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Channel Use Guidelines

It is the mission of the Willmar Regional Access Channels to provide opportunities for individuals, educational, governmental, civic and charitable groups to produce and cablecast programs that will promote open expression, bilingual education, economic growth, public forums and enrichment of the multi-cultural, artistic and civic aspects of life in the regional area of Willmar.

The Willmar Regional Access Channels shall be available to any individual or other entity wishing to cablecast programs of nature consistent with the mission statement above who is a resident or doing its principle business in the city or county of Kandiyohi on a first come, first served basis and will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, or handicap.

The equipment and facilities available for the Public Access Channels are to be used on a priority basis to produce programming to be cablecast on the access channels unless the proposed use has the prior approval. Use of the equipment and facilities for non-public purpose will not be authorized.

Program Guidelines

● Programs submitted for cablecast may not contain: obscene or indecent materials as defined by community standards, fundraising material not in compliance with law, or programming that libels, slanders or infringes upon copyright ownership.

● Programs cablecast may have underwriters that can be acknowledged at the beginning, middle and/or end of the program.

● Any person submitting or producing a program to be cablecast assumes responsibility for program content and will be required to sign a Cablecast Request Form.

● Any person, which fails to abide by the program guidelines, will not be accepted for cablecasting.

● Programs only need to be cablecast on two separate dates, then may be placed at the end of the filler rotation rack for later air dates.

Access Equipment

Public access equipment and facilities are available at no charge to residents of the City of Willmar or Kandiyohi County.

Equipment Check-out / Check-in Procedures

● Accessor accepts full responsibility for damage to equipment or facilities.

● Accessor will report any problems with equipment upon return or use of it.

● All equipment must be checked-out and returned at the scheduled appointment time.

Training

Training is offered on a first come, first served, non-discriminatory basis. Free orientation, basic camcorder, editing and field production training can be scheduled with staff.

Community Announcements

Currently, there are no airtime charges for community announcements. Announcements may be furnished to the studio in writing and should contain all pertinent information, including a contact person and a phone number.

Format

Currently the Willmar Regional Access Channel can support the following formats: VHS ● SVHS ● 3/4 ● Digital ● DVD

Studio Sets

Sets for studio shoots may be provided by either the studio, accessor, or underwriter. Accessor will not be allowed to use established sets for other programs shot in the studio.

Dubbing

One copy of a program produced for the Willmar Regional Access Channels may be dubbed for the producer, free of charge, on a tape provided by the producer when requested within one week after the program is submitted. Fees for additional copies will be assessed by the Access Coordinator.

General

The Willmar Regional Access Channels are a branch of the City of Willmar. The guidelines of its channels will be implemented on an operational basis by its coordinator. Day to day decisions of particular matters will be at the discretion of the coordinator and will include but are not limited to the following:

● Whether or not staff will tape, produce, edit or cablecast any particular program, activity or event.

● Whether or not a particular program will air, the time it will air, what channel it will air on, and what forms or permission may be necessary for airing.

● Determine the scheduling of access equipment checkout, training, editing, and studio facilities.

Preferences

The City of Willmar will have the final determination over any conflicting preferences in these guidelines or dispute not covered by these guidelines.

Failure to comply with these guidelines may subject the access user to forfeit the right to use access equipment, studio facilities, or airtime as may be determined by the coordinator. An appeal of any decision in this regard may be made to the City of Willmar Cable Advisory Committee.

Programs cablecast on the Willmar Regional Access Channels do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the City of Willmar and/or its employees.