HomeMy WebLinkAbout190-08 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 190-08
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD AND APPROVING CHANGES TO THE
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL POLICY.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS -
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby adopts the
recommendations of the Telecommunications Board and approves changes to the City of
Fayetteville Government Channel Policy. ‘..``FRKITR AS''.,
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SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer
PASSED and APPROVED this 7th day of October, 2008.
APPROVED:
By:
D N COODY, ayor
ATTEST:
EXHIBIT 'A'
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING
OF THE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is
intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and
activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory
local government. The channel is administered by the City's Cable Administrator under
guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter
33, which authorizes the board "to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast material
selection, time guidelines for cablecast material, viewer and facility user complaint feedback
practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration" of the Government
Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish
(a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have
programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without
determining the programming content.
POLICIES
II. PRIORITY OF COVERAGE/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental
meetings, regardless of the format in which conducted. City of Fayetteville Governmental
meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville,
which meet FOIA criteria including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task
forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government channel will be given to nonpartisan
informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA
CRITERIA
Third level priority for use of the Government channel will be given for any meeting that
meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the citizens of
Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County,
regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain solid waste District, and Fayetteville
Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-
partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by
other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to, Washington County, regional, state,
federal agencies and Tri -county Solid Waste.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City
of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities.
In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. MODERATED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will also be given to two types of moderated public forums• candidate
forums and ballot issue forums. Candidates that have legally filed for an elective office which
can be voted upon by Fayetteville citizens and advocates/opponents of any referendum or
initiative that can be voted upon by Fayetteville citizens will be eligible to appear only in a
moderated public forum venue. All such candidates or sides of an issue are to be given an equal
opportunity to appear in public moderated forums. A moderated public forum will not be
cancelled just because one candidate or side of a ballot issue refuses to appear to debate. The
City, through the Cable Administration Division, may conduct one candidate forum for each
contested office before each election. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, may
conduct one ballot issue forum before each election. No candidate forums will be held before the
last filing deadline. All election forums and debates will be moderated by a non-partisan group
(such as, but not limited to, the League of Women Voters) and will be overseen by the Telecom
Board or its designees, responsible for considering the issue representation with regard to
participants, and format.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the "Government Channel Bulletin Board " The bulletin board
will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other
programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other *free'
community events and activities.
COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings will be covered at the request of a City of Fayetteville
government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville
division head, or a committee chair. Other governmental agency meetings may be covered at the
request of representatives of that agency.
B. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the
Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or other governmental
agencies provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets FOIA criteria.
C. All requested meetings will be televised provided the resources are available and there
exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting with higher priority as outlined by this
document. The Cable Administrator has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2)
when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other
public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including moderated public forums, will be
cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is
subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual
content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial
service or product or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access
Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where
special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
C. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies or declared candidates for any
public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular
nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
D. When questions arise as to the admissibility of material or language in this regard, the
Cable Administrator will make a decision on whether it is to be cablecast
APPEALS OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. Any appeals to the decisions made by the cable administrator regarding coverage,
priority or procedures should be submitted to the Telecom Board.
B. An appeal of a Telecom Board decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a
written appeal in the City Clerk's office within ten business days of the Telecom Board decision.
Susan Thomas
Submitted By
City of Fayetteville
Staff Review Form
City Council Agenda Items
or
Contracts
10/7/2008
City Council Meeting Date
Public Information
Division
Action Required:
(o17 80
(arillvie
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General Government
Department
Resolution approving changes to the Fayetteville Government Channel policy as recommended by the Telecom
Board.
