Monday, July 28, 2003
 
Clipping the wings of PEGASYS
Officials eye impact of decreasing the budget for the community's public access television station
7/28/2003
By Cindy Allen
Managing Editor

City Manager Bill Gamble admits he's posing more questions than giving answers when he considers the possibility of decreasing cable franchise fee funding to PEGASYS by 50 percent over the next five years.

However, based on the last five years, the franchise fee from Cox Communications that goes to PEGASYS has increased about 27 percent, and he wonders "just how big PEGASYS should be."

The issue came up for discussion July 24 during a special Enid City Commission study session.

PEGASYS is Enid's public access television station that has received funds from the franchise for cable television since 1995. According to Gamble, the fund has grown from $280,000 in 1998 to $350,000 in 2003.

The fund has the potential to get another dramatic increase because there is national litigation about whether Internet fees Cox collects should also go to that franchise agreement. Currently, those Internet fees are not included in the franchise agreement.

As the city looks at finding ways to fund economic development initiatives in Enid, city officials are asking whether some of that money in the future can be dedicated toward economic development.

The initial thought of losing 50 percent of the franchise fee over five years is daunting to Wendy Quarles, director of PEGASYS. Yet, she is in the process of trying to determine just what the five-year needs of PEGASYS are going to be so she can better inform the city commission about the impact of the station, which is one of only two public access stations in the state of Oklahoma.

Gamble has suggested during the five years in which city funding to PEGASYS would be reduced, the station could develop partnerships with the private sector or educational institutions to add to its revenue coffers.

Quarles is skeptical the station will be able to raise funds this way.

"We have an online access forum, and I've been asking centers all across the country, what do you suggest for funding opportunities?" Quarles said. "The response has been that others have not been successful at fund raising as far as grants or partnerships. They are really tough because everyone is strapped for funding."

The idea of receiving more money from educational institutions isn't realistic either, at least not at this time, she said. Funding for education is being cut at all levels.

Already, PEGASYS has had its funding for foreign language programs from Enid Public Schools cut by more than half.

She does believe the station can grow its membership base, but memberships fees are only $18 per year for individuals.

The idea of reducing franchise funding doesn't necessarily mean funding for PEGASYS would be half what it is today, Gamble points out. Since franchise fees are growing - along with the potential impact if Internet fees become a part of funding - PEGASYS' budget still could grow.

"What I proposed is not to abandon PEGASYS," Gamble said. "But the franchise fee has grown well ahead of inflation. How big should PEGASYS be? It's like any organization, you're going to spend the money that comes to you. To me, it's a public policy issue."

Quarles said PEGASYS wants to be fair to the community.

"We believe in economic development, but we want to maintain services," she said. "We're really happy with what we've got."

Quarles points out the annual budget for PEGASYS is conservative. The station does not spend all the money it gets from the franchise agreement. Money brought in but not spent is put into the general fund and accrues interest.

That accrual came in handy a couple of years ago when the station upgraded to a digital system. The money that had been accrued paid for the $250,000 comprehensive upgrade to digital tape technology.

The PEGASYS board will meet at noon Tuesday, and Quarles said the topic will be an item for discussion. Also, PEGASYS is planning to do a survey to find out the viewership of the station as it prepares to present information to the city commission in the future.



PEGASYS 2003-04 BUDGETED INCOME

Cox Communications franchise fee $318,500

Tape dubbing 700

Memberships 4,000

School revenue 5,000

Tapes 500

Fund raising 1,250

Interest earnings 6,000

Miscellaneous utilities 600

Miscellaneous 300

TOTAL REVENUE $336,850

 
Comments
 
brakhot shel shalom writes:
 
"PEGASYS funding must not be cut. By cutting the funding you are cutting the voice of the community. Because it is not the required elements of public access that will suffer, it is the right to free speech and the ability to enact that right that will suffer. PEGASYS is one of the few creative outlets in this town, and by cutting it you are stifling the voice of the artists and the intellectuals in this town. They will all leave in search of another outlet in another town. By cutting the funding you are cutting jobs of skilled technical people, who will have to contribute to another community instead. The common citizen will no longer have a voice. PEGASYS is our voice, our canvas, and our freedom. Please do not take it away."
 
Dr. Fear writes:
 
"You should know me well by now, and what I do for the public on PEGASYS. I not only give Enid its own access to old fun movies but a healthy escape for a short time. We all have grown up watching shows JUST LIKE the Mysterious Lab and we all have fond memories of it. After doing this for a year now, we are just now seeing the effects on Enid and its people: we have brought a little fun and dark whimsy into childrens' lives and adults can watch the movies they used to see when they were young and not seen on ANY OTHER channel given to us in this city. I gave four 'curses' to the Crude's rival teams and out of that, three of them worked, you people are starting to look like a rival indoor football team to me...

If this joker loses PEGASYS for us, we lose him, is this a deal?

In fact, to combat this nonsense, it might be possible to air a forum on our radio show for people about this...? 104.7 The Rocket, Sunday nights 9PM to 10PM, 'The Mysterious Hour of Dr. Fear.'

Listen in the morning shows this week and give Scott and Anita calls!

Fear doesn't gamble, so dont gamble with Fear!"
 
