2020-21 has been nothing but evolutionary, eclipsing 1965: the bridge in Selma Alabama, the race riots in Watts, The Voting Rights Act, Vietnam War, Medicare, the Gemini Space Program, Mini-skirts and CT imposing a 9% Gross Income Tax on cable companies that was still being adjudicated in 1990.
As people gather virtually, there is a palpable hunger to engage in person as well as an appreciation of conveniences such as joining from home or office. So what is the real and future need for physical spaces to gather and make media?
As it has been since its inception equitable access to resources is part of the equation. And as it has been with technological innovations, we will adapt to support the primary mission of supporting the free exchange of ideas and the building of communities locally as We The People.
Everything this experiment in democracy, community TV, has at its core, remains a vital part of sustaining democratic communities: building community through the production of ideas, opinions, stories, news, information and/or performance while valuing free speech, individual expression, inclusion and diversity.
There is no comparable network of local organizations dedicated to being ‘of, by and for’ the voice of the people. If seen collectively, community TV is the largest television network in America. As a network, Community TV stations, many organized through the Alliance for Community Media, have shared principles and values that keep them from being rudderless, but they are as different as they are alike.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, WPAA-TV had a calendar filled with people-gathering events: drum circles, improv theater, performances, writers’ groups, gallery visits and open houses. I did not foresee the ubiquitous Internet encroaching on this hard won value to our community success. But the virtual public space while not always Ideal has been seen as convenient for many. It will likely not go away and will definitely be the means of public gathering for the next few years.
The perception of our relevance was already compromised by the perception, and misperceptions, of the Internet as a ubiquitous and free to all (Ignoring those pop up ads and digital divide) resource for everyone. Few singular events change a world view. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I believed that what the Internet could not be, or easily replace, was the potential to meet and gather in person, teach, discuss and share what is local based on the reasonable needs and interests of a community.
Then the socially starved world experienced the rise of the racial justice movement in rallies, protests and online conversations creating more community engagement opportunities than community TV could envision supporting. We remain busy, differently. We still invite you to join us.
The organization reaches its nonprofit anniversary of 28 years this week. I am starting my ninth year as a full-time volunteer. Once again we are honored nationally by our industry peers for excellence as a small public access station. A wonderful way to begin our next trip around the sun together.
Running a community TV station is a ‘long and winding road.’ Travel is guided by, for all appearances, an unmoving North Star. It is a world where not everyone agrees but everyone has a voice. The station’s journey is resolute on valuing everyone’s journey, truth, and story. In a word, it is exhausting.
Songs have this habit of connecting with moments, relationships, and dreams. I make all these connections with the people of Wallingford accompanied by the Beatles song, The Long and Winding Road. It is the off-key voice in my head.
The voice borrows selectively from the lyrics. Sometimes, the forlorn pleading line ‘Lead me to your door’ accompanies a wistful need to be uplifted by interpersonal connection. The staggering weariness of one engagement at a time “you’ll never know | The many ways I’ve tried” is profoundly true. Too often, I find myself stuck in the chorus: Many times I’ve been alone | And many times I’ve cried.
Consider celebrating with us with a small donation for our fund to sustain us Freeman’s Purse.
It is an honor to be recognized for the work we do with our community. Especially in a year of unprecedented challenges. Later this month, WPAA-TV will receive the Hometown Overall Excellence Award for small public access stations for the second time.
A panel of seasoned community media producers judge 20-minute video entries designed to represent local programming from the prior calendar year. The National Alliance for Community Media (ACM) Hometown Media Festival judges selected WPAA-TV’s entry, Annual Video Report Citizen Media in a Virtual World, for stations with budgets under $300,000. Our budget is $90,000.
Our submission exhibits the power of local conversation, story, film, music and connection. Our “coVIDEO Challenge” three-minute movie winner, “Color of Hope,” by Andrew Horn, and quarantine songs, from our Fire Escape Sessionsseries, highlight our community initiatives. Clips from local production teams like the First Congregational Church, which transitioned to new video production methods to stay connected and responsive, demonstrate how we serve our community together.
We are doubly pleased to see our local producers recognized for their talent. Uplifting voices and showcasing local talent is the core mission of WPAA-TV, the “public portion” of Community TV in Wallingford. On June 1, we are showcasing some local award-winning talent from 5 p.m. until midnight.
At 7 p.m., Space Cub Studio, our newest award winners who earned top honors in both animation and children’s programming at this year’s Hometown Awards, will premiere their latest production. WPAA-TV is premiering, on TV and public Internet, “Space Bears the Movie.” Some of the movies’ characters were introduced in their award winning Adventure #9. As content contributors to WPAA-TV, independent producers are eligible for ACM awards. WPAA-TV began featuring their Space Bears Adventures in August 2020.