$
Cost of this request
Account Number
Project Number
Budgeted Item
Category / Project Budget
Funds Used to Date
Remaining Balance
Budget Adjustment Attached
Program Category / Project Name
Program / Project Category Name
Fund Name
/1614-
Department ector
Finance and Internal Service Director
Mayor
Comments:
9/18/2008
Date
Date
- D8
Date
Date
Previous Ordinance or Resolution #
Original Contract Date:
Original Contract Number:
/,qh/ted >b Get: t; moa /a/7/o8
Witterille
City Council Memo
TO: Mayor Coody and City Council
FROM: Susan B. Thomas, Public Information and Policy Advisor 591
1
DATE: September 18, 2008
SUBJECT: Fayetteville Government Channel Policy
Per the City Council's request, the Telecom Board has recommended changes to the Fayetteville
Government Channel policy. You should have received these changes and a brief letter
describing the changes via email on September 1, 2008. I have attached the letter and policy
changes here for your convenience.
I believe the recommendations provide a thoughtful and effective compromise to the debate over
issue debates/forums on the government channel. This recommendation removes discretion from
Government Channel employees and places it in the hands of elected and appointed officials to
be used only in situations of official and sanctioned City of Fayetteville meetings. If an issue
reaches the agenda of any City meeting, the Government Channel will be there to film the
meeting — Just as we always are — and playback the meeting on the channel — just as we always
do.
While there are still details to work out on the exact language of the policy and the Telecom
Board continues to work on these changes, I think it is fair to conclude that in the future the
Government Channel will only producecandidate and ballot issue debates and that we will do so
with the assistance of a non-partisan group such as the League of Women Voters. The
Government Channel will continue to cover any and all City of Fayetteville government meetings
regardless of meeting format.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
TELECOMUNICATIONS BOARD AND APPROVING CHANGES TO THE
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL POLICY.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS -
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby adopts the
recommendations of the Telecomunications Board and approves changes to the City of
Fayetteville Government Channel Policy.
PASSED and APPROVED this 7th day of October, 2008.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
DAN COODY, Mayor SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer
September 18, 2008
To Mayor Dan Coody, Fayetteville City Council, City Attorney Kit Williams, Dr. Susan Thomas:
The Telecommunications Board finalized the recommendation with regard to the Govemment Channel
Policy and Issues Forums in our August meeting. I have attached a marked up version of the policy;
however, I am also including a description of the intended changes — as presented to the
Telecommunications Board in June. No further changes were approved in the August meeting.
Summary of Recommended Changes:
1. Issue forums that were previously allowed by .the policy are limited to ballot issues and
candidate debates. No other issue forums are to be produced by the cable administration and
aired on the govemment channel.
2. A committee should be formed to help oversee the production of the moderated ballot issue
and candidate debates:
a. Review candidates to ensure all sides are represented
b. Review moderator selection to ensure that selected moderator is non-partisan.
c. Review content to ensure that topics and questions are presented without bias toward
any of the represented sides.
d. Review format to ensure that the venue and configuration (seating, microphone
placement, etc.) is such that each side has ample opportunity to express and
communicate their point of view.
3. Specifically states that all government meetings are eligible to be televised, regardless of
format.
a. Allows government meetings to be conducted in any format (round table, open for
public comment, panel of experts, etc.) and still be shown on the govemment channel.
The primary difference between a forum -style meeting and an issue forum is that the
meeting must be organized and hosted entirely by the individual, committee, or
government entity that calls the meeting. The cable administration plays no part in the
production, balance, or participation of the meeting. The cable administration only
tapes the meetings.
Thank you for your patience while we considered all sides of this issue.
Sincerely,
Shelli Bell
Chair
Telecommunications Board
RESOLUTION NO. 2746
A RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISIONS TO THE FAYETTEVILLE
GOVERNMENT CHANINEL USE AND PROGRAMMING POLICY. BE IT
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS:
EXIIIBIT'A'
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING OF TIIE GOVERNMENT ACCESS
CHANNEL FAYETTEVILLE, ARKA}{SAS INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Access Channel, in accordance with resolution 94
91, is intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City govemment services,
programs, and activities and their relationships within the community and help create an
open and participatory local government. The channel is administered by the City's
Cable Administrator under guidelines established by and interpreted by the
Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUMCATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504,
Chapter 33, which authorizes the board "to facilitate the creation of policies regarding
cable cast material selection, time guidelines for cablecast material, viewer and facility
user complaint feedback practices, and other such policies regarding the use and
administration" of the Govemment Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish
(a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to
have programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to
operate without determining the programming content.
