Last year we learned that a local group, which has included certain elected officials of the County and City, was engaging in a largely clandestine effort to reorganize PAC 14 as a charitable (”501c3”) organization that would have an elaborate “community media center” funded mainly by local taxpayers and CATV users. That revelation was followed by a series of contentious meetings of the County Council and City Councils, during which it became apparent that this group had been complicit in withholding knowledge of their effort from PAC 14’s existing board of directors and preventing meaningful meetings of that board so that it could be falsely portrayed as being “nonfunctional.” These revelations and the related machinations of Salisbury University have resulted in an interim board to propose an organizational structure. In recent months there has been little public information in that regard.
But soon the “new PAC 14” will again be a matter of public concern and controversy.
This time the Councils will be presented with a proposed plan to divest the local governments of any meaningful oversight of PAC 14, while maintaining its public funding by the County and City, which can be expected to increase in order to satisfy PAC 14’s budget unless prudence prevails. Whether the plan for the proposed “state-of-the-art” community media center will be fully disclosed is questionable because of the cost to build and equip as well as operate that facility as contemplated by its proponents.
The PAC 14 takeover group has been guided by a consultant from California, who once again is coming here to preach the gospel to the public. It will be interesting to hear her explain how the County and City will be able not just to maintain but to increase the funding provided to PAC 14 when both governments are in the throes of reducing their expenditure because of greatly reduced tax and other revenues. CATV subscribers would do well to pay attention and state their position to our elected officials. So, too, would the others who are looking to the County and City for increased funding – the library, Urban Salisbury, etc. – for their proposed facilities and programs.
The current agendas are for the “new PAC 14” to be discussed at the Salisbury City Council meeting on September 14 and at the County Council’s meeting the next day.
For a comprehensive factual account of the scheme to seize control of PAC 14, see the series presented last year on Delmarva Dealings –
http://www.delmarvadealings.com/2008/08/01/the-pac-14-fiasco-part-v…/
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Rick & Jim:
ReplyDeleteIt's time to declare a moratorium for several years on these proposals for non-essential facilities and plans -- PAC 14, the library, the "North Prong" to name a few.
PAC 14 could be and should ne operated like a business and accept revenue VOLUNTARILY from the business community in the form of advertising. I was asked by a gentleman at the last city council if I would be interested in doing a PAC 14 show, which I would be. A local political commentary show has a strong potential for advertising revenue in my opinion. I have a little experience in that area. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt should be closed down.
ReplyDeleteI feel that based on my first hand knowledge of the "Rest of the story" we should all be part of this process and be like the wise old man standing on the street corner with one eye and one ear covered waiting to hear and see the "other side of this story"! PAC-14's funding is provided for in CATV funds collected from subscribers in their monthly bill and federal law mandates this in all states so that citizens have a broadcast voice with NO restriction by any GOVERNMENT ENTITY as to Right Coast or anyone else having a show on PAC-14. Many non-profits benefit in HUGE ways from public Access TV and this is very important as the federal government contemplates doing away with tax deductions for 501(c)3 donations. I agree all this stations should be properly run, but to lose access to this resource would be a very big loss to our community. Having attended one of these "clandestine" open to the public,published date meetings I can assure everyone that Stevie Prettyman &/or Debbie Campbell will not roll over on the issue for ANY increase in funding other than what is mandated by federal law and if they could figure out a way to use the money for what they deem "more worthy" causes they would. As the Founder/Director of the "Parkinson's Alliance of the Lower Eastern Shore" I can assure you this resource is valuable to the people we provide resources to in an area under served by the medical assets presently available on the Lower Eastern Shore. As a person diagnosed in 2008 with Parkinson's Disease and a lifelong resident/ Significant Over taxed taxpayer of Wicomico County there are NO resources available to the 1000's of Lower Eastern Shore residents affected by this cruel disease. To learn more about what we do you can visit our website @ parkinsonsalliance.org and for the record while we have had to wait already 9 months for our final 501(c)3 determination we are funded entirely by my wife & I personally. I say this because with the current economic trend the potential donor pool is shrinking rapidly!
ReplyDeleteChip Carper
Hebron MD
Why should it be closed down? How are the citizens of Wicomico County supposed to be involved in their government when the County won't accept evening meetings? They have to watch and react on PAC14.
ReplyDeleteDo you support complete ownership of our airwaves by corporate media conglomerates that answer to no one but their shareholders (and sometimes the FCC)? Shouldn't their be a place in our community where we can create/watch/participate in television shows that attempt to educate and inform us on local crime activity, local history, local culture, local politics?
We're not going to get that from WBOC or WMDT or even MPT. There's just not enough money in it. The advertiser model also will not work...just not enough eyeballs to justify the cost for the business.
PAC14 is something that belongs to all of the citizens of Wicomico County. It's a good and decent thing operated by good and decent people. It's something worth saving and expanding. It's a classic example of a public good.
Might it cost cable subscribers a dollar or two extra each month? Sure - nothing in life is free. But isn't it worth it? Even if you don't watch it, don't you want to know that someone is archiving the activities of our local governments so that they can be more accountable to the citizens?
I think many people simply have no idea how close PAC14 is to not existing. If you are in favor of silencing community speech by eliminating our only cable access channel, I'm not sure you are on the right side of the ideals of our Founding Fathers.
Demand accountability in government. Demand the preservation of local culture. Demand the rejection of the corporate monopoly of our communication media. Demand enhanced educational opportunities for local students.
Demand PAC14.
Michael Scott
Quantico, MD
You think thats your public voice and it isnt controlled huh. OK buddy.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have seen from watching PAC14, the officials and the interviewers are definitely liberal and seem to act like big government is the answer for all our problems! The only good I have seen from this is the City, and county council meetings that are televised. The rest is mostly liberal BS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI sir am FIERCELY CONSERVATIVE/Independent and have the don't re-elect anybody not even your MOMMA view of our current political mess and find your comment offensive. I am producing 2 shows for broadcast monthly featuring two ongoing concerns neither of which has a thing to do with ones political concerns!I have never been asked my political affiliation by anyone at PAC-14!
ReplyDeleteChip Carper
Hebron, MD
as one of the pac 14 employees, i must say, most of the negative comments are from people who do not understand pac 14's mission.
ReplyDeleteto allow the citizens of wicomico county a broadcast voice.
are we government funded? if your definition of government is "the people" than yes. but the franchise fees collected by the county from comcast would be able to fund pac 14, if the county didn't put it in the general fund.
any resident can take the training and put on a show to voice their opinions on pac 14.
many do. we provide coverage of the council meetings, not as a service to the government, but as a service to the public who cannot attend.
many bloggers and posters who complain and denounce pac 14 have never come in to take advantage of this service, they'd rather complain and look for conspiracy theories.
all at pac 14 are willing to answer any and all questions. i wouldn't be a part of something that went against the principles of free speech and expression.
and as for approaching the woman about doing a show... i informed her that her group could do a program on pac 14. any resident of wicomico county can. we train you to be able to do it. political leanings do not matter.
i am a little surprised that joe albero would post something so one sided without all the facts, which have been posted of www.pac14.org for the longest time.
thanks to all for the words of support, and to those opposed to freedom of expression, i hope you are informed soon.
my views are my own and i always take the consequences for my actions.
tom taylor
wicomico county resident
comcast cable franchize fee payer
pac 14 contractor
local producer