Tim Eck "Eretz Sus Lavan" writes:
 
"It ranks in the same strata as when we demolished our Carnegie Library and successfully entered the history books in the national registry as 'come visit our brand new parking lot'.

In the age of Orwell, we don't know the true extent of our beloved technology when we seek to place a super computer in every dwelling on the face of the earth (Something ten years ago would have been unimaginable).

We need a special open voice for the individual in the community.

Instead maybe you should double the budget and build fences with armed guards to protect the voice of the people.

My show on Pegasys 'American Music Coalition' associated with two radio stations will get out the world for this new 'Carnegie Library' project."
 
Clara Listensprechen writes:
 
"Isn't Gamble the same short-sighted myopic official that thought our growing business district on Route 60 West (W. Garriott) was 'sprawl'? Here he is again unable to see past his nose. When tourists come to this town, the first cable channel to give 'em a peek into Enid is Pegasys on a TV in a hotel room.

It's bad enough that the higher bed-tax puts a kibosh on Enid-bound tourists; it's bad enough that Vance fly-overs endanger our tourist traffic as much as they do businesses like ALDI's; but when Gamble is too blind to see that Pegasys is part and parcel of giving tourists a piece of Enid, that's a dereliction of the duty he's vested with in the office he holds. Send that boy packing."
 
Rick writes:
 
"How about this novel idea: if the franchise fee is generating too much money, how about LOWERING the franchise fee for the rate-payer. The francise fee on my cable bill last month was $4.05...I wouldn't mind having some of that money back, if Mr. Gamble wouldn't mind too much."
 
knows the truth writes:
 
"Why does Bill Gamble want to take PEGASYS' funding? Could it be that he doesn't want the City Commission meetings broadcast anymore?"
 
Knows the truth writes:
 
"Instead of taking the PEGASYS funding for economic development, I have to wonder why our City Manager doesn't promote 'using' PEGASYS for new businesses and industries thinking about locating here? Where else can they get free publicity broadcast directly into the homes of 16,000 citizens. PEGASYS is a shining star for Enid. Our City Council should insist that the City Manager support what we have built here, instead of trying to tear it down."
 
T_ann writes:
 
"My advice is keep your cotton pickin hands off of the pegysus money Bill! I would like to see this station available to those whose choose to receive TV by HA. For those of you young ones...that is 'House Antennae'"
 
Divine Ms M writes:
 
"Instead of asking for money from the education system, we should be picking up the slack where the education system has had to cut back on their programming. Pegasys is an asset to our community and should not be put in jeopardy."
 
Justin Ford writes:
 
"I think we all know that PEGASYS isn't going to get any additional funding from the economically 'down-turned' private sector or from the cash strapped educational institutions. When I read Gamble's argument I'm reminded of a 2000 presidential election cliché: 'new math.' If the cable franchise increases by a similar amount that it has in the last five years, lets say 30%, and PEGASYS' funding simultaneously decreases by 50% I don't think that Gamble's claim that PEGASYS' funding could still grow has much credence. The franchise is presently $318,500 of PEGASYS' budget. In five years, at my project growth rate, it would be $414,050. If that funding is reduced by 50%, PEGASYS would see $207,025, a 35% decrease from their present funding and a 22% decrease from their funding five years ago. Speaking of income outpacing inflation, I think Gamble has found the formula to send PEGASYS to the same grave yard presently occupied by Silicon Valley's finest."
 
Alien Overlord writes:
 
"Enid took a gamble with Gamble and its losing. Look at the frightening pace of financial and political side-stepping he is already doing in a short time. Not only is he apt to enforce very Nazi-like citizen monitoring to maintain his envisioned 'look' that this town should follow, not letting citizens live free and decide for themselves. But he is judging 'how big should Pegasys be'? Who is he to wonder that? The City Commission is typically incompetant about matters and what they are not telling you is that by April, the franchise fee that aids Pegasys will be over, and they want to X it out by then. They know how hard it is for funding to come for these stations and they know it will crumble forthwith once this rule is enacted. What they did not tell the public also was that their first meeting last Tuesday was meant to be in more or less secret from the public, which is against Oklahoma State law, but people were tipped off about it. Sneaky and so spineless!"
 
Not Suprised writes:
 
"Enid, like most poorly ran cities, punishes the local arts to make do with their money problems. What do jaded and wealthy politicians care about the art scene? They would prefer to have power over the public rather than to enhance it through arts, etc. This was only a matter of time before it happened, what money do they need now? The City heads are a shame and an embarrasment!"
 
Heather writes:
 
"At least Bill Gamble seems to be stepping more lightly lately....Pegasys is definately an asset to the community. It's economic stimulus in and of itself. There are people that drive 3 hours just to take the training courses at Pegasys! We probably have one of the better community access stations in the state. We can't let Pegasys's funding get cut. Pegasys is one of the few things that Enid can be really proud of."
 
Victor Torson writes:
 
"Why cut down on the potential of a valuable public service like Pegysus? Doesn't the term 'economic development' usually deteriorate into paid junkets for the so-called communtiy leaders to far off and exotic lands? More like a paid vacation trip for people well-off enough to pay for their own pleasure trips."
 
crown jewel writes:
 
"Pegasys is something Enid can be proud of. It's a nice asset to the town. I'm for trying to diversify its funding, but let's not cut its legs off."
 

 © 2003 The Enid News & Eagle.

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