This premiere features more than a movie. The HD live stream of the movie, from studioW at 28 S. Orchard St., is only made possible by our new HD cablecast system. This system is in development with LinearBroadcast.com, a local tech company, for which WPAA-TV is serving as a beta location. The “LIVE” HD cablecast will bring together our new hybrid production method and new cablecast technologies. It is a first. A volunteer team has been working diligently to bring all the cabling, sessions and interfaces together for this event.
The hybrid TV production method was designed in response to Covid-19. Our live post-movie Q & A with the creative team will welcome questions posed remotely by young local filmmakers. The remote guests were selected based on their interest in filmmaking. WPAA-TV hosts a 3-minute movie challenge three times a year. They participated in these challenges. Their movies begin the showcase at 5 p.m.
Celebrating our local producers never gets old and premieres for local productions are not new. For example, WPAA-TV has premiered episodic releases of a fantasy TV production, “The Sparrow Falling,” since Nov. 2017. However, tonight’s showcase will be the first time we are able to stream content, for our community’s internet viewers, in HD. Tonight’s showcase includes all four of the previously aired episodes of “The Sparrow Falling” at 8:30 p.m. “The Sparrow Falling” won first place regionally for episode #3, and nationally, for #4 in recent Alliance for Community Media Film Festivals. We plan to premiere episode 5 soon, so here is your chance to catch up! Tune in and see the versatility of studioW on full display.
Sketch Courtesy of Sal DelGreco
Our new cablecast system is 1/10th the cost of the system just purchased by the BOE for WPS-TV. This cost-saving opportunity, and other taxpayer savings, were to be topics of conversation with local leaders. However, those conversations were never scheduled. Offers to collaborate were met with a numbing silent chill. In communication with town leaders, we tried to demonstrate how continuing independently adversely impacts our bottom line, costing us over $20,000 annually. The mayor, who is fully aware that we are a state regulated agency serving the town, has refused to even include our website link on the Town’s Website Agency Page.
Over 50 viewers and users responded to a recent social media post soliciting “unscientific feedback.” The station is a gem, a great platform for the community and an amazing community presence for people of all ages and backgrounds. But there was a counterpoint theme: Why don’t folks know about you? How can we help? These laudatory responses were refreshing, especially after the chill from town leaders. One responder called us a ripple.
The simple answer is “Watch WPAA-TV.” With the new cablecast system integrated into our website, it is easier to know what is playing. And watching what is playing supports your neighbors, our local producers. An over-the-top viewer count on the HD stream tonight would be a great way to help us congratulate Michael and Madison Schleif and their Space Cub Studio crew, as well as “The Sparrow Falling” production team.
If you want to get involved, whether that means talking about our programming or making TV yourself, our tools and stage belong to you. There are no member fees, user fees or donation requirements. You do not even need to be a cable TV subscriber.
The HD Internet channel positions WPAA-TV for a future without cable TV. This is significant since 60% of WPAA-TV funding comes from cable TV fees. Cable companies pay for use of public rights of way. They pass this cost of doing business, which is like rent, along to the customer. Federal and state laws regulate how this “rent” is used. It is the primary source of community TV funds. It is not truly a tax.
Donating $5 a year is another way to help. Contributions from 4,000 households can offset declining cable revenue and the impact of our town’s approach to community TV.
Our governance team forged a plan for long-term sustainability. They set up Freeman’s Purse, a fund managed by the Community Foundation of New Haven. All non-designated donations are put in this fund, as well as the amount previously paid on building mortgages. They also asked me to stay on as a full-time volunteer for another three years. This month begins my ninth year. Since my job is not done until our grassroots mission is tied to legions of grassroots supporters, I remain contracted and committed to uplifting Wallingford’s voices and talent for years to come.
Where to watch: Internet links, Roku instructions and TV channel information is on the
In a government meeting recorded by part-time staff of Wallingford Government TV (WGTV) the Mayor says, “It is not TV anymore. I am looking at a number of options to address staff changes.” This happens on the eve of Scott Hanley’s last day as WGTV Director. Scott’s retirement has been known about for over a year. There is no plan to replace, contract, or reorganize WGTV.
In my opinion, Scott departs but the administrative clouds that constrained his work, remains. He was a firewall for transparency and provider of excellence. Our Mayor of more than three decades did his last Mayor’s Corner TV show in the mid-80’s. He refused to leverage the massive institutional knowledge and talent which enabled decades of unparalleled, while limited, excellence in Government TV with a transition plan.
The technophobia cloud is multi-layered. Failure to address infrastructure for robust ‘LIVE’ meeting streaming is huge. Some members of the public want to retain the covid perk of ‘LIVE’ viewing and remote participation in government proceedings. It is very likely to vanish in 2021. Another cloud is disenfranchising the public. Transparency, a core reason for government television in most communities, is always ‘one permission’ away.
