July 1, 2003

Dear City Council,

I hope that the Council will approve the resolution authorizing the creation of Jefferson's two public access cable channels, as allowed by its franchise agreement with Charter and the Municipal Code. 

These channels will benefit every non-profit group, announcing and promoting every fundraiser and event.  The channels will benefit City Hall, too, as a new no-cost way to distribute information to the majority of households in the City. 

These channels will be a tremendous addition to the curriculum of the School District.  Students will use the channels to enhance their own education as well as increase the public's awareness of what's happening in the District.  This new partnership between the City and the School District can serve as a foothold to improve the relationship between the two groups. 

These channels will be under the supervision of a newly appointed cable committee.  The committee can determine an operating structure.  They will oversee how the channels will be used.  They will decide which announcements will be shown. 

Tonight's proposal costs the City nothing.  It does not raise cable bills.  It does not affect the $52,000 a year you're collecting from people's cable bills.  It does not create any new City employee, nor does it require any significant assistance from City staff.

Although there is no funding request tonight, you may be concerned that activating these channels will lead to a future obligation for funding.  These channels can bring a great benefit to Jefferson even without any additional City Council funding.  This will be as true in a tight 2008 budget as it is true in a tight 2004 budget. 

Give us a chance to explore these channels.  These channels will be operated on a shoestring.  Even if the Council never funded these channels again, they can survive on their own and benefit the community.  The School District stands ready to devote existing equipment and staff time to this resource.  Volunteers and donors stand ready to operate them.

But unlike any other community-supported civic group, the cable access channels need City Council approval to get started.  Without your request to Charter to activate these channels, we have nothing to focus our support.  These channels deserve a chance to get started and become self-sustaining.  If we fail, the channels can simply be turned off and we will again see nothing but static on channel 13 and 19, as we have today.

Jefferson has gone too long without the benefits that come from public access channels.  Most other communities in our area activated their channels years ago.  I've met with the School Superintendent and their technology director and his assistant, and they stand ready to use these channels.  The Jefferson Development Commission heard my proposal and voted their unanimous support.  The public support for these channels has been overwhelmingly positive.  Please ask Charter to install these two channels tonight.

Sincerely,

John Foust