Farhad Khan
Chair
Middlebury Selectboard Representative
George Bellerose
Secretary
At-Large Representative
Glenn Goodwin
At-Large Representative
John McCright
Treasurer
At-Large Representative
John Murray
At-Large Representative
Barb Wilson
ACSD Representative
Barbara Doyle-Wilch
Ilsley Public Library Representative
MCTV ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2025
4:30 PM Town Offices Meeting Room
Business Meeting
Call to Order
Approve 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes
Adopt Budget
Elect 2 at-large board members
Other Business
Adjourn
MCTV BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
2025
Elected:
John McCright, 2024-2027
George Bellerose, Secretary, 2022-2025
Glenn Goodwin, Treasurer, 2022-2025
John Murray, 2024-2027
Appointed:
Farhad Khan, Chair, Selectboard
Barb Wilson, ACSD
Barbara Doyle-Wilch, Ilsley Library
Staff:
Kurt Broderson, Executive Director
Drew Darrow, Production Coordinator
Kathy Wheatley, Programmer
Article I: Objectives & Activities
Section 1: Name
The name of the corporation shall be “Middlebury Community Television” (also known as MCTV) and shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Vermont.
Section 2: Objectives
The objectives of MCTV shall be:
To work with the cable television company or companies which serve the Middlebury area and to ensure that they meet their obligations to the community regarding public access, educational access and governmental access to the cable television system.
To support and promote programs of local interest produced by members of public, educational, charitable, and social service organizations, and by independent producers within the community.
To distribute these programs on community or public telecommunications facilities, including but not limited to cable television, closed circuit, or broadcast television.
To provide for the care and custody of equipment and studio facilities and programs owned or used by MCTV and to organize and offer training to the membership of MCTV, and to establish criteria for the use of the equipment and facilities.
To seek and receive donations and grants from public and private sources, including but not limited to individuals, public and private corporations and foundations and agencies and instrumentalities of the State and Federal Governments in order to meet all the expenses of the aforesaid purposes.
To exercise any other rights or responsibilities incidental to or associated with the aforesaid purposes in accordance with applicable law.
Section 3: Activities and Responsibilities of MCTV
In order to achieve its objectives, MCTV shall, among other things:
Procure and produce video programs and information of interest to the community for use on the cable television public, educational, governmental or other access channels.
Acquire through gift, fundraising and purchase, equipment and facilities necessary for meeting the objectives outlined above, and to hold, manage and convey these assests in a fiscally responsible manner.
Cooperate with the cable television company serving the Middlebury cable television system(s) and with Town Officials and individuals interested in local access.
Resolve conflicts in scheduling of the use of the access channels or equipment, and decide matters of appropriate program content on the access channels.
Educate members of MCTV and the general public about the activities and needs of MCTV.
Article II: Membership
Section 1: Members
Any cable television subscriber to the Middlebury system, or MCTV-certified producer, shall be entitled to membership. In addition, any other person or organization shall be entitled to membership in MCTV upon payment of the annual dues as established by the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Meetings
There shall be an annual meeting of the membership of MCTV during the month of March, at a specific time and place as the Board of Directors shall decide. The meeting shall be for the purposes of electing directors and considering other business.
Special meetings of the membership may be called by the order of the Board of Directors or by petition of at least 5 percent of the members.
Section 3: Notice
Notice of the annual or special meetings of the membership shall state the time, place and general nature of business to be discussed. The notice shall be made at least thirty days prior to the annual meeting date and at least ten days prior to all other meeting dates. Said notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Middlebury and by posting a copy of the notice in the Municipal Building, and by such other media as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate.
Section 4: Quorum and Voting
“Quorum”: A quorum of the membership at the annual or special meeting shall consist of not less than 15 members.
“Voting”: At all meetings of the membership, each member shall be entitled to one vote. Representation by proxy or voting by mail may be permitted at the discretion of the Board of Directors. No action of the membership shall be considered binding unless taken by a majority vote at a meeting, upon due notice, and at which a quorum is present.