Government TV is still TV. But unfortunately its primary purpose, open government, transparency and ease of the public’s access to the debate and decisions of elected officials and open interaction with leadership remains tenuous.
It appears that the future of WGTV, still in the hands of someone who never saw its value, relies upon the belief in its purpose by two long serving part-timers. It is true that operating this public service is less reliant on a TV Channel. But what is working? What is not? Let’s optimize the change and amplify the good with open discussion of what is possible.
In response to 2021 staff changes at WGTV, take action in keeping with our Wallingford Cable Access Provider role in providing Public, Education and Government Access Television in Wallingford.
Communication Goals with Town of Wallingford
To be open to constructive conversations on how to maintain video service excellence with benefits to viewers and taxpayers.To demonstrate the negative cost impact of lack of PEG collaboration on WPAA-TV. To mitigate impact, request cash grant from town.To ascertain support, or lack thereof, among leadership regarding our services and role as an “agency” of the town.
2021 Strategy
Transparency.Timely communication with stakeholdersConsideration of WGTV staff personal goals, value of experience and benefits to all parties including the taxpayer.
William W. Dickinson, Jr., Mayor
Town of Wallingford
45 So Main St
Wallingford CT 06492
Nonprofit Contribution Request From WPAA-TV Regarding Wallingford Town Budget 2021-22
Per your affirmation of the process for nonprofits inclusion in the town’s budget as follows (correspondence 3.1.21): The procedure is for a nonprofit to request a contribution from the Town to be included in the budget. The reason for the request should be explained.
Herein is the 2021-22 Wallingford Town Budget request: $20,000 and approval request for municipal rate #8 for WPAA-TV electric utility costs.
Explained:
Keeping the doors open: Incremental transition to paid staff (15 hrs. week) Annual cost of p-t admin: $12,675
Annual Admin of Ed & Government Access TV on WPAA-TV as directed in PURA Docket 99-10-05 (1999): $9,100
Annual Cable Subscriber Fee losses to neighboring communities supported by town leadership: Approx. $20,000
Loss of PEGPETIA Funding award due spit allocation to WGTV (PURA Docket #19-11-01 4.2020): $44,154
Eligibility budget gap for certain foundation grants (990 Income minimum $100,000: $8,000
Not PPP (Payroll Protection) eligible | volunteer workforce and p-t worked through-out pandemic
Municipal Electric Rate change from 3 to 8 decreases annual facility operations costs (approx. $275)
Opportunity cost-benefits losses due to non-integrated PEG (Public, Ed & Government Access TV |Community TV)
WPAA Financials: On the website at this link Deep Dive Documents
10 years of public records including 990, Budgets and PURA Reports on all aspects of operations
Alternative consideration: Contract for Government (and Education) Video Production Services
Pending staff, tech and utilization changes provide an opportunity to revisit the suggestion (2000, 2008, 2009) to contract WGTV (and WPS-TV) administration to WPAA-TV. Integrated service models—consolidating PEG administration, facility and equipment resources—have proven to be cost-effective in numerous communities in CT and across the nation. Contracting Government (and Education) TV could provide cost savings to the tax-payer that may increase over time while providing comparable and potentially enhanced services.
Knowing that your budget deadline is April 1st, please reply no later than the end of day Friday March 19th, so we can provide anything additional you might need from us.
Sincerely,
Herb Jackson President Wallingford Public Access Association, Inc.
Cc: Town Council Chairman, Superintendent, PUC Director, WPAA-TV Board of Directors
This reply ignores the offer to bring channels together to save taxpayer money. Has it been in the public interest to taxpayers to have the most expensive town TV operations in CT since 1993.
It is the pragmatic advice of the Greek philosopher Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
The WPAA-TV governance team believes that staffing changes at WGTV create opportunity. The 20-21 town budget is pregnant with possibility for a collaborative plan to move forward with less cost to the taxpayer. The reactions of leadership to the opportunity is what matters.
I thought about writing a memoir three time. The first, Kindle Next, would have focused on my introduction to advocacy work predominantly during my VISTA enlistment. Rich In Mercy was to be about a life derailed by mental illness and a spiritual rescue. Unfortunately, that untold story was more like a tested hypothesis that does not prove to be well grounded in reality. The in progress book project, Citizen Media Maven|The Life has three sections: Discovery, Bloom and Maven. This time the writing effort has a bigger reason for being. I want to kindle curiosity in the reader about citizen media storytelling.
If publishing comes to pass, proceeds will go to the Endowment Fund Freeman’s Purse. The investments are managed by the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven and overseen by the WPAA-TV Board.
