Don't Touch That Dial

EXCITING CHANGES AT CHANNEL 14

2008-09-29T20:19:43Z

Well, the construction is finished in the cable studio and a couple of shows have already been taped, although there were some minor problems. The new area is going to provide storage for equipment available to the public and space for archiving all the video from the past 25 years. It will also ease the stress on the technical parts of the studio, ( control room and stage). This should make things much more efficient for the media studies class, cable access shows and the TV production classes that all originate from the studio. We have our best base of volunteers right now but are always looking for people interested in teleproduction to join in the fun.

Broadcasting has been a nightmare this last 3 months. The server used to store and broadcast programming had a few issues and they seemed to rotate in and out. Fix one issue, and by the time I would get home, another issue would pop up. Some of the problems were related to concrete dust and humidity, while others were related to new hard drives with that needed updating. Black screens and bad or no audio were common place. Timing is everything because the company that makes the server introduced a new version that does streaming video to the INTERNET. They are offering an upgrade so they will take the original in trade. What will this mean to Channel 14? Well you will have to wait for our announcement later this month. It will prove to be a major change to communications here in our fair village.

This Week on Channel 14

FOCUS on Our Children....Beth Harwood begins a new season by spending time with parents and educators involved in the 4-k program. Dr. Keith Marty makes his first appearance of the year to discuss the renovation, and planning for the new year.

I Remember...Menomonee Falls. How was the Village of Menomonee Falls established? Well only one person from the group responsible for chartering our future is around to tell the story. Herb Gross Sr. spends time with Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald and host Jim Jeskewitz with the fascinating series of events that led to the Village as we know today.

High School Football. Well it appears that the Menomonee Falls boys football team knows when to pour it on. For the 2nd time this year they ran away from their opponents in front of the Channel 14 cameras. This week watch them take it to Tosa East from Schumann stadium.

Baseball Documentary. Well now that the Brewers are in the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, we found a documentary on baseball through the eyes of journalist and it's effect on history. Interesting and fairly well done.

AS ALWAYS...STAY TUNED!

Use Your Library Card to see the 24th Assembly Voters Forum

2008-08-28T14:05:01Z

Falls Cable Access sponsored 2 Voters Forums last week for the 24th Assembly seat vacated by retiring representative Sue Jeskewitz. (A lot of people would like to see her pull a Brett Favre). With so many issues and so many candidates, it was necessary to spread it out over 2 evenings. Karen Nelson the host of Village Voices on Channel 14 and John Mercure investigative reporter from WTMJ handled the duties of moderator and did an excellent job.

The forum went so well and gave such a good look into a group of eager candidates that we have looked into several ways to share the information with those that don't have cable in the district. ( I call them the uninformed). Video rental stores and the Movie theater were approached to help but timing became an issue. So we have turned to the Public Library to help spread the word. As soon as Friday there will be copies of the forum available for 1 or 2 day check out. With only a few days left till the election this may be the only chance to view all the candidates in action. The public does a much better job of choosing representatives when they are provided unbiased information on all candidates, instead of just the science of yard signs and fliers. So tune into the Voters Forum on channel 14 this week or stop in at the library and check out a DVD, so that you can make a informed choice on September 9th. It is a primary election, but with a full ballot on the Republican side it is an important one.

You can also see bio information on the candidates at William Weavers web blog http://blogs.menomoneefallsnow.com/hunting_season/archive/2008/08/18/the-24th-assembly-district-candidates-in-their-own-words.aspx

COMING SOON!

For those of you without cable in Menomonee Falls...Time Warner has signed an agreement with the Big Ten Network. So for those of you that made your video provider choice based on watching Badger football, you can now enjoy both the Big Ten and community television. Wow!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Don't ask. The cable studio has dropped to the bottom of the priority list and rightfully so. Because the media studies class starts with more theory than hands on they can use the new choir room to start the semester. Although I can't imagine what it will take to complete the massive cleanup, I have been assured by several of the crew that all will be ready for the students on September 2nd.