Section 6: Fiscal Year and Annual Report
The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. The Board of Directors shall submit an annual report to the Town Manager by January 15 for inclusion in the Middlebury Annual Town Report. Such report shall summarize the financial position of MCTV and its accomplishments and activities during the past year.
Article III: Board of Directors
Section 1: Election and Terms
The Board of Directors shall be comprised of seven members, three
appointed and four elected. Elected members shall take office at the
annual meeting to serve a term of three years each. Appointed members shall take office at the next MCTV board meeting following appointment by their respective board and serve a term at the discretion of their board. One director shall be appointed by the Middlebury Selectboard; one director shall be appointed by the Addison Central School District (ACSD) Board; and one director shall be appointed by the Trustees of the Ilsley Public Library. The remaining four directors shall be elected at large by the membership of MCTV.
Section 2: Vacancies
If a vacancy exists on the Board, the Board is empowered to elect a new director from the membership to complete the unexpired term of such director. If the vacancy is created by a director who was appointed by the Selectboard, School Board, or Ilsley Public Library Trustees, then any replacement shall be appointed by the appropriate Board.
Section 3: Removal
No director may be removed from the Board without cause. Removal shall be by a 6/7 majority vote of the Board of Directors, acting at a meeting, notice for which specifies that such a removal was to be considered and voted upon.
Section 4: Purpose and Authority
The Board of Directors shall carry out and/or delegate the purposes of functions of MCTV as set forth in the Articles of Association and these Bylaws, and in accordance with any vote of the membership. However, the Board shall be ultimately responsible for the property and affairs of MCTV.
Section 5: Meetings
The Board of Directors shall hold meetings at such times and locations as it shall determine from time to time.
Notice of Board meetings shall be given by the Chairr to all other Board members by mail at least five days prior to the meeting.
Section 6: Quorum and Voting
Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. All decisions of the Board shall be made by a majority vote of those present at the meeting, except that all financial actions shall be by concurrence of at least four members of the Board.
Section 7: Conflict of Interest and Other Rules
No employee of the local television company may serve as director. The Board shall adopt rules regarding conflicts of interest, and it may adopt other rules governming order at meetings and other matters as it deems appropriate.
Article IV: Officers and Committees
Section 1: Officers
The officers of MCTV shall be a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and other such officers as the Board may from time to time determine. The officers shall be elected from the Board of Directors by the Board at its first meeting following the annual meeting of MCTV. The officers shall serve for a term of one year, or until such time as their successors are duly qualified and elected.
Should a vacancy occur, the Board may elect another eligible person to serve as an officer for the unexpired portion of the term.
The duties of the officers are as follows:
Chair: The chair shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. The Chair shall be, ex-officio, a member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. He or she shall have the usual powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the Chair, and perform other duties as may be designated by the Board. In the absence or disability of the Chair, the Board shall appoint an Acting Chair.
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the MCTV Board and shall also prepare a written report which shall be presented at the annual meeting.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall consult regularly with the Executive Director on financial and budgetary matters toward keeping the Board informed through written or oral reports at its regular meetings. The Treasurer shall also present a report at MCTV’s annual meeting.
Section 2: Nominating Committee
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee to propose, prior to the annual meeting, a list of candidates to fill any vacancies.
Section 3: Special Committees and Staff
Special Committees at MCTV may be elected by the membership or appointed by the Board of Directors, or by the Chair, to carry out activities in furtherance of MCTV’s purposes and objectives. The Board may provide for the employment and compensation of persons and employees to perform the activities of MCTV. The Board shall oversee all affairs or any committees or staff.
Article V: Amendment
These bylaws may be amended by a 6/7 majority of the Board of Directors, at a duly-noticed meeting of the Board for which any proposed amendments have been made available to the membership at least two weeks before such meeting, and for which the intent of such meeting has been publicly announced by posting notice in the Municipal Building, and by such other media as the Board deems appropriate.
