Submitted by Elizabeth Swenson
County and city officials are currently negotiating a new agreement with Adelphia for funds to support Mendocino Coast Community Educational Television (MCCET). Their success will allow us to purchase the new equipment needed to become a vital resource for the Coast and to relocate to a facility that has both broadcast and production areas.
But MCCET needs more to survive.
Since its founding, the station has benefited immeasurably from Charlene Aumack's management-as an unpaid volunteer! Now, as she nears retirement, MCCET has its first opportunity to get enough money to pay staff and expand its services.
The money to cover MCCET's day-to-day operations amounts to at least $100,000 per year. This budget covers two half-time positions to manage the station, utilities, rent, on-call production people to cover city meetings, training, program development, grant writing, and more. We are requesting that a portion of this additional funding-$30,000-come from the cable franchise fees that Adelphia pays to the City of Fort Bragg and to Mendocino County.
MCCET first received a part of Fort Bragg's franchise fees two years ago when the City Council voted to give 10 percent ($4,500). The county has yet to give any portion of its franchise fees to MCCET. The station's new budget has both Fort Bragg and the county giving 20 percent of their franchise fees to MCCET. In addition, we are asking the city to allocate another 20 percent for the production and broadcast of city meetings.
You might ask, Why should the city and county give this money to MCCET when it could be used for other needs? Our first response is "Survival." Even if all the station were to do is tape and broadcast city government meetings, it would need financial support.
Our second response is "We will contribute to the vitality of the community." Here are some of the ways the station can do this:
Economic health. MCCET can help increase the number of visitors to the coast and the length of time they stay. Imagine short videos on places to visit; local history; activities like the Whale Festival, Crab and Wine Festival, and Art in the Gardens; recreational opportunities; theater and music; arts and crafts; and more-broadcast on the televisions in our motels and inns. With just a flick of a switch, visitors will be able to learn about the many things there are to do and see on the coast.
The station can also bring money into the community by partnering with the schools, local nonprofit and community organizations, and government bodies to secure grants from private foundations and government agencies.
Community services. MCCET can broadcast both city and county meetings, local forums that address local and global issues, debates among political candidates, and more. This will help inform and unite people in our community and also support democratic processes.
By partnering with our schools at all levels, the station can provide children and youth with opportunities to learn new technical crafts (digital broadcasting technology, filming, sound, animation, editing), and write and produce short videos. Students will have an opportunity to have fun and be creative, and for some this could be the beginnings of a profession.
Community television is the only television that can be guided by the needs and values of the community. An investment in MCCET is an investment in the future of the coast.
On March 22, The League of Women Voters is sponsoring an event-Your Station, Your Vision, Your Voice-at Fort Bragg's Town Hall, 7-9 pm. Come to learn what other communities are doing with their community television stations and how the cable refranchise negotiation process works. And show your support for community television on the coast!