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

School District of Menomonee Fall.... The annual meeting and budget hearing will be airing at it's regular time on Monday evenings in addition to a few other select time slots during the week.

24th Assembly Voters Forum... The two forums mentioned above will air at least once everyday until the primary. Think of it as a warm up to the barrage of political media content heading our way for the November Presidential election.

"The Show #3"...Gordon Kirchoff has promised to have his third installment of skits and local information ready any day and FCAC will get it on the air ASAP.

"Baseball by Howard Rosenthal" a viewer has provided sponsorship for an access produced documentary on America's Pastime, and it sound very interesting. We haven't viewed it yet but it has gotten great reviews elsewhere.

Look for the Cable Access Trailer at the High School Football game this Friday.

AS ALWAYS.....STAY TUNED!

Public Invited to Voters Forum

2008-08-19T16:42:41Z

The public is invited to 2 Voters Forums this week at the Menomonee Falls Community Center. Tuesday evening (Aug. 19th), Falls Cable Access and specifically "Village Voices" is sponsoring the first forum which includes all of the candidates for 24th Assembly position vacated by retiring Rep. Sue Jeskewitz and the candidates for Wisconsin 5th district Congressional seat. The forum start promptly at 7:00. Questions were chosen by an independent committee, and there will be no questions from the audience. Karen Nelson host of Village Voices will be the moderator and ask the questions.

Thursday's forum (Aug. 21st) will include just the candidates for the Assembly position. Start time is also 7:00 at the Community Center with a similar format and different questions. The moderator and sponsor are finalizing the forum at this time. A third forum sponsored by the Menomonee Falls Community Chamber is in the works, more on that as it developers.

These forums are being taped by Falls Cable Access to be shown on Channel 14 n the Falls and copies are being made for Germantown to run on their cable system also. Those that don't have cable in the 24th district (I'm telling you, it's better and offers more interaction) are invited to see the candidates in person so they can make an informed choice come election day.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Well, school starts on the 2nd of September, and the word is that almost everything will be complete in the high school. There will be some re-location of some of the music department classes and media studies is not a lock yet either. But in both cases the new areas aren't essential to the first few weeks of classes and it is more important to finish them without cutting corners. The will be ready soon enough and from what I have seen the citizens of Menomonee Falls will be very impressed with the changes and upgrades they have provided for the future of Menomonee Falls education. As for the cable studio, the construction crew has been very accommodating, but just about once a week someone kicks out a cable or trips a breaker sending channel 14 to black. They promised my office would be ready for re-assembling the equipment used to broadcast our signal, on Monday the 18th and we have a stack of new programs to go on the air. I will find out in an hour or so if that is true.

NEXT WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

Army Newswatch has a few new shows and we will air them all as we catch up. Families of our service personnel are always looking to this program for inside information on the environment of their loved ones.

Reel Movie with Matt & Paul has their remote show in the can and waiting to be aired. Although it previews summer blockbusters that have been out for a while, my guess is that once the kids are back in school that may be the time to take in a good movie. Still don't know how the boys sat through "Sex in the City" but didn't see "Mamma Mia".

Village Voices will return to regularly scheduled programming when the studio is open, but the Voters Forum will be a special edition of the show.

FOCUS on Our Children will be airing some re-runs of last years shows that are still pertinent to this school year including a visit with the new school board members.

I Remember...Menomonee Falls visits the 50th Reunion of the Braveland Conference Champion Basketball team from Menomonee Falls High 1958-59 season.

AS ALWAYS....STAY TUNED!

Legislation, Dust, Deadlines and Providers

2008-08-01T18:19:00Z

So much happening these days that todays post will be a hodgepodge of issues and events.