Bylaws revised March 24, 2023
Not all policies on record are currently available online. We are continually working on digitizing records, and will add to this page whenever possible. In the meantime, please visit the studio at 75 Main Street or call 388-3062 for more information on MCTV Policies and Procedures.
You can also contact us at info (at) middleburycommunitytv (dot) org.
MCTV Grievance Procedure
Purpose:
This procedure provides a means for staff members and producers of Middlebury Community Television to secure, at the lowest possible level, solutions to their alleged grievances. Members may present grievances free from coercion, interference, restraint, discrimination, or reprisal.
Definition:
A grievance shall mean a complaint by any staff member of producer or any group of members which involves a violation, misrepresentation, or inequitable application of the guidelines and policies governing MCTV.
Procedures
Informal:
Every attempt shall be made to informally resolve the grievance at the lowest level with the supervisor or person involved in the complaint and as soon as possible after the incident generating the complaint. If no resolution can be reached, the grievant should initiate a formal grievance in writing.
Formal:
Step 1: Any MCTV employee or producer who has a complaint or grievance which cannot be resolved informally should initiate a formal grievance by writing to his/her immediate supervisor within fifteen days of the incident generating the complaint. The written grievance should include details of the complaint and a summary of any attempts made to resolve the grievance. (The immediate supervisor of the producer is the Executive Director; the immediate supervisor of the Executive Director is the Chair of the Board of Directors and thereafter the Board itself.) If the initial grievance involves the Executive Director, the grievant should try to resolve the problem by arranging for a meeting with the Executive Director.
The grievant’s immediate supervisor will respond in writing to the grievance within five days of the the written grievance to resolve the alleged problem.
Step 2: If the aggrieved is not satisfied with the decision of the immediate supervisor or the decision of the Executive Director and decides to continue the grievance, he or she must, within five days of receiving the response, request in writing a meeting with the Chair of the Board of Directors, who will arrange for a meeting to take place within five days of the receipt of the request. The Chair will provide a written decision within ten days of the receipt of the request.
Step 3: If the aggrieved is not satisfied with the Chair’s decision and decides to pursue the grievance he/she must, within five days of the receipt of the notification, request in writing a meeting with the Board of Directors of MCTV The meeting shall take place within thirty days of the receipt of the request. The Chair of the Board may participate in the discussion but will reserve his/her vote and cast it only in the event of a tie. The Chair shall provide the aggrieved with a written decision within seven days after the meeting.
The decision of the board shall be final and binding upon all parties.
As media and technological landscapes continue to change rapidly, MCTV’s role will change as well. In Appendix A, our mission statement,A Vision for the Future,outlines how we must continue to evolve into a community media and resource center. With this role in mind, the access plan will help guide the organization in 2018-2021.
Specific plans for educational programs, equipment purchases, outreach, and other activities will be created to achieve the overall goals articulated below. Some representative examples of these initiatives are included in italic.
MCTV will move toward a future role as an aggregator of local content and an educator in new media and technological developments, while maintaining the organization’s emphasis on working with youth and facilitating the production of local programming for cablecast.
Perceived Community Needs
• Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources. Working with Ilsley Library, MCTV has developeda community production studio in library space.
• Continued outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV and its programming. Recent efforts include an educational brochure and a live-action float in Middlebury’s Memorial Day Parade. An informational kiosk outside the new town hall is being considered. (Where does this stand?)
• Wider variety and improved technical quality of MCTV programming, while simultaneously valuing the contributions of all volunteer producers. MCTV will continue to monitor and acquire new technology, such as High Definition that can increase program quality and diversity and simplify production.
• Technological applications that will enable communities without cable access to view MCTV programming. MCTV continues to expand web access to current and archived programs. (OK?)
