Phase 1 - Initial Startup & PEG

The Task Force has formed a non-profit corporation and is preparing to select a board of directors, an advisory board and a paid support staff that will assume responsibility for the Public, Education and Government (PEG) channels on Cable One's Modesto system. This includes a broadbased and objective Board of Directors. It will have representation from Government, Education, Business, the professions, Public Service Agencies and the Arts, including TOPS, Modesto Symphony, The State Theater.

The board will create a Media Center that:

Provides comprehensive coverage
Is professionally managed
Is fiscally accountable
Has skilled technicians
Offers imaginative and quality programming
Is open and responsive to public need

This organization is creating a business plan and will present the plan to the Modesto City Council for inclusion in the current Franchise Agreement negotiations with Cable One. The current, fifteen year, agreement expired in December 1999. In the current agreement, Cable One has responsibility for the PEG channels and local access.

The organization will outfit a facility in the downtown Modesto area that will provide a programming area for support staff with two studios and three edit suites for public use. Equipment will include current generation and cutting edge digital technologies. The support staff will provide training to certify interested participants and allow access to equipment. Access will generally be available in the afternoon / evenings and on weekends. Participants will pay a small annual registration fee. The organization will aid in the development of productions for the public, education or government. The Center will also setup and maintain a Local Origination (LO) channel that will carry the Public programming and could offer commercial advertising revenues to the organization. This programming will require allotment of three channels by Cable One.

The startup and monthly operating revenues will initially be funded through a PEG fee paid by Cable One. The PEG fee will not passed on to cable subscribers in the form of a separate line item on the subscriber's bill or a separate billing but will be paid from the operating revenues of Cable One.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.