CITY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT:
USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL UNDER
CATV FRANCHISE
REFERENCE:
	ADOPTED 12/17/02
Policy A-25
Effective 12/17/02
Page 1 of 5
PURPOSE
To establish guidelines for use of the government access channel available to the City of EI Cajon pursuant to its cable television ("CATV") franchise arrangements.
BACKGROUND
Local cable television franchisees must, in accordance with Federal Communications Commission 'rules, make available without charge at least one "specially designated channel for local government uses" (the "Government Access Channel" or "Channel"). This requirement offers the City and the public the opportunity to employ the most recent innovations in cable television technology in an effort to provide more efficient and more effective government and community service to the public.
The City currently uses the Government Access Channel to broadcast and rebroadcast City Council meetings, televise the electronic bulletin board of government and community events and broadcast non-commercial, non-political, non-religious videos of community organizations at work and previously held special events. Because the airtime available is sometimes greater than the time required for these promotions, a policy is necessary to establish objectives and programming formats determined appropriate by the City Council.
POLICY
The City Manager, or designee, shall be responsible for coordinating requests to access the Government Access Channel. Objectives of broadcasts on this channel shall include:
1. To make public proceedings and events more accessible to EI Cajon residents by
	providing coverage of City Council meetings.
2. To increase community awareness of City services.
3. To provide information on the City's projects, development goals and services.
4. To promote special events in the community sponsored by the City and civic
	affiliated organizations.

CITY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT:
USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL UNDER
CATV FRANCHISE
REFERENCE:
	ADOPTED 12/17/02
Policy A-25
Effective 12/17/02
Page 2 of 5
5. To provide more extensive information on selected City topics and activities not fully
	covered by existing communications media.
6. To supplement public safety and disaster preparedness activities and information.
7. To document and archive City events and activities
The following broadcasting guidelines for use of the "Government Access Channel" shall be used:
1. Preference shall be given to the broadcast or re-broadcast of City Council meetings on the days of, or the days immediately following, the meeting. Currently the hours of 7:00 p.m. until concluded on the day following a regularly scheduled City Council meeting are reserved for meeting broadcasts. The City Manager shall also determine those times for the re-broadcast of a taped and delayed broadcasted City Council meeting as deemed appropriate.
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2. Preference shall next be given to the broadcasting, whether live or tape delayed, of community events sponsored by the City of EI Cajon. The City Manager shall reserve those hours necessary for the complete broadcasting of City-sponsored community events, and the re-broadcast of a taped and delayed broadcasted community event. "City-sponsored community events," or "community events sponsored by the City of EI Cajon," shall be defined as those community events having received a community events permit in accordance with Chapter 5.52 of the EI Cajon Municipal Code, or otherwise approved by the City Council, and which have either received financial contribution from the City of EI Cajon, or designation by the City Council as being sponsored, or co-sponsored, by the City.
3. Preference shall next be given to the broadcast, whether live or tape delayed, of community events having received a community events permit, but which are not sponsored by the City of EI Cajon.
4. Preference shall next be given to the broadcast of educational materials delivered to the City Manager in broadcast-ready format. The City Manager shall determine whether the materials are in "broadcast-ready format" taking into consideration the equipment utilized by the franchisee for the proper broadcast on the Government Access Channel.

CITY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT:
USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL UNDER
CATV FRANCHISE
REFERENCE:
	ADOPTED 12/17/02
Policy A-25
Effective 12/17/02
Page 3 of 5
Public Meetinqs of Other Government Jurisdictions - Public meetings held in the Council Chambers by other governmental jurisdictions such as schools, State or Federal government may be videotaped and aired on the Government Access Channel if approved by the City Manager or his/her designee in advance of the event. The City maintains the right to request compensation for actual costs incurred for the coverage of other governmental jurisdiction meetings at the City's discretion.
CONTENT RESTRICTIONS
All content of the Government Access Channel shall be under the sole responsibility of the City of EI Cajon. All content on the Channel shall be subject to approval by the City Manager or his/her designee. Any decision by the City Manager may be appealed to the City Council at the request of the applicant. The following content guidelines shall be adhered to:
1.
Political Use of Government Access Channel- The Channel may not be utilized for the promotion or "use" of any elected official or candidate. Specific advertising messages on behalf of or opposing any political candidate or measure on a ballot shall not be permitted. Candidates for election or re-election to any office shall not be permitted to "use" the Channel, except as may be part of a formal public meeting from the time of their legally qualified candidacy until after the election. The Channel is exempt from providing equal opportunities to a candidate under Section 76.205 of the Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") for time incumbents spend on the Channel when performing the routine duties of their position, including participation at regular and special sessions of the City Council, other public meetings and bonafide news events.
Position Advocacy - Any direct advocacy messages including specific promotional messages on behalf of or opposing any ballot initiative, measure
proposed by a City Department, or items under consideration of the City Council' or its commissions or advisory bodies shall generally not be permitted. Issues of controversy covered by the Channel shall be presented in a reasonably fair and equitable manner.
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2.
3.
Commercialism - There shall be no commercial advertising or other information which promotes the sale of any product or service offered, except for promotional announcements for City sponsored or sanctioned events. All programming shall be consistent with the appropriate Council Policies pertaining to commercialism.