POLICIES
II. PRIORITY OF COVERAGE/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILIITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Govemmental meetings,
regardless of the format in which conducted. City of Fayetteville Govemmental meetings
are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville,
which meet FOIA criteria including all committees, subcommittees, boards,
commissions, task forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville
business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Govemment channel will be given to nonpartisan
informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA CRITERIA
Third level priority for use of the Govemment channel will be given for any meeting that
meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the
citizens of Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of
Washington County, regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain solid waste
District, and Fayetteville Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-partisan
informational programs about govemment services or activities that may be provided by
other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to, Washington County, regional,
state, federal agencies and Tri -county Solid Waste.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City of
Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or
activities. In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. LIMITED MODERATED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will also be given to two types of limited -moderated public forums:
candidate forums and ballot issue forums. Declared candidates for any public office, and
persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy that will be decided by
ballot voteof a portio-ular-nature, will be eligible to appear only in a limited -moderated
public forum venue. All candidates or sides of an issue are given an equal opportunity to
appear in pubic moderated forums. If it becomes apparent that only one side of a
moderated forum is willing to participate, the Cable Administrator may make a decision
to conduct the forum with only one side participating. The City, through the Cable
Administration Division, may conduct one candidate forum for each contested office
before each election. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, may conduct
one ballot issue forum before each election. No candidate forums will be held before the
last filing deadline. All election forums and debates will be moderated by a non-partisan
group (such as. but not limited to, the League of Women Voters) and will be overseen by
a public forum committee, responsible for considering the issue representation with
regard to participants, content and format.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the "Government Channel Bulletin Board." The bulletin board will
provide printed information about both City and community events and services when
other programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other
*free" community events and activities.
COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings will be covered at the request of a City of Fayetteville
government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville
division head, or a committee chair. Other govemmental agency meetings may be
covered at the request of representatives of that agency.
B. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the
Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or other
governmental agencies provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and
meets FOIA criteria.
C. All requested meetings will be televised provided the resources are available and
there exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting with higher priority as outlined
by this document. The Cable Administrator has discretion over issues of resources and
priority.
EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2)
when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or
other public meetings receiving coverage on the channel, including limited -moderated
public forums, will be cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment.
All other programming is subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such
editing does not alter the factual content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial
service or product or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government
Access Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a
program where special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or
charitable enterprise.
C. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies of declared candidates for any
public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a
particular nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Govemment Access
Channel.
D. When questions arise as to the admissibility of material or language in this regard, the
Cable Administrator will make a decision on whether it is to be cablecast
APPEALS OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A, Any appeals to the decisions made by the cable administrator regarding coverage,
priority or procedures should be submitted to the Telecom Board.
B. An appeal of a Telecom Board decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a
written appeal in the City Clerk's office within ten days of the Telecom Board decision
C. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies of declared candidates for any
public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a
particular nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Govemment Access
Channel.
D. When questions arise as to the admissibility of material or language in this regard, the
Cable Administrator will make a decision on whether it is to be cablecast.
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST. CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
aAAda OA+. GC
7(3c/og
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: Dan Coody, Mayor
City Council
Susan Thomas
SheIli Bell, Telecommunications Board Chair
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney qc_
DATE: September 30, 2008
RE: Fayetteville Government Channel Policy
We need to give a big thanks to Shelli Bell and her Telecom Board for its
hard work reviewing the policy for the Government Channel and their recommendation
for reasonable changes. From a legal and constitutional point of view, i believe that the
suggested changes to current policy adopted by Resolution NO. 2746 are worthwhile and
fair.
i do recommend some stylistic changes to paragraph C.4. to clarify exactly what.
the candidate forums and ballot issue forums are and how they should be handled. 1 have
attached a slightly modified version of the policy as the Exhibit A for the Resolution for
your consideration.
