USE OF COMMUNITY ACCESS EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
Public access use of CTSCC facilities and equipment is limited to those hours designated by the Public Access Time Period, the current schedule of which is posted on the front door of the facility.
Educational and/or government access use of CTSCC facilities and equipment is limited to those hours designated by the Executive Director.
The Executive Director of CTSCC may authorize off-hour use of CTSCC facilities and equipment when the Executive Director (or Assistant Director) determines that the project is beneficial to CTSCC and advances the mission of the organization. All such use must have the prior formal approval of the Executive Director or Assistant Director.
As set forth below, typical CTSCC field equipment check-outs are for twenty-four hours, with longer periods allowed if pre-approved by the Executive Director or Technical Staff. Failure to return any CTSCC equipment within a maximum period of one week from the time of check-out will result not only in imposition of sanctions outlined in Section VI of these Rules but may also result in filing of criminal charges, at the discretion of the Executive Director. In no event shall CTSCC equipment leave the United States without the express prior written permission of the Executive Director or Assistant Director. Failure to comply will result in the imposition of sanctions as well as possible filing of criminal charges, at the discretion of the Executive Director.
A. Orientation Meetings
To make potential access producers aware of the community access mission and the availability of production equipment and facilities, CTSCC conducts orientations. Attendance at orientation is required prior to taking a proficiency test or enrolling in training workshops unless an exception is granted in advance by the Executive Director.
B. Television Production Training
CTSCC provides the following types of basic television production training to individuals and organizations:
• Basic Field Production
• Basic Studio Production
• Producers' Workshops
• Basic Video Editing
• Basic Lighting
• Basic Multi-Camera Field Production
• Advanced Video Editing
Guidelines for fee-based classes: CTSCC may offer special advances classes, seminars, workshops, and intensive hands-on video training internships which may include tuition charges for participants.
Fee-based class instructors: Applications from instructors will be accepted by CTSCC on an ongoing basis as space is available in the facility. To apply, prospective instructors should obtain a copy of the CTSCC Request for Proposal to Teach a Fee-Based Class. Twenty percent (20%) of the class (or at least one student) will be accepted on scholarship or through a volunteer exchange.
C. Certification
Community access equipment, privileges and facilities are available only to certified access users. Certification is available in the following ways:
1) Producers' Certification
Attendance is required in order to submit a proposal to produce, unless adequate evidence of prior production experience is provided to staff.
2) Proficiency Tests
Experienced users may schedule a proficiency test with a member of the production staff. The test may include written and "hands-on" sections. The producer may be required to provide sample footage from a previous production.
3) Refresher Courses
Certified access users in the CTSCC system who have not been active for a one-year period are required to schedule a refresher course with a member of the production staff in order to review equipment and facilities.
Upon successful completion of the training workshops, proficiency tests or refresher courses, the community access user may be issued a card that indicates the appropriate level(s) of certification. Once available, the card will be updated when each additional certification level is reached.
D. Equipment and Facilities Available
Users are authorized to use any community access equipment and facilities for which they are certified. The following types of production equipment and facilities are available:
1) Single-Camera Field Equipment
Used for single camera portable "field" or location shoots.
2) Studios
Used for "live" or videotaped programs with up to three cameras.
3) Editing Systems
Used to edit videotapes into a finished program for cablecast.
4) Special Equipment Needs
CTSCC will work with producers to meet special equipment needs, subject to staff and equipment availability.
5) Multi-Camera Field Equipment
Used for switched field productions with up to three cameras.
E. Scheduling Equipment and Facilities
1) Program Proposal
Any access producer is required to submit for approval a program proposal to the designated staff member(s).
The program proposal shall be submitted on a form/format provided by CTSCC.
Pre-production meetings may be scheduled with staff as needed.
Program proposals will remain in effect for a maximum of six months from date approved. If the program has not been submitted for cablecast by the six-month timeline, the producer will take a hiatus from equipment privileges for three months, for that specific program only. The producer may continue to work on other approved proposals but may not submit any new proposals during the three-month time-off period.
2) Equipment and Facilities Reservations
The access producer may make equipment and facilities reservations after approval of the program proposal, assuming the crew is certified for equipment use. Production crews for studio shows require a minimum of three certified crew members; one certified crew member must be in the studio and one certified crew member in the control room at all times during the production; all crew members shall be certified for the equipment they use. A user who is more than 30 minutes late in claiming reserved equipment or facilities forfeits the use of the equipment or facilities unless an extension is authorized by staff. No self-sign up on reservation sheets is allowed without staff approval; a non-approved self-sign up will result in a minor violation being issued.
