|
|
Let's Make Sure Pegasys isn't Lost in Shuffle
Proposal to cap or reduce funding worth exploring, but has its pitfalls
8/5/2003
While other portions of city government have been pinched for funds in recent years, Enid's public-access television station, PEGASYS, has benefited from a healthy and growing source of income. Franchise fees paid by cable TV provider Cox Communications funnel more than $300,000 per year into the PEGASYS budget.
That might change soon. A proposal by Enid City Manager Bill Gamble would cap and probably reduce funding for PEGASYS. It's a concept worth exploring, but it has potential pitfalls, too. First, it's important to reaffirm the value of PEGASYS, which provides public access to cable television viewers in Enid. Three local-access channels reach about 16,000 households subscribing to cable. It's a way average residents can get involved in the public process, no matter what their cause or opinion. It's also a way of connecting local government with local residents - at least those who choose to watch local-access channels - through broadcasting local government meetings and announcements. Only one other Oklahoma community has such a station. In addition to the paid PEGASYS staff, more than 225 volunteers use the studios in the Cherokee Strip Conference Center. Clearly it's a service worth preserving, something city leaders need to remember as they tinker with the revenue stream. But PEGASYS isn't a sacred cow. Funding decisions made five years ago should not make PEGASYS or allocation of the cable TV franchise fees immune from review. The local-access station should stand alongside other municipal services as city government policy-makers decide which programs need more, the same or less money in any given year. That may be a change for PEGASYS, which has benefited from a 27 percent increase in franchise fee funds over the last five years. Those fees now make up 95 percent of the PEGASYS budget. But continued growth of franchise fees doesn't mean local-access television needs to keep growing, especially while other, more traditional city services are being cut. Enid city commissioners should consider a variety of uses for future cable TV franchise fees. However, they must appreciate what an asset PEGASYS is to the community and make sure it doesn't get trashed in some future funding shuffle.
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
voice of reason
writes:
|
|
|
"Do the city commissioners really believe we are so naive not to notice that the poll is EXACTLY fixed so that the 'those who do not watch at all' and 'those who watch everyday' are spaced JUST RIGHT so that one will always be EXACTLY so far ahead no more, no less????? Come on people, get out of Ausie and Harriot land and quit leaving it to Beaver...This is not Mayberry and no justice will be dealt from any honest Andy and Barney!!!!!!!!!!!! Wake up!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heather
writes:
|
|
|
"Who made you the 'Voice of Reason' and what exactly is it that you are ranting and raving about??"
|
|
|
|
|
|
voice of reason
writes:
|
|
|
"the United States freedom of speech act gave me the right, honey."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Fear
writes:
|
|
|
"Heather, at least 'Voice' has something to say, not just questioning why someone chooses to do so. Your tone sounds more like the City Commissioners asking why the town seemed so ourtraged over their fate being secretly determined. Isn't a Heather full of pollen filled flowers and a source of allergies? I think whoever 'Voice' is has perfect right to speak their mind without being questioned, ranting and raving to one person is another's free speech. Which side are you on?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craig
writes:
|
|
|
"Ausie and Harriot? Nieve? Come on people, let's try getting hooked on phonics. Ozzie and Harriet are not so naive as to think you know what you are talking about."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heather
writes:
|
|
|
"The point is, I don't get their point! I don't even know what 'voice' is talking about. It's unclear. And why is 'voice' using an alias? Dr. Fear, you are easily recognizable to anyone who pays any attention to the world around them but 'voice' is not. Do they have something to hide? And why are they the voice of reason? What makes them the absolute athority on the whole thing? The story that 'voice' is commenting on seems more reasonable, approaching the subject with a clear mind and few prejudices. And the First Amendment may give you the right to speak out but it does not make you the voice of reason. I do not know everything, neither do you. I'm not always reasonable and neither are you. So why do you pretend to be always right? It's pointless. I just think that calling yourself the 'voice of reason' is a little presumptious. By the way, my name is Heather so there is nothing to read into it. I was named after an actress my dad thought was hot. :)"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heather
writes:
|
|
|
"Besides, if you have read any of my other posts (as I have read several of your posts Dr. Fear) you'd realize that I really dislike the way our city is being run. That doesn't mean however, that I agree completely with everyone that dislikes our 'city fathers.' I might agree with you on one point but disagree with you on another. That doesn't make us on different sides. By the way, when were there sides? The government isn't an us vs. them type of thing. We have to work together. Right now, the citizens and the government aren't doing such a good job of getting along and working together but that will change. Bill Gamble will see the error of his ways or we'll get rid of him and then everything will be better. But I didn't know I had to pick sides."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heather
writes:
|
|
|
"By the way, 'voice' it's not the Freedom of Speech Act, it's the First Amendment to the Constitution."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erik
writes:
|
|
|
"Pegasys has been a valuable method of artistic expression (which Enid desperately needs) and community service for years now and we would hate to see it go! For the number of people it reaches in the outlying areas around Enid, I would think expansion would be more the goal than cancellation."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trenton
writes:
|
|
|
"My name is Trenton Thomas. I like Pegasys. I was on it once and it was really neat! Some of my frineds have helped to make shows and were on t.v. too."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susan
writes:
|
|
|
"I would love to be able to watch pegasys but I have to have direct-tv, I live out south of Hillsdale and we can't get cox cable. It would be nice if we could see the local station pegasys."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Victor Torson
writes:
|
|
|
"I have already made clear my feelings about Pegasys (valuable) and about Bill Gamble (worthless, fire him,) but this time I would just like to comment on the 'voice' vs. 'Heather' debate. Actually, Heather seems much the more logical intelligent person, but why doesn't everybody use their right names? If I have an opinion, I am willing to let everyone know that it is MY opinion!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Fear
writes:
|
|
|
"Heather and friends, I know 'Voice' personally and she was upset when she wrote to you, so if you pounce on her for that, I would hate to see what goes on in your everyday lives! But this aside, personal attacks on people really do not make you seem the better person now does it? This is a heated issue and it has many people upset, so if you wish to insult 'Voice' or anyone else in this manner, then you insult me. If you watch our show, you see we use our free speech fairly liberally and will continue to do so. 'Voice' is a member of our show, so you are taking a stab at the show as well. Instead of simply reacting next time, please consider the person's (whom you really dont know) feelings first!
How can I take over the world with all of this bickering? Sheeeesshshshhh!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heather
writes:
|
|
|
"You're right Trenton. Pegasys is just a neat place. It'd be a downright shame for it to lose funding. Maybe if more people got involved, the city would be more inclined to leave it's funding the way it is...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
jenn
writes:
|
|
|
"Pegasys is a great tool for Enid to spread word about happenings. It is helpful to have access to the many wonderful activities and programs, such as the SPCA, and learn of all the events that we as a community can be a part of."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clara Listensprechen
writes:
|
|
|
"Hey, folks, easy. I just discovered that Gamble disses PEGASYS on a regular basis--when they set up to do a Commission meeting, Gamble screws up the audio on purpose by turning his mike down toward the table instead of leaving it set up properly. Looks like we don't have a city manager but our own li'l dictator.
A similar thing is happening in the banana-republic of Costa Rica, where a new head of a university is trying to close down a radio station that's been on the air from that campus for decades. Same kind of deal, same kind of ham-handed muzzling, same kind of holier-than-thou self-righteous domineering attitude. http://www.rfpi.org"
|
|
|
|
|