STUDIO RENOVATION

Well it's hard to tell but things are moving along in the high school studio. Last night I found some lights on, so I am assuming power is back to that portion of the school. It's been almost 6 weeks of walking through a dark mine cave-in with a flashlight, just to get some shows on. Seriously..I have to put a hard hat on to get a new show on the air. When we put the 4th of July fireworks on live, I nearly fell into a 6 foot hole in the middle of the hallway. With a month to go until school starts, I have been told that C.G. Schmidt, the main contractor, has a great reputation for cleaning up when all the construction is done. We are going to need it. Here are a few pictures which include the new addition and the actual server that is running on an extension cord, keeping Channel 14 on the air.

CABLE LEGISLATION

Back in May the state senate approved a bill which took the ability of municipalities to negotiate their own cable contracts away. Now all franchising goes through the state. The bill was lobbied heavily by AT&T to promote more competition. The senate bought that notion. Time Warner and the other cable providers in the state eventually went along because they had conceeded so much. Only 3 months later we are already starting to see the reprecussions of the bill. Cable and other media providers have had increases in prices, some are hidden in service changes. Channels are being realigned, taking the community access that so many people rely on and putting it on a more expensive tier of channels. And lastly, the media giant are picking and choosing just were they are going to provide service. Th poor guy in Spooner is never going to see a telehone company provide video service to his home, and since there is no competition his cable bill will increase and the level of quality service will no longer be regulated as they now have a lifetime franchise agreement. Please contact your local assembly representative or state senator to express your conscerns with this poorly thought out legislation.

NEW SHOWS

We just finished the first production meeting for a new show, currently titled "What's Cooking with KC Thorson". The show will be part cooking show and part nutritional information. The first show should tape in mid September. Looking forward to KC joining the family and also some taste testing after the show.

The Cable Access Trailer was put to the test this last week, covering the Police and Fire softball game at Falls Fest. Technical issues with power foced some comproimises, but all in all it went well. The game will be airing throught the rest of the summer. Thanks to all that stopped by and said hello or stuck thier head into the trailer to see what it was about.

In addition to the softball game, we did our first concert in the park (no rain this week) with the trailer and it worked perfectly for the Community Band. New to the mix was the addition of some remote control camera heads. Now in a pinch the trailer can be operated by one person. We still want camera people but just like with the concert, our camera men were playing trumpet.

All of our studio shows are on hiatus but "Reel Movie Talk" managed to get out and do a remote show. Too many summer blockbusters I guess. That show will hit the cable airwaves this week.

Gordon Kirchoff after a well received first show has produced "The Show" episode 2. This light hearted mix of interviews, skits and music is well worth the time.

Village Voices is also going outside the studio to host the Voters Forum at the Community Center on August 19th at 7:00 pm. Host Karen Nelson will be the moderator for the forum which will feature candidates for District 5 fo the US house of representatives and candidates for the 24th Assembly District. The public is invited for the taping. The show will then air up to the election in Menomonee Falls, Germantown and any other community with access facilites with-in these districts.

Someone asked why we didn't cover the BOys State Summer Baseball tournament up in Stevens Point. Well the WIAA has contracted with a company that does not aloow taping of playoff games. If you do, you need to sign an agreement and relinguish all previous tapings to add to thier library and then they maintain the rights to the playoff games. So even if the State torunament comes to Germantown next year and the Falls boys are in it again, we won't be able to cover it. We will hwever be covering more high school sports this year with the trailer. I would request though that we really need parents in these sports to step forward and help with production. The access channel is here for your use. W provide some programming on a volunteer basis to promote the channel. But truly if you want to see more soccer or cross country, we need volunteers. Call or email from the Channel 14 website to volunteer or to make suggestions. www.fallscableaccess.com or sign up for the teleproduction classes on the Rec Department website. www.fallsrec.org

