Access Television

Introduction


P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. is a public, education, government access center providing the tools that enable community groups and individuals to communicate with one another via the television medium. The organization accomplishes this through a commitment to providing training, equipment, and access to programming time.

Following is a comprehensive guide of the rules and policies all members of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. must observe. The primary purpose of these rules is to encourage Fergus Falls residents to produce programming which reflects the community in which they live, and meets the needs and interests of that community. The rules are designed to maximize the use and effectiveness of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. resources.


Location


P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. is located at 225 W. Washington Ave. in downtown Fergus Falls.


Access Hours


11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Monday - Friday


Membership


In order to utilize P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. equipment and facilities, you must be a member of the organization. Membership fees must be paid before membership privileges are granted. Membership benefits include access to the facility, video production classes, editing suite reservations and access to the P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. digital video recording equipment library.

Annual Membership Fees:

In addition to the annual fee, individuals must provide P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. with an accurate name, street address, and telephone number. It is the member’s responsibility to inform the organization regarding changes to name, street address, or telephone number.


Training and Certification


P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. offers classes in digital video production including Digital Video Camcorder 101, Intro to Final Cut Pro 4, and Control Room Basics. Certification in each specific area (digital camcorders, editing suites, studio production) occurs upon the completion of the corresponding course. Individuals with experience outside of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. can test out of courses upon displaying proficiency in equipment use. Appointments to test out must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Members must notify the Access Center staff if they will be unable to attend a class or test out session at least 12 hours in advance. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action (see Abuse Policy on Page 7).


Prohibited Programming


The following programming is prohibited:

Standards of Conduct


The P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. Access Center is a publicly owned facility. All behavior, language, and dress must at all times be appropriate for a public place.

Access members are not employees of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc., Charter Communications, or Park Region Telephone / Otter Tail Telcom and are not permitted to identify themselves as such at the risk of committing fraud.

Upon arrival at the Access Center, all access members, volunteers, talent, etc. must sign-in at the Front Desk.

Individuals or groups utilizing production equipment or facilities shall be under the supervision and authority of the access staff.

Absolutely NO FOOD, DRINK, OR SMOKING is allowed in the studios, editing suites, or control room.


Reservations


All equipment and editing suite reservations are made on a first-come, first-served non-discriminatory basis. Only certified individuals may make reservations. Equipment is available for check-out no later than 4:00 PM the day of reservation pending its return. Equipment not picked up before 7:00 PM will be made available to access members waiting for equipment.

The equipment and facilities are provided for the express purpose of producing programs which will be cablecast on the access channels.

Members should keep and refer to the equipment checklist received when checking equipment out. The member will be held responsible for all the equipment on the list.

Members are responsible to protect equipment from theft and extreme weather. Equipment should never be left unattended during an on-location shoot.


Portable Camcorder Reservations


Producers may reserve digital camcorders up to two months in advance. See table for reservation time allotments.


Edit Suite Reservations


Producers may reserve editing suites up to two months in advance. Producers are responsible for making independent hard drive reservations. Members must sign-in prior to and sign-out upon completion of scheduled time. See table for reservation time allotments.


Hard Drive Reservations


Hard drives remain at the Access Center at all times. Access Center staff will install and uninstall all external hard drives. Projects will be erased after reservation time expires. See table for reservation time allotments.


Studio Reservations


Producers may book studio time up to two months in advance. All crew participants must be members. Guests need not be members. All props, sets, costumes, etc. must be removed from the Access Center at the end of studio time due to limited facility space. Members must sign-in prior to and sign-out upon completion of scheduled time. See table for reservation time allotments.

Upon staff approval, access members may use the editing suites beyond their reserved time if no one else has time reserved in the following time block. Access members may reserve check-out equipment beyond their weekly allowance if they call no more than a day in advance to make reservations.

The access member checking out equipment will be responsible for all equipment.


Changing / Canceling Reservations


Reservations must be canceled at least four (4) hours in advance. Producers taking advantage of the P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. studio technician must cancel 24 hours in advance. Rescheduling will be on a first-come, first-served non-discriminatory basis. Failure to cancel reservations will be dealt with disciplinary action.


