: webmaster@nwanews.com

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Archiving of government-channel material must be complete and permanent

Archiving of all public meetings recorded and/or broadcast or shared on the Internet by the government channel will be required.

DVD copies are the current form of archived copies of tapes of items used on government channel. The quality of the permanent archived copy must be certified by a staff member before the original tape is erased or recorded over. Preparation and storage of at least one additional copy of each item in a different and secure place is required. A storage hard drive or other electronic storage device may be used to offer another retrieval method.
The Fayetteville Library would be an appropriate place for all government channel productions to be archieved permanently. Future researchers must be able to retrieve complete copies in whatever format becomes dominant at a given time.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Latest version of Aug. 3-9 government channel schedule on Cox channel 16 in Fayetteville, Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE CITY16
GOVERNMENT CHANNEL PROGRAM GUIDE
August 3-9, 2008

SUNDAY, August 3
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. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
8:00 a.m. CDBG In the Park
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 29
11:00 a.m. Planning Commission: July 28
1:15 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
3:15 p.m. FPL Presents: Toucan Jam
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28
5:45 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
7:45 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
10:45 p.m. Measuring Actual Performance Of A Sustainable Building
11:30 p.m. Community Room @ FPL: Raja Kali On Globalization And How It Affects You

MONDAY, August 4
12:45 a.m. Spay Arkansas 1567
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. City Council Agenda Session: July 29
11:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
2:00 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. CDBG In the Park
6:00 p.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 29
8:00 p.m. Water & Sewer Committee: July 29
10:00 p.m. Ward 4 Meeting: July 28

TUESDAY, August 5
12:00 a.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
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. Mystery Talk With Detective David Williams
8:15 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council Agenda Session: July 29
11:00 a.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
1:00 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
3:00 p.m. Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: Big Smith
5:30 p.m. City View
6:00 p.m. City Council-LIVE
10:00 p.m. Gulley Park Summer Concert Series 2008: The Nace Brothers
WEDNESDAY, August 6
12:15 p.m. Bikes, Blues & BBQ: Featuring Music Of The Odds
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. FPL Imagination Express: Magic
7:45 a.m. Spay Arkansas
8:00 a.m. Community Events Calendar
8:30 a.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
9:00 a.m. City Council: August 5
1:00 p.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
3:00 p.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program
3:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. CDBG In the Park
6:00 p.m. Animals That Need Homes Now!
Farmers Market
6:30 p.m. City Council: August 5
10:30 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4

THURSDAY, August 7
12:30 a.m. CDBG In the Park
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. Understanding Energy Consumption In Multi-Family Housing
8:15 a.m. Troops, Trains & Planes 2008
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. Ozark Regional Transit: July 30
11:00 a.m. City Council: August 5
3:00 p.m. Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. La Voz Latino Una Celebration de Autores Latinos
6:00 p.m. CAT Board-LIVE
8:00 p.m. Planning Commission: July 28
10:15 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4

FRIDAY, August 8
12:15 a.m. Blair Library: Teen Champion Storyteller Greg Blair
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. Library Seeing Nature In A New Way: Art Hobson On Global Warming.
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. CAT Board: August 7
11:00 a.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
2:00 p.m. Board Of Adjustments: August 4
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Fire Training Video
5:30 p.m. Sustainability Pioneer Amory Lovins At Fayetteville Public Library
6:45 p.m. Spay Arkansas
7:00 p.m. Washington/Madison County Drug Court
8:00 p.m. City View
8:30 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: August 4
10:30 p.m. CDBG In the Park
11:00 p.m. Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour

SATURDAY, August 9
12:00 a.m. Woolsey House: 19th Century Pioneer Farmstead Clean Up Reenactment
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. La Voz Latino Una Celebration de Autores Latinos
8:30 a.m. Community Events Calendar
9:00 a.m. City Council: August 5
1:00 p.m. Subdivision Committee: July 31
4:00 p.m. Community Events Calendar
4:30 p.m. Sustainability Pioneer Amory Lovins At Fayetteville Public Library
6:15 p.m. Spay Arkansas 1567
6:30 p.m. CAT Board: August 7
8:30 p.m. City Council: August 5
12:30 a.m. Matt Mihalevich & John Coleman: Trails Program

Look for the updated program guide in the Cable Administration section at
http://www.accessfayetteville.org