HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment from Jim Quinlanis V Good evening, Honorable Mayor and City Council Members. My name Jim Quinlan, and I'm here to address an important opportunity for our community's future communication infrastructure. As you deliberate on budget priorities amid financial constraints, I'd like to bring to your attention an innovative solution for SBTV that could simultaneously address multiple challenges our city faces. SBTV has served as a vital communication channel for Seal Beach for decades. However, like many community television stations nationwide, we face two significant challenges: declining cable franchise fee revenue and aging technical infrastructure. The numbers tell a concerning story. Our PEG fees continue to decrease as more residents cut the cord from traditional cable. At the same time, our control room equipment and council chamber cameras desperately need modernization to serve our community effectively. And as you're aware, we still lack a station manager to guide SBTV's operations during this critical transition period. Understanding the city's fiscal limitations, I'm proposing a strategic alternative to traditional funding requests —transforming SBTV into a Community Media Access Collaborative, or CMAC. The CMAC model, exemplified successfully by Fresno's community media organization, offers a path to financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams. Instead of relying solely on declining franchise fees, a CMAC can generate funding through: Membership programs for residents and organizations Production services for local businesses and nonprofits Grant opportunities that become available with 501(c)(3) status Corporate sponsorships and community partnerships Educational programming and workforce development This transformation would secure SBTV's financial future and expand its role as a community resource. A CMAC could: Provide media training for residents of all ages, creating pathways to careers in digital communication Offer modern production facilities that local businesses and organizations can access • Develop emergency communication capabilities to keep our community informed during critical situations Create professional -quality content that promotes economic development and tourism Bridge generational gaps by engaging youth with technology while preserving our seniors' community knowledge I must emphasize that a critical component of this transformation is the immediate need to hire a qualified station manager. Without dedicated leadership to oversee this significant transition, coordinate equipment reconfiguration, and manage our infrastructure upgrades, even the best - planned improvements will struggle to succeed. A station manager is essential to implement these changes effectively and ensure SBTV can fulfill its expanded mission. We already have momentum behind this vision. The Seal Beach Lions Club has assembled a committee of 23+ dedicated volunteers ready to support this transformation. We're working on a comprehensive proposal modeled after Fresno's successful CMAC, outlining implementation phases, funding projections, and community benefits. As you consider budget priorities today, I request your awareness of this developing initiative and your openness to reviewing our formal proposal in the near future. The transformation to a CMAC model could resolve the current challenges facing SBTV while creating a valuable community resource that's financially sustainable for years to come. In the spirit of Robin Fort-Lincke's legacy, we can evolve SBTV into something that preserves its fundamental mission while expanding its capabilities for a digital future. I look forward to sharing our detailed proposal soon and working together to strengthen communication in our beloved Seal Beach. Thank you for your time and consideration.