• Increased media and technological literacy in the community including in under-served populations. MCTV has produced public service announcement kits that enable non-profits to easily produce their own videos. MCTV will continue to provide recording advice to community groups, such as the select board, churches, and schools.
• Improvement of channel-focused website. What does this mean?
Measurement of Community Needs
• Continuing the process by which the community can give input on MCTV’s direction and goals. This will involve the use of a website and may involve public forums and open houses to encourage personal interaction and an on-going dialogue. MCTV will continue to formally solicit community comments at the annual meeting in March. Staff and board members with their deep roots in the community are constantly receiving on-the-street comments.
• Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services. Board representation includes members of the school board and select board. The board periodically meets informally or formally with leadership of community non-profits.
• Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community. Staff will continue its ongoing discussions with the Hannaford Career Center on how MCTV can provide practical experience for Hannaford students. MCTV has discussed with the Addison Central Supervisory Union staff their interest in teacher development training and will attend high school department meetings to gauge the needs and interest of teachers. (Where does this stand?)
• Brainstorming within the organization and with community partners to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community. Staff and board members are deeply involved in community organizations and are constantly seeking, both directly and indirectly, ideas to improve our coverage of community activities. MCTV will continue to exploreoverlapping interests with the Vermont Folklife Center.
• Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities. MCTV staff and board are in constant contact with county-wide organizations such as the Addison County Economic Development Corporation.
Meeting Community Needs
• Maintaining and increasing collaborations with area schools, including K-12 institutions and colleges. MCTV, in conjunction with the Ilsley Public Library, has worked with teachers at Mary Hogan School and Middlebury Union High School providing direct instruction for students creating video projects for in-class as well as on-air use. Furthermore, the training of teachers and a librarian at Mary Hogan has provided them the knowledge to independently teach students to create video content. MCTV also assisted the Mary Hogan School with creating a YouTube channel. Several high school classes have used MCTV-owned computers in the Ilsley Public Library for video editing class projects. (Need to update?)
• Maintaining and encouraging student participation in the functioning of the station. As students from prior video camps and programs get older, they are invited to work as peer mentors in programs, as well as technical producers in the studio.
• Working with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its PEG access functions. The percentage of MCTV’s local programming is one of the highest in the state.
• Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations. MCTV continues to work with the United Way(update?)in helping member organizations produce informational videos.
• Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the select board, the school board, and other governance committees, and improving the means by which the community may access coverage with respect to feedback from town officials and citizens. MCTV will continue to respond to community requests, such as covering Public Service Board hearings on a new gas pipeline to International Paper in New York.
• Continuing MCTV’s partnerships with local cultural institutions. MCTV will continue to meet regularly with fellow area non-profits, such as the Vermont Folklife Center, to look for synergies.
• Working with youth. In conjunction with the Ilsley Public Library, MCTV offered five, week-long video camps in the past year, as well as a weekly drop-in program that was nationally recognized by the Public Library Association as one of a handful of innovative library programs. In addition, joint Ilsley/MCTV outreach to the Mary Hogan School developed a weekly in-school collaboration with the Mary Hogan librarian, collaboration with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) teacher which produced several on-air and web programs. The collaboration also produced a 6th grade original play that featured locally-set video components in a play at the Town Hall Theater. (Update all this?)
• Planning future capital expenses including improvements to the station’s facilities. MCTV will continue to search for low-cost technology to improve signal quality and to provide on-line streaming coverage.
• Collaborations that may include, but will not be limited to, working with Ilsley Public Library, regional planning boards, and other institutions and organizations to develop technological applications to increase access to MCTV programming. MCTV will continue to monitor new technologies that simplify and enhance program development and distribution.
• Exploring fundraising options to support MCTV’s efforts to meet community needs. MCTV will continue to explore sharing staff time with community organizations, such as splitting the cost of the technology and school programs coordinator with Ilsley Library.