SUBJECT:
USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL UNDER CATV FRANCHISE
REFERENCE:
	ADOPTED 12/17/02
4.
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CITY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL POLICY
Policy A-25
Effective 12/17/02
Page 4of5
Lotteries - Advertising or other information concerning any lottery, gift enterprise or similar promotion is prohibited.
5.
Promotion of Reliqion - Programming which directly promotes religious beliefs or religious philosophies shall not be presented on the Channel.
6.
Defamatorv Material- Subject matter which is defamatory in nature (i.e. slander) shall not be presented on the Channel.
7.
Indecent or Obscene Content - There shall be no presentation of programming content which, in the opinion of the City Manager or his/her designee, is indecent, obscene or illegal.
8.
Copvriqht Restrictions - Programs containing copyrighted materials will not be telecast without proper copyright authorization. Outside agencies submitting programming for telecast are responsible for obtaining all necessary copyright clearance and shall hold the City, its officers and agents, harmless in any case of copyright infringement.
PROGRAM PLAYBACK LOG
A daily log shall be kept of all programming telecast on the Government Access Channel for each playback day. Log information shall include program title, airtime,
length of program or other information as deemed appropriate.	.
RETENTION OF VIDEOTAPED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Telecast master magnetic medium of City Council meetings will be kept by the City Clerk's Office for a minimum of 6 months. Magnetic medium may be recycled after being maintained for the minimum amount of time. A duplicate tape will be made of each telecast master utilizing VHS or DVD format or better and maintained by the City Manager's Office for a minimum of one year.
Programming telecast by the City of EI Cajon shall be kept as long as deemed necessary by the City. Raw, stock footage of events shall be maintained solely at the discretion of the City.

CITY OF EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL POLICY

SUBJECT:
	.. USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL UNDER
	CATV FRANCHISE
	REFERENCE:
	ADOPTED 12/17/02

..
Policy A-25
Effective 12/17/02
Page 5 of 5
Programming accepted for telecast from other sources may be retained for repeat telecasting at the discretion of the City unless other arrangements are made in writing. Upon request, videotapes will be returned to the owner/producer after final telecast. Tapes not returned may be recycled for other programming.
VIDEOTAPE DUPLICATION
Requests for duplication of videotapes from the City Clerk's Office shall be submitted in a reasonable length of time prior to the requested completion date. At the option of the City Clerk, a "Video Duplication Request Form" may be required.
All requests for duplication of videotapes shall be accompanied by appropriate videotape format to be provided by the individual or organization requesting the dub unless the videotape is provided by the City Clerk for dubbing, the requesting individual or organization may be billed, at cost, for the quantity of tape used for the dubbing.
The requesting individual or organization may be billed for the appropriate personnel costs for duplication.
"
The City Clerk may bill the requesting individual or organization, at cost, for time incurred to search and queue videotaped coverage of City Council and other agency or board meetings.
USE OF GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL DURING EMERGENCIES
Government use of the Government Access Channel during emergencies and disasters declared by the Mayor of the City of EI Cajon or his/her designee has absolute priority over other programming. During such emergencies or disasters, the Channel shall be permitted to accept live, taped, character-generated and audio information from other government or non-governmental entities when such announcements are deemed by the Mayor, City Manager or their designee to provide important public information pertaining to the emergency or disaster or other conditions requiring protection of the public health, safety and welfare.