Newport Community Television, Inc. (NCTV) is a non-profit,
membership-based corporation established in 1993 to operate and manage
facilities for public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access on
the cable television system in Newport, New Hampshire. Under the
terms of the franchise agreement between the Town of Newport and
Adelphia, NCTV is responsible for adopting and establishing rules and
regulations for the non-discriminatory, non-commercial use of any and
all access channels on the system. With facilities located in the
Lou Thompson Community Room in the Sugar River Valley Regional
Technical Center, NCTV provides
equipment, training, and channel time to individuals and organizations
in
Newport. These resources are available for the production and
presentation
of programming by and for the Newport community on a first-come,
first-served,
non-discriminatory basis.
A franchise fee of five percent of the cable company’s gross revenues
provides part of NCTV’s financial support; additional funding is sought
from both within and outside the community.
Newport Community Television,
Inc. is established to foster the democratic use of electronic media by
providing residents and organizations of Newport, New Hampshire with
access
to cable television for the purpose of non-commercial communication
within
the community.
To this end, NCTV is committed to providing an opportunity for members
of the Newport community to use cable television to communicate their
views. NCTV makes available channel time on the cable system as
well
as access to and training in the use of production
resources. We seek to present a wide range of programming that
expresses a diversity of perspectives; to establish a broad base of
community understanding of and involvement in public access television;
to encourage community support for access productions; and to furnish
an electronic conduit for free expression. We further intend to
assess community response to programming on the public access
channel(s) and to aid in the development of additional programming; to
ensure continued community access to and use of these channels through
sound management; and to participate in the development of additional
community uses of telecommunications technology.
Newport Community
Television
Policies and Regulations
NCTV policies and regulations are established by the Board of
Directors and administered by the staff under the supervision of the
Executive
Director. NCTV is open to all types of information and expression
and welcomes a diversity of views. The policies herein
established
are designed to allow maximum freedom of expression on the access
channels
within the law.
A. NCTV membership is
open to all persons residing or working in Newport. Newport-based
organizations, including local chapters of any state or national
organization, and the
campaign organizations of any candidates appearing on a ballot in
Newport,
are also eligible for membership.
B. Members may take
training classes and use NCTV equipment to produce programming for
cablecasting on the access channel. In order to use production
resources, a person must become an NCTV member by:
1. Demonstrating his
or her eligibility for membership;
2. Agreeing to abide by these policies and
regulations;
3. Completing a membership application; and
4. Paying the current membership fee.
C. Each member is
entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at any regular
or special meeting of the membership.
D. Members are not
employees of NCTV, and should not represent themselves as such, nor
speak on behalf of NCTV without prior approval of NCTV staff.
1. Any Newport
resident or representative of a Newport-based organization may request
channel time to cablecast a videotape free of charge.
2. Producers or
sponsors of programming submitted to NCTV are solely responsible for,
and as such should be thoroughly familiar with, the content of that
programming, including but not limited to issues of libel, slander,
invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, commercial content,
indecency, and obscenity.
3. If a program has
an adult
theme (i.e. adult language or situations, excessive violence, graphic
medical
procedures, or nudity), it is the sponsor’s or producer’s
responsibility to inform NCTV of the nature of the program in advance
of scheduling. NCTV will then arrange an appropriate time slot
using current programming on theAdelphia Cable system as a guide for
determining “contemporary community standards.” Any program that has an
adult theme must include
at the beginning an Adult Theme Disclaimer which states “This program
contains [description of material] which may be considered offensive by
or inappropriate for some viewers.” If a producer or sponsor has
a question about whether a program will require an Adult Theme
Disclaimer, he or she should consult NCTV staff.
4. Producers and sponsors shall, by signing a Cable
Time Request / Statement of Compliance, indemnify and hold harmless
Newport Community Television, Inc. from any liability, loss, claim,
cost, or damage of any nature whatsoever which may arise by reason of
any claim that any
material produced, cablecast, or disseminated infringes or violates any
rights
of any person or organization.
2. The producer must
be identified in either the opening or closing credits.