Equipment and facilities are available to certified producers on a first-come, first-served basis with special consideration given to series program producers.
a. Single-Camera Field Equipment
A typical Field Equipment check-out is 24 hours. Field Equipment may not be checked out for a period in excess of 48 hours unless a written request justifying the need is pre-approved by the Executive Director or Technical staff. A certified user is limited to four single-camera field equipment uses within a calendar month, unless agreed to by the Executive Director within an accepted program proposal. Series programs which are produced on a regular weekly basis will usually be granted additional shooting times; however, it is the intent of this rule to prevent a small group of people from dominating equipment usage, making it unavailable to others. Field gear may be reserved up to four weeks in advance for individual program producers, and up to 13 weeks in advance for series program producers or institutions.
b. Studio Use
Unless otherwise authorized by staff, a maximum of two studio sessions may be scheduled per week. The studio may be reserved up to four weeks and no less than one
week in advance for individual program producers. The studio may be reserved up to 13 weeks and no less than one week in advance for series program producers. Reservations of less than one week may be considered for approval by the Executive Director.
c. Editing Equipment
Editing time may be reserved up to four weeks in advance for individual program producers and up to 13 weeks in advance for series program producers. Editing sessions may be scheduled for a maximum of four four-hour sessions per week during the Public Access Time Period (see current schedule of hours posted on the front door of the facility), up to a maximum of 24 hours per calendar month per certified user or 32 hours per calendar month per approved program or series proposal. These limits include "walk-in" (non-reserved) hours. Unused hours may not be carried over to the next month. Cancellations less than 24 hours in advance will count against monthly totals.
d. Multi-Camera Field Equipment
CTSCC's Multi-Camera Field Package for location event coverage may be reserved up to four weeks in advance, and up to 13 weeks in advance for series or institutions, for a normal period of 24 hours and not to exceed 48 hours. A certified user is limited to four multi-camera equipment uses per calendar month, unless otherwise authorized by staff. Only one of the four checkouts can be on a weekend (weekend checkouts = Saturday-Monday).
e. Series Equipment/Facilities Reservations
A series program producer is one who has successfully completed and submitted the first three programs of a series to be scheduled on the community access channels. Series producers may make series equipment or facilities reservations.
Producers with series equipment or facility reservations must notify CTSCC staff of their intention to either renew or cancel their series reservations by the eighth week of their series reservation period. With proper notification, an additional 13-week series reservation may be granted. Subsequent series reservations may be granted unless additional requests are made for the same time. In such cases, an alternative series equipment or facility reserva-tion time will be found for the requester. Renewals of series reservations shall be continued as long as an adequate level of equipment and facilities remains available for other series and individual program producers.
Users who have missed two reservations will be notified in writing that they have lost their telephone reservation privileges and will have to make all future equipment reservations for the next year in person. In-person reservation requirements will be enforced for these individuals, whether or not they pay fines.
In order to reduce errors and to provide better service to individuals who have disputed the accuracy of reservations, CTSCC requires in-person reservations for users who have had reservation disputes. This enables those users, and CTSCC, to have written confirmation of reservations.
3) Eating/Drinking/Smoking in Facilities
Smoking, alcoholic beverages and controlled substances are not allowed within any of the access facilities. No food or drink is allowed in any control room, editing suite or van. Food and drink are allowed in the studio only with prior approval of staff. Exceptions to this rule, with respect to food and drink, may be granted by the Executive Director for authorized special events or parties.
4) The Compliance and Check-Out Contracts
The access producer is required to complete a Compliance Contract and a Check-Out Contract before using CTSCC equipment or facilities. In signing the forms, the producer agrees to indemnify CTSCC for all damage to or loss of any community access equipment or facilities caused by neglect, abuse, theft, or other causes that occurs while such equipment and facilities are assigned to the producer. The producer signing the Check-Out Contract, and the designated crew members listed on the Contract, are the only persons authorized to operate the equipment.
5) Equipment Check-Out
Users should arrive at the appointed check-out time and may be required to present their certification card. Users must sign out all equipment.
a. Equipment Testing
The user is responsible for determining that portable equipment is in good working order at the time of check-out. CTSCC requires that the user set up and test all equipment before leaving the access center. Any malfunctions must be noted on the Check-Out Contract.
6) Equipment/Facilities Use by Minors
Certified producers under age 18 must have an adult co-signer in order to use CTSCC equipment and facilities. The adult and minor shall both co-sign the Check-Out Contract; the adult accepts full responsibility for loss or damage of equipment on behalf of the minor.
Producers age 18 or under must have an adult co-signer accompany them during equipment check-out and check-in and during all equipment use, unless the Executive Director determines otherwise. If the producer is 18 or younger, the adult co-signer must attend an orientation meeting prior to equipment check-out or facilities use.
