DEPARTMENT: Government & Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Interlocal Agreements with six (6) local colleges and universities awarding each institution Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Channel funds for the development of TVSA Education Access Channel (“TVSA-Education Channel”) programming.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves interlocal agreements between the City and San Antonio College, University of Texas - San Antonio, Texas A & M - San Antonio, Our Lady of the Lake University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Trinity University, respectively; each institution is granted $50,000.00 in Public Educational, and Governmental (“PEG”) Access Channel funds for the development of the City’s TVSA-Education Channel programming.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Pursuant to Chapter 66 of the Texas Utilities Code, the City receives PEG fees from certificated cable and video providers operating in and providing service in the City. The City is also responsible for management and operation of the City’s PEG Access Channels. Chapter 66 also requires that PEG funds be spent on capital costs that support PEG access channel facilities.
The City identified 2-year and 4-year accredited colleges and universities with physical facilities located within the City’s municipal boundaries to be appropriate candidates for the grants. Each institution offers Filmmaking, Television or Video Production programs or classes as part of their curriculum.
The grantees agree to purchase approved equipment up-front and provide the City written invoices for reimbursement. The grantees will use grant funds to develop and deliver original television programming for possible use on the TVSA-Education Channel. The grantees agree to work with ACCD as the point of distribution for the TVSA-Education Channel.
Since 2006, the Alamo Community College District (“ACCD”) has been responsible for the daily operation of the City’s TVSA-Education Channel. The mission of TVSA-Education Channel is to provide the San Antonio community with quality educational programming and enhanced educational opportunities. Current programming on the channel includes distance learning courses offered by local private and public colleges and universities, original programming from universities and K-12 schools, as well as arts, news, weather, and local information.
Funds in the amount of $300,000.00 are available as a Carry-Forward from the FY 2019 Adopted Budget for the purpose of providing PEG grants to local qualifying educational institutions. The proposed ordinance provides that grantees can use the PEG funding only for capital expenditures (equipment) for use in the grantee’s Film, Television or Video Production programs and classes. The purpose of the funding is to increase the amount and quality of local programming on TVSA-Education Channel, and to increase student knowledge, experience and skills with tv/film production equipment thereby also increasing the talent availability for the local film and television industry.
ISSUE:
Through the grants, the amount and quality of local programming airing on TVSA-Education Channel should increase. An additional benefit is that local students enrolled in the grantees’ programs should have increased access to new television and film production equipment, thereby increasing their knowledge of and experience with industry standard equipment. This should have a residual effect of increasing talent availability for the local film and television industry.
ALTERNATIVES:
The qualifying local educational institutions will continue to manage their Filmmaking, Television and Video Production programs and classes without the benefit of PEG funds to replace outdated production equipment for use in their degree programs. There possibly could be less locally produced programs available by students enrolled in these educational programs for air on the City’s TVSA-Education Channel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance approves an interlocal agreements between the City and San Antonio College, University of Texas - San Antonio, Texas A & M - San Antonio, Our Lady of the Lake University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Trinity University, respectively; that grants each institution $50,000.00 in Public Educational, and Governmental (“PEG”) Access Channel funds; and establish requirements under which these educational institutions may purchase capital equipment used to develop and produce original television programming for possible use on the City’s TVSA-Education Channel for a total cost of $300,000.00. Funds in the amount of $300,000.00 are available as a Carry-Forward from the FY 2019 Adopted Budget. If this Ordinance is approved, there is an additional one-year renewal term that can be exercised at the sole discretion of the City. Funds for the additional one-year renewal period would have to be approved in the City’s FY 2021 Adopted Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends approval of the interlocal agreements between the City of San Antonio and San Antonio College, University of Texas - San Antonio, Texas A & M - San Antonio, Our Lady of the Lake University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Trinity University, respectively for the development of programming for the TVSA-Education Channel.