3. A local presenter is a person who request cable
time for a tape that he or she has not personally
produced. For "presented" programs, the disclaimer (see #4 below)
should be
inserted at
the beginning of the program if possible, or at the end of the program
if
insertion at the beginning is not possible. When technically
impossible,
this insertion requirement may be waived by NCTV staff.
Presenters
may
become members of NCTV to learn how to do the necessary editing
themselves,
find a certified NCTV member to help, or have NCTV staff insert the
disclaimer and ID. If an NCTV staff member does the insertion,
there is a $5.00 charge. This fee may be waived in cases of
financial hardship.
4. Program tapes must
include a header (available for dubbing at the studio) that contains at
least 15 seconds
of black video and the NCTV disclaimer which states “This program was
provided by an independent producer or community member who is solely
responsible for its content. The opinions expressed do not
necessarily represent the views of NCTV or its staff or
underwriters.” An alternate disclaimer may substitute the words
“this cable channel” for “NCTV”. Tapes should have at least one
minute of black after the program’s end.
5. Tapes to be
cablecast must meet minimum technical standards:
a. Video must track within acceptable limits (no
rolling or jumping) and audio must be understandable.
b. Tapes must be
labeled with title, producer’s name and telephone number, and program
length (hr:min:sec) and pre-roll (head of tape to beginning of
disclaimer, min:sec)
1. A series consists
of a minimum of four to a maximum of thirteen shows with a consistent
theme or format appearing in a regularly scheduled time slot.
2. A series may be weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
3. To receive a series slot, a producer must have
at least two finished programs.
4. Series time slots may be forfeited if the producer
fails to provide new original programming for more than two consecutive
showings.
5. A series will be guaranteed a time slot for
thirteen weeks only. After thirteen weeks, a series must
move to a different time slot if another series requests that slot.
1. Before a program
will be scheduled to be shown, a program tape must be submitted with a
properly completed “Cable Time Request / Statement of
Compliance”. Time slots are available on a first-come, first
served basis. However, live programs of a timely nature will be
given scheduling priority. All requests for channel time will be
processed on a fair and equitable basis. Specific day/date/time
requests will be honored if and when possible; however, NCTV
reserves the right to make final programming decisions within a
reasonable proximity to requested dates and/or times, and programs will
be scheduled at the discretion of NCTV staff.
2. Furnished programs
will be shown at least once. The Producer/Sponsor may limit
additional
playback, or leave additional cablecast decisions to the NCTV staff.
1. Because NCTV makes cable time available free of
charge to any community producer, commercial sponsorship is not allowed
for
public access productions. However, producers may seek financial
support
for out-of-pocket expenses (videotape, set construction/decoration,
props,
etc.) Such support shall be in the form of grants, and providers
of
grants may, if they so desire, be identified at the end of the
program. The following graphic (video) effects are
permissible: Names; logos, animated or otherwise; and
non-promotional slogans or tags. General non-promotional background
music and voice-over announcements in a quiet, steady voice are
permitted. Such credits may be up to fifteen (15) seconds in
length per benefactor; however, in the case of multiple benefactor
credits, the total
of such credits may not exceed sixty (60) seconds.
1. NCTV encourages
political candidates and other citizens to use the public access
channel to communicate their political views. Candidates and
other providers of political programs are subject to the same policies
and procedures as any other user of NCTV, with the following
qualifications:
a. No programs concerning or featuring individual
candidates or ballot issues will be scheduled to show within 48 hours
of the
opening
of polls.
b. One page per week on the Community Bulletin Board
will be made available to each candidate for his or her
individual use. Such use may begin following the end of the
candidate filing period for local elections, or ninety days prior to a
primary or general election day. Each message will be displayed
for one week only, beginning on Monday, after which time the candidate
must specifically request that it be
continued, or submit a new message.
1. NCTV equipment
and facilities are available only for productions intended to be
shown on the access channel.
2. Equipment is available to members who have
completed training classes (see III:E, Certification).
