Mission Statement
The mission of the Los Banos Community Access Group is to facilitate broadcast access of locally produced programming to the Cable TV System by providing the community of Los Banos with training, access to equipment, and a distribution outlet for programming content.
Programming content to contain (but not limited to):
- Community Events and Forums,
- Distance Learning/Job Training,
- School Sports,
- Cultural Events,
- Church Services,
- and other activities that stimulate discussion and the free exchange of ideas.
 Who are we? a n d How did we get here?
In past years several in our community had submitted tapes of various events, to be played for public access. These included the Tiger Sharks Swim meets, football game involving both the current kids and then some of the players of yesteryear. Viewers were also treated to our high school choir on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas Day.
With these thoughts in mind several in the city have been thinking, how to make this access more inviting to the public and add to the few showings that appear in the line-up that on the then Public/Government channel.
Then it happened, after a couple of informal get togethers a group of about a dozen people started meeting to discuss this endeavor. Along with the push by our city to get out of the Public Access business; our group took charge, offering the city a solution to the problems of providing public access.
The city recently felt the need to drop public access from its channel 96 venue. By its dropping of our local churches from its cable-cast offerings, we were given the perfect incentive to organize. The more we pursue this public access concept, the more the local community sees various ways that they can participate.
What is next for LB Community Access?
Now that we have an understanding with the city, our next step is to contact our cable franchisee to start up our channel on the Los Banos Comcast cable system.
It is time also to seek out what equipment we will need right away and look into our crystal ball to seek out what our future needs will be.
What type of
programming
will be on
LB Community Access?
We have a commitment form our local churches to provide outreach programs, including some of the programs that were on Ch. 96, the G-channel before the city took them off the air. Other programming will include such event as live and live to tape of local (school) sporting events. We plan to be covering the LB May Day Parade and fair activities.
One of the most popular two programs on Los Banos's G-Channel was on the history of Los Banos. We are making plans to film many of our local long-time residents’ recollections of the history of Los Banos.
How many of you remember seeing the local Los Banos High School sharing it's news with us on ch. 96? We have talked to people in the know at the school district to help provide this and various outreach programs.
During our introductory tour throughout town, as we introduced ourselves and talked about "dreaming the possibilities." We were contacted by the local hospital for help in providing outreach information shows to help educate the public on health issues. We had also been asked if we could help provide programs directed to our seniors and non-English (Hispanic) population.
We are working on a partnership with and Arts Council which promises to provide them with an out-reach for their programs and events throughout the year.
We will also be providing YOU, our local community members, training on getting you program "on the air!". To allow you, our fellow community members communicate with the community you live in.
So, you can see our future covers the entire sky, ground, universe and then some. Put your thinking caps on!! "What do you want to share with our neighbors?"
What is Public Access?
Public access contains video programming and other electronic information produced, directed, and engineered by local community volunteers. In the case of public access, the programming is developed by or acquired by nonprofit community groups, neighborhood organizations, social service agencies, and individual citizens. It focuses on many aspects of community life, ranging from the services and activities of community organizations to the opinions and benefits of individuals of the community.
Who Funds Public Access?
The "Facilities and Equipment" for Public Access is normally funded through the cable franchise holder (the cable company). These are funds are sometimes "passed through" to the cable viewers. Sources for operational funds are provided by the city's franchise fee or a percentage thereof, and the cable company. These fees were historically funneled through the city but now are being paid directly by the cable company to the public access group.
What is Government and Educational Access?
Government and Educational Access contains video programming and other electronic information produced, directed, and engineered by the Government and Educational Intuitions. This programming and information relates to matters of the respective users of the particular channel.
Government access television is a resource of the city to address local municipal programming needs. Often the city or town may use the G channel to cablecast city council meetings, election programming, local emergency announcements and other events and programs as valued by the local government.
Educational access is the institution set aside for fulfilling the needs of the educational departments and organizations within the municipality. Educational access channels may be associated with a specific school, school district(s) or even private organizations that are contracted to operate the access station for the city.
Educational access centers usually operate a cable channel on the local cable system and often include elements and principle that echo Public access in terms of training and resources. Many school media and video training programs are based in the Educational Access centers. Programming distributed by these centers ranges from student or parent produced media to coverage of local school functions and bodies (such as the School Council or Committee). There are a number of notable Educational access organizations that produce programming for a national audience and experiences a very broad distribution.
Wikipedia definition of Public Access television.
More detailed answers to these questions from the Buske Group. Source for these summary answers is from this linked document.  |