TIME WARNER or U-VERSE

I'm very happy to provide information to consumers on the advantages and disadvantages of all the service providers. Just like political candidates of late, the ads on television are loaded with fine print. People and corporations who hit the airwaves and print media with their message, try to be very careful as not to tell lies that could get them in serious legal trouble. Some are very careless, while others spend millions on ways to beat the competition. The current trend is to leave out information or put it in very small print. We have all seen the Lottery ads that have the odds of winning posted on the bottom of the commercial. They have to post the odds so that you are completely informed of the astronimical chance of winnning. In reality only Evelyn Woods herself can read that porint, in that size in 4 seconds. The smae is true with the media providers. Feel free to email me questions at info@fallscableaccess.com . Here are just few examples. AT& T claims that you can record up to 4 shows on the DVR at one time. ( I consider myself a pro at time shifting programs to suit my schedule, but 4 shows is never an issue) They fail to let you read that that is only 4 standard definition shows. No multiple HD recordingss. Tme Warner allows you to record 2 HD shows at one time and watch another on playback. Also at this time AT&T is not providing cable access. In fairness that is not all thier fault brcause qw haven't been able to get together for a technical meeting. However in other area were they have solved the streaming issue, there are major complaints about the 1 minute it takes to upload the link to the channel and then the quality issue caused by the compression in streaming. This is a problem in many communities right now and they claim to be working on it. As for now Time Warner is the only lace to view the 3 local access channels in the Falls. Another claim is that U-verse has more HD channels. That is true by a few, but there is an extra charge for them in the bigger packages. Time Warner includes the HD channel in all the digital packages at no extra charge. As for overall cost, it is hard to compare ala carte services between different providers but I think you will find that the differences amount to around $5 or less. And don't get me started on combined services. I think the phone compmay should stay in the phone business and the cable compnay in the cable business. Remember those allin one stereos with turntable, 8 track and amplifier in one. You never got a good amp, the best turntable or the best 8 track in those setups. You went to components. You nay have paid more but you got the best of all. So when it cmes to cable service I say, "leave with the date that brung ya". Time Warner was committed to Menomonee Falls from the start and has service available to every last address in Menomonee Falls.

AS ALWAYS .......STAY TUNED

"LIVE" Fireworks on Channel 14

2008-07-01T13:23:25Z

Well it looks like Menomonee Falls is going to enjoy a beautiful Holiday weekend. After some needed rain on Wednesday, Thursday should be beautiful for the parade and fireworks. The Cable Access mobile trailer will once again be on the parade route to record all the festivities and then will proceed to the high school to bring live coverage of the fireworks. Now I know sometimes it makes sense to avoid the crowd in downtown Milwaukee and watch the lakefront fireworks on TV, but Menomonee Falls fireworks? It is a little hectic leaving the area after the show, but the real reason to bring them live is for the shut-ins. Not only those residents who won't venture out late ( can't go to bed with the sound of fireworks going on) but those who find themselves in the hospitals or local care giving facilities. The fireworks all look the same on TV, but they seem bigger and brighter when you share them with your neighbors and friends who are there. So if you can, join us on the parade route, stop in and say hi if you see the black Channel 14 trailer on Appleton Ave, or if you can't tune us in and turn up the sound. Maybe by next year we can bring the parade to you live.

On a sour note, REEL MOVIE TALK with MATT & PAUL taped their show last week from John Harbors Main St. Café in front of a LIVE audience of fans and well wishers. I use the term taped loosely as there was no tape backup, due to the configuration, and when the computer crashed at the end of the show, 3 hours of work went bye bye. My main fear of using digital media and hard drives to capture live footage was realized just when I started to trust it. The boys are bouncing back with a new live version that will hit the air ways next week.

Studio update. Well the power is still out in the high school and rummaging around in the dark to get shows on is becoming dangerous. I have a flashlight and hard hat in the car with me at all times. The hole in the wall to the new section in the studio is getting bigger so I am guessing they are about to start pouring the concrete flooring. Once the wall is down we will have some major cleaning to do before we can be up and ruining. I'm told all is on schedule.

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

Reel Movie Talk...The boys are re-shooting the last show, adding two more summer movies to the lineup and roaming around the Falls to bring you their reviews. They do have energy.