• • •
Appendix A:
Middlebury Community Television
A Vision for the Future
In 1985 when Middlebury Community Television was formed, its founders had a straightforward objective: Create an informed and engaged citizenry. In essence, hold a mirror up to the community.
More formally, we are a nonprofit, interactive, community-based alternative to broadcast commercial and public TV. We announce and cover local meetings and events, offer residents free equipment and training to produce their own programs, and make available at no cost our two cable channels to share these programs with the community.
In 2013,2018MCTV’s mission remains unchanged. But the media landscape has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and MCTV must constantly adapt to these new conditions.
In 1985, there were no inexpensive, high-definition, fit-in-the-hand iPhone cameras or user-friendly iMovie editing programs that enable anyone to be a video producer and storyteller. There was no Internet, YouTube, Facebook, or cloud to easily and quickly distribute photographs, text, and video around the block or around the world.
Not only has production and distribution changed but so may our funding. Since its inception community television has been almost entirely supported by a fee charged to cable companies, such as Comcast, for their use of public airwaves. This guaranteed funding has served MCTV well, but today cable viewers are increasingly dropping their subscriptions and receiving programs directly over the lower-cost Internet. At present, there are no provisions for community television to receive funding from Internet transmission of programs.
How should MCTV respond to this new world?
1. MCTV has always been an innovator with a deep commitment to local programming. Over half our programs—school and select board coverage, public forums and hearings, lectures, town meetings, parades, graduations, church services, interview shows and documentaries—are locally produced.
This focus is essential to our mission and survival.
2. In the past several years, our ties with Ilsley Library have grown even closer. Today, we jointly fund a technology coordinator, who works with the children¹s librarian and schools in offering video training. Working with the library, we have createda community production studio on the second floor. This collaboration is unique among community television stations.
3. We must continue to encourage and support programs that reflect the diversity and interests of our community. In an era, when anyone can produce a video we have a vital role in distributing material of community interest.
4. As Comcast’s contribution diminishes we must explore new funding—membership, fund raising, corporate sponsors, Internet transmission fees, greater town budget support.
5. Digital literacy is essential to a community’s wellbeing. We must expand our programs with schools, the library, town government, and the community to reach that goal.
6. A 21st century communications infrastructure is also essential to a community’s vitality. As community facilities change and expand we must ensure that meeting spaces meet the transmission needs of the Internet age.
In essence to best serve the community, we must continue to evolve into a community media and resource center.
————————————————————————————-
Middlebury Community Television Access Plan 2014-2017
As media and technological landscapes continue to change rapidly, MCTV’s role will change as well. In Appendix A, our mission statement, A Vision for the Future, outlines how we must continue to evolve into a community media and resource center. With this role in mind, the access plan will help guide the organization in 2014-2017.
Specific plans for educational programs, equipment purchases, outreach, and other activities will be created to achieve the overall goals articulated below. Some representative examples of these initiatives are included in italic.
MCTV will move toward a future role as an aggregator of local content and an educator in new media and technological developments, while maintaining the organization’s emphasis on working with youth and facilitating the production of local programming for cablecast.
Perceived Community Needs
• Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources. Working with Ilsley Library, MCTV is developing a community production studio in library space.
• Continued outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV and its programming. Recent efforts include an educational brochure and a live-action float in Middlebury’s Memorial Day Parade. An informational kiosk outside the new town hall is being considered.
• Wider variety and improved technical quality of MCTV programming, while simultaneously valuing the contributions of all volunteer producers. MCTV will continue to monitor and acquire new technology that can increase program quality and diversity and simplify production.
• Technological applications that will enable communities without cable access to view MCTV programming. MCTV is expanding web access to current and archived programs.
• Increased media and technological literacy in the community including in under-served populations. MCTV has produced public service announcement kits that enable non-profits to easily produce their own videos. MCTV will continue to provide recording advice to community groups, such as the select board, churches, and schools.
• Improvement of channel-focused website. What does this mean?