Experienced producers may bypass training classes by:
(a) Demonstrating proficiency with NCTV equipment, and
(b) providing a demo tape.
3. Members wishing to produce a program must reserve
equipment and/or facilities by filling out Equipment Use Reservation
and/or Facilities Use Request forms and entering these reservations on
the appropriate reservation calendar.
4. Equipment and facilities are available on a
first-come, first served basis.
5. Members are responsible for the NCTV facilities
and equipment signed out to them. This includes responsibility
for the actions of guests, assistants, and others, and for loss,
damage, or theft.
1. Camcorders,
microphones, tripods, and lights make up the ENG (Electronic News
Gathering) System.
2. Equipment is available for a maximum of 48
hours. Longer usage is possible depending upon demand.
3. Reservations are limited to two per week per
producer.
Exceptions may be made depending upon demand.
4. Producers are financially responsible for any loss
or damage to equipment signed out to them. Borrowers should make
sure that the equipment they check out is complete and in good working
order before leaving NCTV.
5. Equipment must be picked up at the NCTV office
by the certified member who reserved it, unless alternate arrangements
to
transfer equipment directly to another certified producer have been
approved
in advance by the staff. Borrowers should confirm that equipment
is
in proper working condition, that batteries are fully charged, etc.
6. Equipment must be returned at the time indicated
on the Equipment Use Reservation. Borrowers should notify the
staff in writing if there are any problems with the equipment!
Times for equipment returns will be scheduled by the staff.
1. Editing time should be reserved at least 48 hours,
but not more than four weeks, in advance. Editors may reserve a
maximum of four hours per day, or eight hours per week.
Exceptions to this limit may be made depending upon demand for the
facilities.
1. The studio
cameras,
audio and video mixers, MacIntosh computer, and low impedance
microphones
make up the EFP (Electronic Field Production) system.
2. Studio facilities should be reserved at least one
week in advance (two weeks in advance for a live program.)
Reservations for the Thompson Community Room must be made through the
Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center front office.
3. Production crews are the responsibility of the
certified producer. All studio crew members must be certified or
approved by the NCTV staff. Volunteers may be available to assist
with productions. Crew sheets may be posted at NCTV to solicit
production
crews.
1. Video production
equipment is available for use by members who are certified in the use
of the equipment.
2. A series of basic video production classes is
offered on an ongoing basis. Dates and times of these workshops
are announced on the community bulletin board and posted at NCTV.
1. Cancellation of a
reservation should be made 24 hours in advance. Repeated
cancellations or no-shows may result in loss of privileges.
2. If a producer is more than 30 minutes late for
a reserved equipment pick-up or facilities use time, the reserved
equipment or facilities may be signed out by any waiting eligible
member--known as a “Video Vulture.” Once the VV has the equipment
or facilities, he or she cannot be bumped by the original reservation
holder.
1. NCTV equipment is
covered against damage or loss. However, there is a $250.00
deductible for which the equipment user will be responsible should
damage or loss occur.
2. Repair costs less than $250.00 will be the
responsibility of the borrower. Because of this responsibility,
it is imperative
that all users of the equipment inspect for and note any damage before
signing equipment out. When a member signs the Equipment Checkout
Agreement, he or she is certifying the condition of the equipment.
3. In the case of theft, NCTV’s insurance policy
requires that:
a. A police report be filed;
b. The equipment had
not been left unattended;
c. There be proof of forced entry; and
d. Equipment had not been left in a vehicle overnight.
4. If the insurance company does not honor a claim,
the member/user will be responsible for the full replacement cost of
the lost or damaged equipment.
a. Commercial use of
equipment or facilities;
b. Misrepresentation of affiliation with NCTV;
c. Falsifying forms;
d. Taking equipment without proper notification;
e. Abuse of equipment, including attempted repair;
f. Changing wiring without staff authorization;
g. Tampering with records, and
h. Use of alcohol or illegal drugs while in the NCTV
facility.
2. A major violations
will result in an immediate 90-day loss of membership privileges.
A second violation will result in permanent suspension of privileges.