MEDIA STUDIES WEEKEND The high school media studies class will be highlighted on Saturday and Sunday July 5th and 6th. All the videos produced by Tom Shannon's Media I & II classes from 2006 -2008 will be shown back to back to back. That includes documentaries, music videos, movies and Video Yearbooks. There is some real talent coming out of the high school and this weekend will showcase it.

Optimist Club Independence Day Parade....taped on the 3rd the parade will play all day on the 4th and then will be repeated the following week. A must see if you were in the parade. And thanks for being in the parade by the way.

I Remember Menomonee Falls..Jim Jeskewitz along with his ace camera operator Sue Jeskewitz joined the reunion party of the 1958 high school basketball team and interviewed the squad. Very entertaining insights into the coaches, staff and high school life in general were presented. Too good not to bring to our channel 14 viewers.

AS ALWAYS....STAY TUNED!

Back by Popular Demand...Little League Weekend

2008-06-24T04:58:18Z

A couple of years ago, we were going through the archive of video tape, cleaning them up and putting them in new protective cases, when we came upon a large box of tapes labeled Little League. Inside were over 100 tapes from 1991 to 1993 during the Menomonee Falls Little Leagues infancy. Some were coaching tapes, others were of special events like Opening Day and the Gala's. But most of them were the games taped during those first few seasons. 72 in all. Seemed a shame that they were sitting there with no useful purpose. The idea to tape the games came in the very first year. We thought it would be fun for every player in the league to be able to see him or herself on cable TV, just like the pro's. With over 300 players it worked out that we could tape all the teams in the league in just 12 games.

It was important to put the scores on the screen, and as long as your doing that, you may as well put the players names in, music, graphics, sponsors credits, and music videos. The games were a big hit and were played several times at the end of the season, usually 2 games each night. All were taped with two cameras and edited, except for T-ball (could have use 9 cameras for those games). The following year the league had doubled to over 600 players and of course that doubled the amount of games that needed to be taped. Couldn't leave anyone out. So in 1992 there were 24 games taped for playing on channel 7 (later moved to channel 14). In 1993... you guessed it, another 500 players and a total of 36 games. The schedule became overwhelming and camera operators were scarce. So before it turned into 50 games, we quietly retired the idea, leaving the preservation of those unforgettable plays to the parents.

Fast forward to 2006. A few people had asked for copies of their kids games over the years, so why not just run those games on cable one weekend so they can copy them to their DVD recorders. That June we ran the first 12 games over and over on a Saturday and Sunday. The response was overwhelming. People were tuning in to one game, seeing there old neighbor in the background, and then watching 4 or 5 games in a row. Last year we ran 1992 and 1993. This year we will be running all 72 games, selected music videos and a few opening day highlights on the weekend of the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th of June. The schedule will be posted on the website on Wednesday evening, with games starting on Thursday afternoon. This is all contingent on the removable hard drive with all the games on it working of course. The power in the studio is still out so we sill be installing it in the dark. Get your cracker jack, and hot dogs out, set up the DVR and settle in for 72 memorable games.

For those of you interested in live television, Reel Movie with Matt & Paul is not sitting idle during the studio remodel. They are going on a location shoot Tuesday June 24th. This months show will be filmed at John Harbors Main Street Coffee House at 8:00 pm. Stop in and see our famous hosts as they review this months latest movies in front of a live audience. Check out the fa-ire & spirits and enjoy their first attempt at live television.

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

FOCUS on Our Children has two new shows on the budget and some of our new administrators.

Village Voices is running an update on the Big Pig Gig scheduled for the end of September this year.

Optimist Independence Day Parade. Once again we will be taping from Appleton Avenue on the parade route, so stop in and say hi.

AS ALWAYS....STAY TUNED!

Final Construction Means Interuptions

2008-06-08T14:32:46Z

On Wednesday the 11th, the high school will be turned over to the construction crews for a mad 10 week dash to complete all of the remaining renovation projects. The CG Schmidt crews have done a great job working around the over 2, 000 daily occupants of the building.