The realization that I may not be able to be a volunteer forever became all too real at the end of 2020. However, I hope to work alongside this investment for as long as life allows.
Volunteer Executive Director and Covid-19 Survivor
Susan Adele Huizenga
Excerpt from the Preface of Citizen Media Maven|The Life A True Tale, According to Me
To be clear, citizen media is not the sanitized read found in your local newspaper, if your community is lucky enough to still have one. Nor is it the crafted, reserved analysis or slightly outside the mainstream performances of public television. Citizen media is quirky, replete with passionate people, and often compelling in its authenticity and ‘won’t you be my neighbor’ optimism. It is the stories drafted in press releases every day but not put into the hands of journalists to dissects its worthiness, prioritizes its facts and add quotes they cultivate on a deadline to boost its newsworthiness.
My community still has a local newspaper. The Record-Journal, a one hundred fifty plus year old institution, recently rebranded with a mission to be ‘the primary catalyst that motivates people to contribute to the intellectual, civic and economic vitality of our communities.
If you have had occasion to submit a press release to a newspaper, this press release remastered story may ring some bells.
Our release was written by a college intern from a highly touted journalism program in the area so we did not expect a major rewrite for publication. An R-J intern, from a different college, was assigned to our story by the newspaper. A photograph of a pen in an elderly hand was sent to the Record-Journal. It accompanied a press release entitled Ten-Year Journey Ends With the Signing of a Check, subtitled, WPAA-TV Reaches Major Milestone.
The story made the print version of the paper, but not quite the way the community it was intended to represent had hoped. The article Public Access Station Pays Off Building Mortgage Early focused awkwardly on the pay-off and what it might mean for the future. It was published with an image the newspaper had on-file, an out of date picture of the building with incorrect branding in the signage.
The published article began “WPAA-TV paid off its building two years early late last month,” This was in sharp contrast to the opening statement in the release: “This week marks the end of a ten-year journey for WPAA-TV that wouldn’t have been possible without community support. On Feb. 24, Nelson Ford, the oldest volunteer and former board member, excitedly signed the final check to pay off the building located at 28 So Orchard Street.”
And so it is that every story can have many ways to be told. I can only attest that this collection of intertwining tales is true, according to me.
Vermont’s Community TV system is similar to Connecticut’s. The same Federal laws apply and the basics about PEG are universal.
In 1995, CT modified the PEG underwriting and regulator management. CT was one of the first states to move to statewide franchising. This benefited the cable providers enormously had as left much of the provision of services locally frozen in time. Part of the landscape is approximately $20,000 annually being dispersed to No. Branford, Guilford and Madison. I mention this because the VT report looks at how mergers may be optimal under some circumstances.
One critical difference between CT & VT is a Gross Receipts tax was put in place of which a portion goes to CT General Fund. Another is that capital expenses (equipment, not buildings) can be partially underwritten in a grant like process in CT(PEGPETIA) that does not allow for optimal pricing of purchases and is unpredictable in its administration since 2008. WPAA-TV believes this arrangement is an abridgement of Federal Law.
Since 2009, WPAA-TV Board expended 100s of thousands of dollars to purchase and renovate a building siphoning operation funds and relying on volunteer staffing to achieve the strategic goal of a permanent sustainable home that adds to the community in more ways than providing citizens with media resources. #MoreThanTV
The use of rights of way for more than TV and the lack of equitable PEG payment in lieu of taxes by all tech services providers leveraging the (telephone) polls for profit is a nation-wide condition.
Many communications have come across my desk with this message: We all had plans for 2020. And then COVID-19 happened. But we at #wpaatv carried on. Innovated. Connected to the conversations about how to be inclusive and more!
Here is our video report to look back at the year. It includes a description with how to connect with us and support local business. If you watch and connect thru this almost instant win contest you and a local restaurant will be winners.
Weekdays & Sundays
We scheduled fitness classes, story time in animation and more traditional readers and illustrated books. We provided updates on COVID-19 with a global perspective weekdays. We added new content from folks publishing with virtual tools.
Spiritual Communities on TV
And support for local churches in our Same Day Sunday Tradition expanded. Soime say call community TV “Church TV’. During the pandemic it was our pleasure to be such an important community connection for those who are less internet savvy in our community or just wish to hear the music and messages again. We feature the mood of our times with excerpts from First Congregational Church-UCC in our annual report. Rev. Kathy Burbank Cunliffe expressed well what so many were feeling.
Opportunities to support creativity and local business
We modified our movie challenge adding the 1-shot and oral story telling. We had three LIVE music series supporting CT musicians and those who missed getting out to listen. And the Outlook 06495 image contest had some inspiring winners. As Told Here podcasts from archived conversations feature Wallingford People and other important evergreen topics. Some of it worked. Some of it did not.