Policy for Minors


If under 18, the access user must have an adult co-sign for the use of the equipment. The adult then assumes responsibility for the equipment.

Members under the age of 18 must have a Parental Responsibility Form signed by an adult prior to their attendance at certification classes. This adult agrees to assume responsibility for the minor’s use before the minor will be allowed to use equipment. Anyone under the age of 13 must have a parent accompany them to their first class.

An adult must be present when anyone under the age of 13 is using the studio or checking out portable equipment.

Requests for channel time on behalf of a minor must be made by the minor’s parent or guardian. The minor’s parent or guardian must complete a Channel Time Request Form and will be responsible for any liability resulting from the program.


Equipment Check-in


All check-out equipment is to be returned by 2:00 PM the day it is due. Returning equipment late will be dealt with disciplinary action. Only certified members can check out or return equipment.


Appropriate Use of Equipment


All P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. equipment and facilities are to be used for the production of programming to be aired on the access channels.

Access members are expected to use all equipment with care and are responsible for all lost equipment and damage to the equipment except for normal wear.

When damage occurs, equipment and facility use will be suspended immediately until liability is determined and, if applicable, full damages are paid by the access member. It is the responsibility of the community producer to examine the equipment at the time of check-out to verify that the equipment is not damaged and is in operating condition. If equipment is lost or damaged three (3) times, the access member may be permanently suspended from the facility.

The equipment is to be used only to produce non-commercial programming for cablecasting on the access channels.

Access equipment is to be operated only by certified members. Persons not certified are prohibited from using the equipment.

There is to be no unauthorized repair of Access Center equipment. Charges to members for any lost or damaged equipment will be determined on a parts and labor basis.


Program Submission Policy


A Statement of Compliance Form (Program Proposal Form - found at the bottom of this page) must be signed for all programs to be scheduled for cablecasting.

All access programming will be on a first-come, first-served non-discriminatory basis. Stand-alone programs may be scheduled on the access channel a maximum of four (4) times.

All programming must be submitted in MPEG2 digital format.

P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. will not edit, or alter in any way, the content of any program submitted for cablecast. Any editing that is required in order to comply with these rules must be done by the community producer.

Programs must be uploaded to the playback system no less than 24 hours prior to playback.

Programs meeting all guidelines will be played on the community channel at least once.

P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. reserves the right to unlimited non-exclusive showing for a 24 month period following the first showing of an access program created partially or wholly with Access Center equipment. If a program is produced with the assistance of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. (equipment or facility use) and is played in another theatrical or media venue, a P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. credit must be placed on the program.

P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. wants to provide a means of notifying parents or guardians when programming appears on the access channels that may be inappropriate for children. The organization also wants to assist people in making informed viewing decisions while providing an opportunity for all forms of expression without censorship and in accord with existing laws.

Programs containing vulgar language, nudity, extreme physical violence, extreme degradation, graphic depiction of invasive medical procedures or indecent material will be preceded by a message advising viewer discretion and will be scheduled between the hours of 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM. Channel users are responsible for notifying P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. on the Statement of Compliance Form if their program contains material requiring an advisory message. It is a violation of Access Center policy to submit a program for cablecast that is obscene or otherwise made unlawful.

All content is the responsibility of the producer; however, P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. reserves the right to view any program to determine whether the theme and content of the program are consistent with the description of the program provided by the producer member and to determine whether the program violates any rules herein. If it is determined that the program contains material that is in violation with these rules, the producer will be required to remove said content and will be issued a warning. If the producer refuses to remove the material which constitutes the violation, the program will not be cablecast.

A producer who believes their program not to be in violation of access rules can request a review by the P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. Board of Directors. If it is determined that the program is within the rules, the program will air and the warning will be removed from the producer’s record.