7) Canceling a Reservation
Users who have reserved equipment or facilities they cannot use are asked to notify staff as soon as possible so that these resources may be reassigned to other producers. Notification of any cancellation is required prior to the reservation time. A user who cancels reservations without at least 48 hours notice more than 3 times in a calendar month is subject to sanctions outlined in V.I.B.2. There is no penalty for cancellations made with more than 48 hours of advanced notice.
8) "No Shows"
Users who reserve equipment or facilities who do not show up and do not call in advance to cancel reservations are subject to sanctions outlined under Section VI.B.2.
9) Equipment Check-In
The user is required to return all equipment at the check-in time specified on the Check-Out Contract.
a. Equipment Testing
The user is responsible for determining that portable equipment is in good working order at the time of check-in. CTSCC requires that the producer set up and test all equipment during the check-in period.
The user is responsible for assuring that all equipment is in undamaged, working order and is liable to compensate CTSCC for repair or replacement costs resulting from any damages or losses that occur while the Check-Out Contract is in effect.
10) Periods of Availability
A schedule of available hours for all community access equipment and facilities is available at all access facilities.
11) Equipment Malfunctions/Unavailability
If any community access equipment fails to properly operate for an access producer, or if for any reason CTSCC cannot provide operational equipment to the producer as scheduled, the producer will be provided with substitute equipment or facilities, or will be given priority use at a future time. Producers are required to report any equipment malfunction to staff.
F) Videotape Provisions
Access producers are encouraged to purchase videotape from CTSCC or any other source of quality tape. CTSCC reserves the right to determine what videotape meets its quality standards. If the producer is unable to provide videotapes, CTSCC may loan tape stock to the producer.
1) Producer-Provided Videotapes
The access producer shall assure CTSCC that videotape is either new or of a quality sufficient to prevent damage or excessive clogging to recorders. Tapes must be able to play back relatively free of "drop-outs" and "glitches." Inadequate tapes will be rejected.
2) Videotapes Provided by CTSCC
Upon request, videotapes shall be loaned to the access producer for recording original material and compiling a final, edited "master." The number of tapes loaned shall be determined in the producer's pre-production meeting with staff. All tapes owned by CTSCC shall remain at the access center except when checked out with production gear, unless authorized by the Executive Director.
3) Removing Videotapes
Producers must receive permission from CTSCC staff in order to remove videotapes from the tape library or playback area that have been scheduled for cablecast. The producer is required to "sign-out" tapes on a log sheet provided by staff.
G. Requests for Service
When CTSCC receives a Third-Party request for service to produce a program, the Executive Director shall decide whether CTSCC will produce it. In the event CTSCC decides not to produce a program initiated by a Third-Party request for service, the Executive Director shall provide the Third Party initiating the request for service with a voluntary list of members of the organization who are capable of providing the service.
1) Service Listing
Any member of the organization who is certified to use CTSCC facilities and equipment may apply to be listed as a production service provider on a Production Service List based on criteria determined by the Executive Director.
2) Non-Discrimination
Members shall not be denied listing on the Production Service List on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, religious or political belief or affiliation, or the nature of their programming interest. Neither the Executive Director nor staff shall recommend to a Third-Party requester for service a production service provider for any project. It shall be the responsibility of the Third Party to select a production service provider and negotiate any applicable terms and conditions with the production service provider.
H . Payment for Labor/Production Costs
Third-Party Agreement Definition: When a Third-Party (someone not involved in the production) offers to pay (includes money, goods or services) for the production costs of a program they would like produced and any CTSCC resources are used in the production (including pre and post), this is known as a “Third-Party Agreement”. Rather than providing partial support for a program, as sponsors typically do, a Third Party pays for the bulk of the cost of a production. As opposed to supporting existing shows, with Third Party arrangements the show primarily happens at the request and behest of the Third Party. Essentially, they are paying to have the program produced. (I.e. A local band is having a concert and hires you to come shoot and edit the event) Note: If the Third Party contributor is a member AND is the program’s producer, a Third-Party Agreement is not typically applicable. A member may be paid by a Third Party for labor and/or production costs associated with a community access program provided that the member describes these services in the program proposal and submits a Third-Party Agreement to CTSCC prior to receiving any payment for labor and/or production costs. The Agreement, which must be signed by the Third Party, warrants that the Third Party understands that:
1. The independent producer is working independently and is not working as a staff person or official representative of Community Television but rather is utilizing the resources of Community Television in producing the program.
2. Programs produced with CTSCC equipment and/or facilities are intended for cablecast on the access channels and may not be used primarily for commercial purposes; or for the solicitation of funds, unless they are produced by local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are members of the organization, or as decided by the Board of Directors.
3. Access equipment and facilities are available to all at no cost for use in the production of programs for the community access channels.
4. Access channel time is free of charge.
5. CTSCC shall receive twenty-five percent (25%) of any fee paid to any member by any Third Party for any production service, including labor and/or production costs.