My first change would in C.4. Moderated Public Forums. Rather than "Declared
candidates for any public office (anyone could declare their candidacy for any office at
any time), 1 recommend we limit these to real candidates who have already legally filed
to run for office: "Candidates that have legally filed for an elective office which can be
voted upon by Fayetteville citizens ... This would limit such debates on our local
government channel to those who have legally filed to seek an elective office which a
Fayetteville citizen could vote for. This would be a long list: all City of Fayetteville
elective offices; all Fayetteville School Board positions; some or all Farmington and
Springdale School Board positions; all Quorum Court members whose district includes
any of Fayetteville: all County -wide elective offices (County Judge County Clerk, etc.);.,
any State Representative or Senate position whose district includes a portion of
Fayetteville; Third Congressional District and United States Senate candidates; all state-
wide elective offices; and candidates for President and Vice President. -
My second proposed change is a rewrite of the ballot initiative language for
improved clarity only. I recommend that the following be used to replace the current
second sentence of C.4.
"Candidates that have legally filed for an elective office which can be voted
upon by Fayetteville citizens and advocates/opponents of any referendum or initiative
that can be voted upon by Fayetteville citizens will be eligible to appear only in a
moderated public forum venue."
My third proposed change is to remove the old language providing that the Cable
Administrator would decide whether or not to cancel a debate (moderated public forum)
if one candidate or the advocate/opponent of a ballot issue would not appear One side's
refusal to appear to debate should not prevent the other side from participating in the
moderated forum (which would, in effect, squelch the other side's freedom of speech).
Thus, 1 have rewritten this language to ensure a debate cannot be canceled because one
side refuses to participate.
I have also corrected some typos in the Editing and Other Content section,
paragraph C. where it now reads: "outside agencies of declared candidates", but was
probably meant to read: "outside agencies or declared candidates. ' I also deleted C. and
D. from the Appeals sections that were just inadvertent copies of the paragraphs in the
previous section.
With these minor drafting changes, I believe the recommendations from the
Telecommunications Board clanfy and improve the Government Channel's Use and
Programming Policy.
EXHIBIT `A'
POLICY ON THE USE AND PROGRAMMING
OF THE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
INTRODUCTION
The City of Fayetteville Government Channel, in accordance with resolution 94-91, is
intended to give Fayetteville citizens information about City government services, programs, and
activities and their relationships within the community and help create an open and participatory
local government. The channel is administered by the City's Cable Administrator under
guidelines established by and interpreted by the Telecommunications Board.
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
The Fayetteville Telecommunications Board was created under Ordinance 4504, Chapter
33, which authorizes the board "to facilitate the creation of policies regarding cable cast material
selection, time guidelines for cablecast material, viewer and facility user complaint feedback
practices, and other such policies regarding the use and administration" of the Government
Channel. The purpose of this policy is to establish
(a) the criteria for which Governmental entities and related organizations are eligible to have
programming on the channel and (b) allow the Government Channel staff to operate without
determining the programming content.
POLICIES
1I. PRIORITY OF COVERAGE/CABLE CASTING AND ELIGIBILITY FOR USE
A. FIRST LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
First level priority will be given to televising City of Fayetteville Governmental
meetings, regardless of the format in which conducted. City of Fayetteville Governmental
meetings are defined as meetings of the governing bodies created by the City of Fayetteville,
which meet FOIA criteria including all committees, subcommittees, boards, commissions, task
forces, and other such bodies dealing with City of Fayetteville business.
B. SECOND LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE GOVERNMENTAL INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS
Second level priority for use of the Government channel will be given to nonpartisan
informational programs about City services, activities and events.
C. THIRD LEVEL OF PRIORITY
1. MEETINGS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MEET FOIA
CRITERIA
Third level priority for use of the Government channel will be given for any meeting that
meets FOIA criteria and deals with government business that directly impacts the citizens of
Fayetteville. Such meetings include, but are not limited to, those of Washington County,
regional, state and federal agencies, Boston Mountain solid waste District, and Fayetteville
Public Schools.
2. INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Third level priority for use of the Government Channel will also be given for non-
partisan informational programs about government services or activities that may be provided by
other governmental entities, such as, but not limited to, Washington County, regional, state,
federal agencies and Tri -county Solid Waste.