Series Programming


Members must sign a Series Contract if the program is to play at the same time on the same day each week. The Series Contract may allow the member’s program to play once a week in the same time slot, for a period of six months. Providing compliance with the Series Contract, and dependent on space availability, one weekly playback spot per program can be guaranteed. The contract will require a certain number of programs be submitted each month. If a member violates the contract, their time slot becomes available to other members. When a contract is up for renewal the time slot becomes available to other members. If no other member requests the time slot, the previous member can renew their series contract for another six month period. No single member or member organization can contract for more than three series spots at any one time.


Sponsorship/Underwriting Guidelines


Proceeds from underwriting can only be used to pay for the direct costs associated with producing a program such as sets, tapes, and P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. fees. Proceeds cannot be used to pay or otherwise compensate producers, hosts, crew members or guests. Underwriting can appear at the beginning and end of the program only. It must be clearly identified by stating, “This program was made possible (in part) by a grant from ____________.” Identification can be no longer than five seconds per underwriter and must not exceed 30 seconds regardless of the number of underwriters. Underwriting graphics may not include price, address or phone number of underwriters. Programs may not discuss or show products or services made available by underwriters. Underwriters cannot be guests or appear on programs they sponsor.

Programs may not give out commercial phone numbers, addresses, or prices.


Copyright


Individuals submitting programs must make all necessary arrangements with and obtain required clearances from broadcast stations, networks, sponsors, music licensing organizations, composers, etc. Producers are solely responsible for the content of their programs.

Program producers shall be fully responsible for any disputes arising out of the program contents to be produced, including infringements of copyrighted materials. Since producers are in control of their productions, P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. will not assume any control of the production and it is necessary that producers take full responsibility for the production of programs. Producers will agree to indemnify and hold harmless P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc., its staff, and its Board of Directors from any liability or other injury (including cost of defense) which may result from any production.


Facility, Equipment, Programming Abuse Policy


Failing to cancel reserved equipment or facilities check-out as outlined above (emergencies excepted) will result in a verbal warning. A second offense will receive a written warning and a third offense will result in suspension. Warnings remain on record for six months.


Appeals Procedure


Any person who disagrees with a decision of the Executive Director as to the application of these rules or a decision by the Executive Director to suspend them for violations may request a review and determination by the P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. Board of Directors.


Suspensions


Unless otherwise stipulated in these guidelines, three (3) violations of the above guidelines will result in a loss of all access privileges for up to one (1) year. A single violation of the more serious guidelines per the Executive Director’s discretion may result in immediate suspension of all privileges for up to six (6) months. Failure to deal with the staff in a straight-forward, truthful, and courteous manner will also be considered a violation of the above guidelines. Suspension of privileges may be appealed through the P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. Board of Directors.


Public Records


P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. will maintain a complete record of the names and addresses of all persons, groups, organizations or other entities that request access time and / or access cablecasting equipment. Such records will be maintained in the public inspection file and will be available for public inspection at the Access Center during regular business hours or by appointment.

Persons requesting to inspect the public files shall identify themselves by name and address in order to ensure P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. administrative control of the records. These records may not be removed from the Access Center. All records shall be maintained for a minimum of two years.


Volunteer Directory


Access is built on volunteerism. P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. keeps a list of qualified members who are willing to help others with their productions. The list is maintained at the Front Desk.

It is possible to pay people to help you with your production, but any financial arrangements you make are between you and the individual. Regardless, only certified members may operate Access Center equipment.


Volunteer Program


Events unique to Fergus Falls including parades, sporting events, and civic events require significant volunteer support to create a community television production. P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. relies on volunteers to create these productions. Volunteers play a variety of roles including set-up, camera, graphics, audio, and on-air talent. Members are under no obligation to participate, but many enjoy the experience. It is a great way to improve your skills and meet other volunteers who could help you with your production.

P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. recognizes its volunteers at an annual awards banquet. Certificates and prizes are presented to outstanding volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, sign up at the Front Desk or call Jim Francis at (218) 739-1027 ext. 12.


Limits of Liability


P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. is not liable for any mistakes, omissions or interruptions in the cable cast and any other means of distribution of programs. P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. is also not liable if the program or material submitted is damaged, lost, or stolen while in its custody except in the case of gross negligence on the part of P.E.G. Access of Fergus Falls, Inc. resulting in damage or loss.