Measurement of Community Needs
• Continuing the process by which the community can give input on MCTV’s direction and goals. This will involve the use of a website and may involve public forums and open houses to encourage personal interaction and an on-going dialogue. MCTV will continue to formally solicit community comments at the annual meeting in March. Staff and board members with their deep roots in the community are constantly receiving on-the-street comments.
• Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services. Board representation includes members of the school board and select board. The board periodically meets informally or formally with leadership of community non-profits.
• Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community. Staff will continue its ongoing discussions with the Hannaford Career Center on how MCTV can provide practical experience for Hannaford students. MCTV has discussed with the Addison Central Supervisory Union staff their interest in teacher development training and will attend high school department meetings to gauge the needs and interest of teachers.
• Brainstorming within the organization and with community partners to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community. Staff and board members are deeply involved in community organizations and are constantly seeking, both directly and indirectly, ideas to improve our coverage of community activities. MCTV will be exploring overlapping interests with the Vermont Folklife Center.
• Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities. MCTV staff and board are in constant contact with county-wide organizations such as the Addison County Economic Development Corporation.
Meeting Community Needs
• Maintaining and increasing collaborations with area schools, including K-12 institutions and colleges. MCTV, in conjunction with the Ilsley Public Library, has worked with teachers at Mary Hogan School and Middlebury Union High School providing direct instruction for students creating video projects for in-class as well as on-air use. Furthermore, the training of teachers and a librarian at Mary Hogan has provided them the knowledge to independently teach students to create video content. MCTV also assisted the Mary Hogan School with creating a YouTube channel. Several high school classes have used MCTV-owned computers in the Ilsley Public Library for video editing class projects.
• Maintaining and encouraging student participation in the functioning of the station. As students from prior video camps and programs get older, they are invited to work as peer mentors in programs, as well as technical producers in the studio.
• Working with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its PEG access functions. The percentage of MCTV’s local programming is one of the highest in the state.
• Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations. MCTV continues to work with the United Way in helping member organizations produce informational videos.
• Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the select board, the school board, and other governance committees, and improving the means by which the community may access coverage with respect to feedback from town officials and citizens. MCTV will continue to respond to community requests, such as covering Public Service Board hearings on a new gas pipeline to International Paper in New York.
• Continuing MCTV’s partnerships with local cultural institutions. MCTV will continue to meet regularly with fellow area non-profits, such as the Vermont Folklife Center, to look for synergies.
• Working with youth. In conjunction with the Ilsley Public Library, MCTV offered five, week-long video camps in the past year, as well as a weekly drop-in program that was nationally recognized by the Public Library Association as one of a handful of innovative library programs. In addition, joint Ilsley/MCTV outreach to the Mary Hogan School developed a weekly in-school collaboration with the Mary Hogan librarian, collaboration with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) teacher which produced several on-air and web programs. The collaboration also produced a 6th grade original play that featured locally-set video components in a play at the Town Hall Theater.
• Planning future capital expenses including improvements to the station’s facilities. MCTV will continue to search for low-cost technology to improve signal quality and to provide on-line streaming coverage.
• Collaborations that may include, but will not be limited to, working with Ilsley Public Library, regional planning boards, and other institutions and organizations to develop technological applications to increase access to MCTV programming. MCTV will continue to monitor new technologies that simplify and enhance program development and distribution.
• Exploring fundraising options to support MCTV’s efforts to meet community needs. MCTV will continue to explore sharing staff time with community organizations, such as splitting the cost of the technology and school programs coordinator with Ilsley Library.
• Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities. Given the County’s small size and community interconnections, MCTV’s local programming is frequently of interest to surrounding areas. Taping hearings of the Public Service Board on a gas pipeline traveling through the country attracted broad interest.
• • •
Appendix A
Middlebury Community Television
A Vision for the Future
In 1985 when Middlebury Community Television was formed, its founders had a straightforward objective: Create an informed and engaged citizenry. In essence, hold a mirror up to the community.
