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Date: March 3, 2004 <br />To: Mayor and City Council of Louisville <br />From: Peter Stewart for Citizens for Community Television (CCTV) <br />Subject: Request for Assistance Regarding the Cable Public Access <br />Channel <br />In 1995 the City of Louisville granted a license to Scripts Howard (now Comcast) to operate <br />cable services in the City. For this privilege the cable operator agreed to certain terms and <br />conditions, which are outlined in the Franchise Agreement. <br />As part of this contract, the cable operator agreed to provide PEG (public, government, and <br />educational. access) Channels for use by the City and the public. In addition the cable operator <br />agreed to provide and maintain a studio for the production and cablecasting of programming by <br />the public. It was acknowledged and agreed that these provisions were essential and necessary to <br />serve the public interest. <br />Today citizens wish to use the public access channel and the access studio, to speak to and be <br />heard by our community, to strengthen and build community, thereby fulfilling the original vision <br />and purpose of this channel. Consistent with these goals and desires, the franchise agreement <br />requires the City and Cable Operator to cooperate to the fullest extent possible so that the public <br />interest is met. However, several of us who have worked since August 2003 to use the facilities <br />have found it nearly impossible to record, produce, and air programs on Comcast's community <br />access channel. <br />Therefore we appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to determine how to cooperatively <br />provide for access and use of the channel by our community. In an attempt to summarize issues <br />we offer the following. <br />Short term Issues <br />1. Facilitation of a fully functioning access channel and studio for use by our community <br />now <br />2. Repair of existing equipment and replacement of missing equipment <br />3. Reasonable training and access to the facility <br />Long Term Issues <br />1. Equipment . and system upgrades <br />2. Franchise renewal <br />3. Future organization and operations <br />CCTV 1 3/4/04 <br />