Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

A month ago, the Vacaville City Council offered Vacaville Community Television a firm, one-time only grant of $75,000 to purchase equipment.

Disappointed, but undaunted, the Vacaville public access group, no stranger to shoe string budgets ? decided to take the grant and make the most of it.

?At least we are at a point where we are no longer looking at a brick wall, ? Mike Shuken, VCT secretary, said recently.

Shuken?s optimism grows out a meeting held last week in which VCT, members of the Vacaville Unified School District and city officials sat down to discuss mutual concerns.

Rather than fight an exhausting, and perhaps, impossible to win, battle with the city, Shuken said VCT, which has run Channel 27 for the last two decades, and the school district tentatively agreed to pool resources to strengthen their respective stations.

In December, the Vacaville City Council voted unanimously to give VCT and the school district $75,000 each to purchase equipment.

In March, VCT presented the city with a counter offer, which proposed the creation of a 60-cent monthly pass through fee to the city?s Comcast subscribers, acquisitions of 30 percent of the franchise fee earned by the city through its agreement with Comcast and $800,000 over six years to create a central media center.

VCT also proposed that they run the government station and access channels, as well as operate the education channel along with the school district.

The Vacaville city council, however, rejected VCT?s offer, voting rather to maintain complete control of the city?s government channel. The council also voted to retain 100 percent of the franchise fee proceeds. Of the $500,000 grant from Comcast, $350,000 will go toward updating City Hall broadcast equipment, as well as purchase a mobile studio for live broadcasts. The city?s channel primarily airs city council and other city government meetings.

Shuken said the city?s one time only grant to VCT was equivalent to ?giving someone a car, and no funds for a license, insurance or gas. Without those things, the car is no good.?

VCT is hopeful that by combining resources with the school district, both groups can stretch their equipment buying power as well as build a multimedia station ?where people can come and learn a 21st Century skill set,? Shuken said.

Additionally, VCT board members are hoping that the city will help support them by underwriting some fundamental services, such as liability insurance, for at least a year.

After that initial year of support, Shuken believes that VCT and the educational station will be able to muster various resources to build a multimedia station of which the city will be proud.

Earl Parker, public information officer for the city of Vacaville, declined comment on the tentative agreement between VCT and the school district. Parker, however, said the city is waiting for VCT to sign a memorandum of understanding regarding the city?s grant offer.

VCT has operated in the city for nearly two decades broadcasting a wide array of local programs, including sporting events, religious services and community events.

Operating with less than $13,000 from the city over the past five years, the group has had to rely heavily on their own money and volunteer spirit.

That perseverance has earned the praise of Clayton Leander, executive director of Vallejo Community Access Television. ?They need to be lauded . . . for years they operated not knowing there was money available. They are a great community-based organization,? Leader said.

In recent months, VCT has been inspired by their Vallejo neighbor, V-CAT. Following more than a decade long delay, the Vallejo station is preparing to launch local programs soon. ?Their work has inspired and renewed our commitment,? Shuken said.

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