The Cable studio had been operating with a temporary wall since February which is making everything a little tight. Soon the cement floor will be in and the wall will come down. Then the major cleanup starts. A lot of delicate equipment is going to need some tender, loving dusting.

On the 16th of June they will be turning off the power to the old section of the buildings to upgrade the systems, electrical, security and networking. They are providing power to the cable access server and playback units. That way channel 14 will remain on the air during the 2 week power outage. New shows produced in the studios will however be on hold until after the temporary wall comes down.

Meanwhile we will pick up the slack with several community events, including the Optimist Club Independence Day parade, the summer Concerts in the Park, a high school baseball game, and some "Remote" editions of Village Voices and Reel Movie Talk.

COMING UP ON CHANNEL 14

Little League Weekend...Yes, we are going to run them again. Back in '91, '92 and '93, in it's infancy, I went overboard and taped 72 Menomonee Falls Little League games, with 2 cameras, graphics and some with announcers. Well a few of those players back then now have their own children in T-Ball or older divisions. It's always fun to see your banker, doctor or child's teacher back when all they cared about was the team snack. It's also fun to see current friends and acquaintances before you knew them. They always spark conversation and it's sad to see them justing sitting there on the shelf. So sit back for a marathon of little league at it's best, the weekend of June 27th thru the 29th. Play Ball!

FOCUS on Our Children....The final shows of the school year spend time with Booster Club/Capital Campaign Committee and our 2 new School Board Members.

As Always.....STAY TUNED!

I Love a Parade!

2008-05-25T14:05:57Z

The Menomonee Falls Memorial Day parade is once again going to be taped by Falls Cable Access, and this will be the first year we're using the Mobile Trailer. Because it's a lot easier to set up using the trailer, we are moving to a new location, the Main St./Grand Ave. turn. This should give a new perspective and provide commentators Robyn Turtenwald and Tom Dueppen a lot to talk about. The Parade will run at Noon on Monday following a rerun of last years parade at 10 am. Join us on the parade route, or if you can't be there tune us in on Channel 13.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The Wall is coming down soon. The studio expansion has taken a back seat to more important, student driven areas. The Choir is being cleared of the cement risers at this moment. (a major task) Portable risers will be installed making the room more multi-purpose. The they will pour the floor in the studio expansion and remove the temporary wall. Then we can reconfigure the space for storage, sound booth, and dressing room. Everything will be ready for the 2008-09 school year. Can't wait!

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

FOCUS on Our Children....Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty and Dir. of Business Serv. Jeff Gross manage to explain the budget process for the school board in one of this months shows. Meanwhile the Capital Improvement Campaign chairs Camille Morris and Tom Hartman give us an update on the new track and press box in addition to future plans.

Village Voices.. In what should be a must see for everyone in the village, Montana Anti-smoking advocate Dr. Robert Shepherd joins host Karen Nelson with some startling new information on Second Hand Smoke. This is a show to watch with your teenagers!

The Emperor's New Clothes..The St. Anthony Spring Musical is a musical adaptation of the old story of an egotistical King and loyal subjects. No worries, it is a PG version.

Memorial Day Parade....coverage of the 2008 Parade from Main St. in the Falls

Look for some weekend specials coming up in the next month, such as Little League Weekend, Parade Weekend, and Concert Weekend..

AS ALWAYS....STAY TUNED!

Local Producers Win 11 Awards

2008-05-04T04:53:00Z

The Wisconsin Association of Peg Access Channels held their annual conference this weekend, highlighted by the Video Festival on Friday evening. Falls Cable Access entered 12 programs in the festival in several categories on behalf of local producers. This year Channel 14 won 11 awards including a Significant Community Program award for the "The Making of a Festival" a highlight film produced by Falls Fest.