More formally, we are a nonprofit, interactive, community-based alternative to broadcast commercial and public TV. We announce and cover local meetings and events, offer residents free equipment and training to produce their own programs, and make available at no cost our two cable channels to share these programs with the community.
In 2013, MCTV’s mission remains unchanged. But the media landscape has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and MCTV must constantly adapt to these new conditions.
In 1985, there were no inexpensive, high-definition, fit-in-the-hand iPhone cameras or user-friendly iMovie editing programs that enable anyone to be a video producer and storyteller. There was no Internet, YouTube, Facebook, or cloud to easily and quickly distribute photographs, text, and video around the block or around the world.
Not only has production and distribution changed but so may our funding. Since its inception community television has been almost entirely supported by a fee charged to cable companies, such as Comcast, for their use of public airwaves. This guaranteed funding has served MCTV well, but today cable viewers are increasingly dropping their subscriptions and receiving programs directly over the lower-cost Internet. At present, there are no provisions for community television to receive funding from Internet transmission of programs.
How should MCTV respond to this new world?
1. MCTV has always been an innovator with a deep commitment to local programming. Over half our programs—school and select board coverage, public forums and hearings, lectures, town meetings, parades, graduations, church services, interview shows and documentaries—are locally produced.
This focus is essential to our mission and survival.
2. In the past several years, our ties with Ilsley Library have grown even closer. Today, we jointly fund a technology coordinator, who works with the children¹s librarian and schools in offering video training. Working with the library, we are creating a community production studio on the second floor. This collaboration is unique among community television stations.
3. We must continue to encourage and support programs that reflect the diversity and interests of our community. In an era, when anyone can produce a video we have a vital role in distributing material of community interest.
4. As Comcast’s contribution diminishes we must explore new funding—membership, fund raising, corporate sponsors, Internet transmission fees, greater town budget support.
5. Digital literacy is essential to a community’s wellbeing. We must expand our programs with schools, the library, town government, and the community to reach that goal.
6. A 21st century communications infrastructure is also essential to a community’s vitality. As community facilities change and expand we must ensure that meeting spaces meet the transmission needs of the Internet age.
In essence to best serve the community, we must continue to evolve into a community media and resource center.
• • •
revised September 2011
Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources
More outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV
Wider variety of MCTV programming
Improved production values of MCTV programming
Expanded access to MCTV programming, including demonstrating through our online distribution that potential Comcast subscribers could benefit from cablecast access to the entirety of MCTV programming.
Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services.
Convening public forums in which community members are invited to help draw up a “wish list” for PEG usage. One such forum was held in March 2009 and we plan more for the future.
Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community.
Brainstorming within the organization to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community.
Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in civic life of all communities.
Working closely with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its public, educational and governmental access functions.
Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations.
Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the selectboard, the schoolboard, and other governance committees. In the fall of 2009, MCTV covered several public meetings pertaining to the closing of the Champlain Bridge, winning the gratitude of both state officials and those affected by the closing.
Cablecasting community events such as the annual Festival on the Green that appeal to a wide viewership and partnering with organizations such as the local library to bring a variety of cultural events into the homes of the MCTV audience.
Maintaining a staff position dedicated in part to working with local schools and recreation departments to introduce children to video production, thereby ensuring a future audience for MCTV programming.
Planning future capital investments, including labor allocation, to keep current with the state-of-the-art in the industry.
Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources.
More outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV and its programming
Wider variety and improved technical quality of MCTV programming
Technological applications that will enable communities without cable access to view MCTV programming
Improvement of interactive website to enhance MCTV-user experience
Formalizing the process by which the community can give input on MCTV’s direction and goals. This might involve the use of a website as well as public forums and open houses to encourage personal interaction and an on-going dialogue.
Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services
Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community.
Brainstorming within the organization to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community.
Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities
Working with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its PEG access functions
Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations.
Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the selectboard, the schoolboard, and other governance committees
Working with educators to find ways to bring more student-produced programming to the station
Expanding partnerships with local cultural institutions such as the Ilsley Library, the Vermont Folklife Center and the Sheldon Museum to increase the variety of program offerings
Instituting a bi-annual revision of MCTV policies to ensure that those policies are current and relevant
Planning for future purchases of state-of-the-art equipment, incorporating any technological advances
Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources.
More outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV and its programming
Wider variety and improved technical quality of MCTV programming
Technological applications that will enable communities without cable access to view MCTV programming
Improvement of interactive website
Continuing the process by which the community can give input on MCTV’s direction and goals. This might involve the use of a website as well as public forums and open houses to encourage personal interaction and an on-going dialogue.
Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services
Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community.
Brainstorming within the organization to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community
Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities
Increasing the focus on the recruitment of new producers
Looking for new coverage opportunities, including possible collaborations with Middlebury College with respect to guest speakers and special courses
Expanding student participation in the functioning of the station
Working with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its PEG access functions
Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations
Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the selectboard, the schoolboard, and other governance committees
Continuing to expand MCTV’s partnerships with local cultural institutions
Expanding the collaboration with youth-centered programs in the community
Planning future capital expenses including improvements to the station’s facilities
“A 21st century community media center is not about making the content available on the web and mobile phones, using apps and social media. That will be something that everyone does—schools libraries, citizen journalists, and government agencies. A 21st century community media center is about organizing those institutions to take and exercise community control of communications infrastructure.” from Full Spectrum Community Media, Alliance for Community Media
As the media and technological landscapes continue to change rapidly, this statement from the Alliance for Community Media points towards a role for MCTV that will serve the needs of cable subscribers and our community in the next few years. With this in mind, the access plan for 2013 and 2014 outlines the human-centered needs that will serve as overall guides for the organization in the next few years. Specific plans for educational programs, equipment purchases, outreach, and other activities will be created to achieve the overall goals articulated below. MCTV will move towards a future as an aggregator of local content and an educator in new media and technological developments, while maintaining the organization’s emphasis on working with youth and facilitating the production of local programming for cablecast.
Expanded training for use of MCTV equipment and resources.
Continued outreach to increase public awareness of MCTV and its programming
Wider variety and improved technical quality of MCTV programming, while simultaneously valuing the contributions of all volunteer producers
Technological applications that will enable communities without cable access to view MCTV programming
Increased media and technological literacy in the community including in under-served populations
Improvement of channel-focused website
Continuing the process by which the community can give input on MCTV’s direction and goals. This will involve the use of a website and may involve public forums and open houses to encourage personal interaction and an on-going dialogue
Communicating with local governance boards such as the select board and the school board to assess to what extent community needs are being met and how MCTV can improve its services
Reaching out to teachers and other community educators to assess how MCTV can help meet the needs of the education community
Brainstorming within the organization and with community partners to find new partnerships and points of interaction with the community
Assessing the needs of Addison County at large to determine how MCTV can best play a role in the civic life of all county communities
Maintaining and increasing collaborations with area schools, including K-12 institutions and colleges
Maintaining and encouraging student participation in the functioning of the station
Working with Comcast to ensure MCTV is meeting its obligations to the community with respect to its PEG access functions
Supporting and promoting programs of local interest produced by individuals, schools, and non-profit charitable and social service organizations
Covering meetings of public interest, including meetings of the select board, the school board, and other governance committees, and improving the means by which the community may access coverage with respect to feedback from town officials and citizens
Continuing MCTV’s partnerships with local cultural institutions
Working with youth
Planning future capital expenses including improvements to the station’s facilities
Collaborations that may include, but will not be limited to, working with Ilsley Public Library, regional planning boards, and other institutions and organizations to develop technological applications to increase access to MCTV programming
Exploring fundraising options to support MCTV’s efforts to meet community needs