703-556-7175

aschwarz@allcommunitymedia.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Inks New Cable Agreement

Momentum Builds for Community Media Nationally

[McLean, VA, May 15, 2012] Alliance for Community Media (ACM) members in Chicago and New York recently entered into cable renewal agreements that will improve the quality and availability of critical local programming. Following historic public access television deals in New York City last year, the City of Chicago ratified a renewal agreement with cable operator RCN on April 24, 2012, dramatically expanding local community access to new media technologies.

Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV) will roll out Video on Demand (VOD) services and High Definition (HD) channels during a ten-year renewal term for RCN.  “RCN’s support means CAN TV will stay current as technology evolves, expanding its position as a bridge between cable and Internet viewers,” said CAN TV Executive Director Barbara Popovic.  “Funding will grow as RCN grows, increasing CAN TV’s future stability.”

New York City set a high standard with its 2011 cable renewals with significant funding increases to support public access centers, an increase in the number of channels, HD and VOD functionality for channels, and live transmission capabilities from remote locations.

The Chicago and New York City franchise renewal are among new agreements that are turning the tide for community access channels after years of eroding regulatory protections and discriminatory treatment from telecom giants like AT&T.  A Benton Foundation study last year found more than 100 Public, Educational and Government (PEG) stations had closed nationwide since 2005, largely as a result of new state franchising laws. More than half of the remaining PEG centers participating in the study had suffered funding cuts.

With cable revenues strong, New York City and Chicago determined to enter the next decade with cable agreements that benefit the public.  Officials set terms that protect the primary outlet on cable for community based news, local health, housing and jobs information, digital literacy training, educational programming and artistic expression.

“In these cable franchise renewals, New York City and the City of Chicago are putting their communities first.  We challenge other cities and municipalities to do the same,” said ACM Executive Director, Sylvia Strobel.

For more on the Chicago RCN franchise renewal, see:  http://www.cantv.org/RCN/index.htm

For more on NYC, see:  http://www.mnn.org/news/city-panel-approves-cable-deal

About the Alliance for Community Media:  Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit membership organization committed to ensuring access to electronic media for all people.  The Alliance for Community Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource for the more than 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) cable channels nationwide. For more information, visit ACM’s new website at www.allcommunitymedia.org.

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Responsibilities include the following:

• Work to expand the visibility and importance of the School’s expertise in global and intercultural communication through a combination of teaching, research and service.
• Teach one course per semester in a sponsoring department of the Harrington School of Communication and Media.
• Promote diversity through supporting the growth of community media.
• Explore alternative, oppositional, participatory and collaborative media practices.
• Assist in the development of community outreach initiatives to connect faculty and students in the Harrington School to local Hispanic and Caribbean groups and organizations in the State of Rhode Island and, in the process, advance issues of diversity in research and teaching.

Click here for more information.

“ACM and ACD leaders come from communities that are directly affected by AT&T. As AT&T continues
to roll out a system that we consider to be sub par and discriminatory toward the public’s channels, we
want to discuss with you what Illinois’ enforcement plans are in light of what we view to be the strongest state
law regarding PEG carriage and support. We would also like to offer any help that we can provide in
advancing that effort.”

Click here to view a full copy of the letter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA CONGRATULATES ROSENWORCEL AND PAI ON FCC CONFIRMATIONS

 (McLean, VA, May 8, 2012) – The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) applauds the U.S. Senate confirmation of the nominations of Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai as commissioners to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday.  

 ”Community media is a critical anchor institution serving local communities.  On behalf of the ACM membership, we look forward to working with Jessica and Ajit in their new roles at the FCC,” said Sylvia Strobel, Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Media.

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First Event May 8 in Philadelphia, PA

 (McLean, VA, May 5, 2012) -  The Foundation of the Alliance for Community Media is pleased to announce that Desiree Peterkin Bell, Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, Office of The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, will provide opening remarks at the Foundation of the Alliance for Community Media’s inaugural Youth Media Summit in Philadelphia on May 8, 2012.  

The Philadelphia event will be the first of four national youth media summits on May 8, 2012.  The summits will address funding, education and policy and community building issues as they relate to digital and news literacy training for youth.  

In 2011, the FCC emphasized the need for more digital literacy training and increased transparency of government and other civic institutions, with community media centers uniquely positioned to address this challenge.   

“In keeping with the recommendations of the FCC, the Foundation of the ACM has responded by elevating digital literacy and youth media as core focus areas,” said Sylvia Strobel, Esq., ACM Executive Director. “We are looking forward to showcasing the incredible youth and news media programs offered by ACM members, and growing partnerships with schools, educators, students and communities to expand these critical training programs.”

In addition to the Philadelphia Summit, additional symposiums are planned for San Jose, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and at the ACM’s 2012 conference in Chicago.

Registration information is available at www.allcommunitymedia.org

About the Alliance for Community Media:  Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit membership organization committed to ensuring access to electronic media for all people.  The Alliance for Community Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource for the more than 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) cable channels nationwide. For more information, visit ACM’s new website at www.allcommunitymedia.org.

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 There are still 8 days to register and submit your entry for consideration. If you have any questions or need any help submitting your entry please contact us at info@allcommunitymedia.org.

Please keep in mind the file size limit for uploads is 300MB and the acceptable file types are: .wma, .wav, .mp3, .wmv, .mpeg, .mpv, .mp4, .mov, .avi.

In addition to uploading your video directly to our site, there is now the option to submit a URL to your video.  This enables you to upload your entry to YouTube and then provide us the link. There are many options on YouTube to protect your video and its contents, you can choose to make your video private and only those who have the direct link may view it.

Here is a link to the contest rules for reference.

 Remember the Deadline is now Friday, April 6^th, 2012

Enter Online

•  For a complete list of all the Hometown Media Awards categories, please go here.
• Frequently Asked Questions, please go here.
• Step-by-step directions on how to submit your entry please go to our Submission Process page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alliance for Community Media to Participate in National Arts Advocacy Day to Support CAP Act

(McLean, VA, March 21, 2012) -  The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) is pleased to participate as a national co-sponsor of the Americans for the Arts 2012 Arts Advocacy Day, April 16-17, 2012 in Washington, DC.  Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus and dozens of national arts organizations from around the country, enlist arts, education, entertainment, and policy leaders to come to Capitol Hill for this event.

This year, the Alliance for Community Media will be recording the Advocacy Day events for national television distribution. The program will be distributed through ACM community media centers, many of which will also hold town hall meetings in partnership with their local arts and cultural organizations.  ACM members Arlington Independent Media, Montgomery Community Media, and DCTV will co-produce the program.

The ACM will be participating in Hill visits, the Arts Caucus briefing, and White House briefing.  The Community Access Preservation Act (H.R. 1746) is included in the Arts Advocacy Day briefing materials for members of Congress.

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About the Alliance for Community Media:  Founded in 1979, the Alliance for Community Media is a national, non-profit membership organization committed to ensuring access to electronic media for all people.  The Alliance for Community Media carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource for the more than 3,000 Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) cable channels nationwide. For more information, visit ACM’s new website at www.allcommunitymedia.org.

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Read Sylvia’s testimony.

Visit http://peg.ourchannels.org for more info about the conference, including links to videos, photos, and presentation downloads. Visit the Alliance for Community Media – http://alliancecm.org – for more information about local cable access television in the US and how you can get involved, in its production and its protection.