3. PROGRAMS OF CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEES
Third level priority will also be given to outside agencies or groups with whom the City
of Fayetteville contracts, grants money or has an agreement to provide city services or activities.
In such cases, the program shall be nonpartisan in nature.
4. MODERATED PUBLIC FORUMS
Third level priority will also be given to two types of moderated public forums: candidate
forums and ballot issue forums. Candidates that have legally filed for an elective office which
can be voted upon by Fayetteville citizens and advocates/opponents of any referendum or
initiative that can be voted upon by Fayetteville citizens will be eligible to appear only in a
moderated public forum venue. All such candidates or sides of an issue are to be given an equal
opportunity to appear in public moderated forums. A moderated public forum will not be
cancelled just because one candidate or side of a ballot issue refuses to appear to debate. The
City, through the Cable Administration Division, may conduct one candidate forum for each
contested office before each election. The City, through the Cable Administration Division, may
conduct one ballot issue forum before each election. No candidate forums will be held before the
last filing deadline. All election forums and debates will be moderated by a non-partisan group
(such as, but not limited to, the League of Women Voters) and will be overseen by a public
forum committee, responsible for considering the issue representation with regard to participants,
and format.
D. BULLETIN BOARD MESSAGES
Last priority will go to the "Government Channel Bulletin Board." The bulletin board
will provide printed information about both City and community events and services when other
P1
programs are not being cablecast. It may also be used to inform residents of other *free"
community events and activities.
COVERAGE REQUESTS
A. City of Fayetteville meetings will be covered at the request of a City of Fayetteville
government elected official, a City of Fayetteville department head, a City of Fayetteville
division head, or a committee chair. Other governmental agency meetings may be covered at the
request of representatives of that agency.
B. Registered voters who live within the city limits of Fayetteville may request that the
Government Channel cover any meeting held by the City of Fayetteville or other governmental
agencies provided that the meeting affects the citizens of Fayetteville and meets FOIA criteria.
C. All requested meetings will be televised provided the resources are available and there
exists no conflict with a request to cover a meeting with higher priority as outlined by this
document. The Cable Administrator has discretion over issues of resources and priority.
EDITING AND OTHER CONTENT POLICIES
A. Except when (1) the intent is to use brief excerpts as part of a larger program or (2)
when technical difficulties interfere, the public portions of any City Council meeting or other
public meetings receiving coverage on the channel including moderated public forums, will be
cablecast in their entirety, without editing or subjective comment. All other programming is
subject to editing by the Cable Administration as long as such editing does not alter the factual
content or overall intent of the material being cablecast.
B. No promotion, endorsement or advertising for any private business, commercial
service or product or any profit-making activity, will be allowed on the Government Access
Channel. However, brief audio and video credit may be given at the end of a program where
special materials or assistance has been donated by a commercial or charitable enterprise.
C. Programming of forums produced by outside agencies or declared candidates for any
public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or proposed policy of a particular
nature will not be eligible for cable casting on the Government Access Channel.
D. When questions arise as to the admissibility of material or language in this regard, the
Cable Administrator will make a decision on whether it is to be cablecast
APPEALS OF COVERAGE OR PROCEDURAL ISSUES
A. Any appeals to the decisions made by the cable administrator regarding coverage,
priority or procedures should be submitted to the Telecom Board.
B. An appeal of a Telecom Board decision must be sponsored by an alderman filing a
written appeal in the City Clerk's office within ten business days of the Telecom Board decision.
10.14.08) Clarice Pearman - Res. 190-08 Page 1
From:
To:
Date:
Subject:
Attachments:
Clarice Pearman
Thomas, Susan
10.14.08 4:26 PM
Res. 190-08
190-08 Government Channel Policy pdf
CC: Audit
Susan:
Attached is a copy of the above resolution passed by the City Coundl regarding the Government Channel Policy. Please let me
know if there is anything else needed for this item. If you have any questions please call don't hesitate to call me Have a good
day.
Thanks.
Clarice