3 programs won Achievement Awards in their categories. The staff produced "Fourth of July Parade", "Building for the Future" produced by Dr. Keith Marty and Harry Stoetzel, and "Reel Movie Talk with Matt & Paul"

Also receiving awards of Merit, were "Focus on Our Children", "I Remember Menomonee Falls", "Village Voices" and "The Community Christmas Card". Winning his 2nd award in 2 years was Tom Makowski's "Tour of the Menomonee Falls Fire Dept." The Media Studies III class at the high school also received a merit award for an installment of "Good Morning Falls"

This year Channel 14 was used as a judging site with the help of several volunteers. Special Thanks goes to Paul Unger, Matt Grenier, Tom Makowski, Kathy Reed and her Husband for taking time to help. They viewed over 20 programs in 2 categories and graded them on technical quality, content, and overall presentation. After complaining about the judging system in the past, I quickly realized just how hard it is to rank 10 different programs in order. Thanks again to our crew.

Construction continues in the access studio as the outside wall was completed recently. As soon as the floor is poured, the inside temporary wall should come down providing more storage space, a larger classroom area and a sound booth. All the enhancements and final touches will be completed in time for the start of school in September. The CG Schmidt construction crew has done a great job in adding the additional space without interrupting class or taping of scheduled shows.

NEW THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

"Reel Movie Talk" has a new show in the works and this one has a surprise as camera operator Alyssa Demge joins co-host Matt Grennier, adding a little class to the show.

"Village Voices" Host Karen Nelson has 2 very informative show on currently. One featuring our first animal guest visiting on behalf of the Wildlife in Need organization, and the other a very serious look at Second Hand Smoke with national Health expert Dr. Robert Shepherd. Later this month Jenny Jennings from the Community Chamber will visit to fill us in on this years "Big Pig Gig"

"High School Track Dedication and Meet" The access mobile trailer will be on hand to cover the Running Track Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the high school and then will stick around to cover some of the events from the new press box.

"The Show" Recent Access Class Graduate Gordon Kirchoff debuts his new creation, featuring local celebrities and off beat sketches. Don't miss this one, it's a comunity televison gem!

AS ALWAYS.....STAY TUNED!

ELECTION RESULTS LIVE ON CH 14

2008-03-31T21:11:29Z

Falls Cable Access will once again provide up to the minute election returns for the Menomonee Falls Voters. Incumbents Sharon Ellis and Dennis Farrell are running against Jeff Davis and Ron Bertieri respectively for trustee positions. Jim Jeskewitz is running unopposed. In the School Board race Ron Bertieri, Blaise Paul, Gina Palazzari and Michael Dillhyon are competing for 2 ADM Board positions.

The polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. on Tuesday April ST. Don't be an April Fool...VOTE! Check the Village website for your polling location. www.menomonee-falls.org Tune to Channel 14 on Tuesday evening and the results will be posted as they arrive at village hall.

THIS WEEK ON CHANEL 14

I REMEMBER MENOMONEE FALLS...Teachers Pet? See what 4 retired Menomonee Falls school teachers have to say about old buildings, pay scale, hot lunches and favorite students.

FOCUS on OUR CHILDREN...Beth Harwood visits with a recent graduate of the QUEST program and then two ambitious students fill us in on School to Work.

VILLAGE VOICES...The Patio Players stopped by to talk about their newest production, "The Pajama Game". Check their website for show times. www.fallspatioplayers.com

As Always...STAY TUNED

Election 2008 - Forums Airing Now

2008-03-10T05:14:10Z

With the upcoming elections for Menomonee Falls Village Trustee and SDMF School Board Member, voters can find a candidate forum for either election on Falls Cable Access. The PTSA sponsored forum from March 5th at the Community Center is currently airing at least once each day. The four candidates for board positions are Ron Bertieri, Michael Dillhyon Jr., Gina Palazzari and Blasé Paul. There are 2 seats open on the board.

In the contest for Village Trustee, incumbent Sharon Ellis and Jefferson Davis are running for Seat 1 on the Village Board while incumbent Dennis Farrell and Ron Bertieri are seeking Seat 3. Seat 2 has incumbent Jim Jeskewitz running unopposed. The Chamber of Commerce and Falls Cable Access are sponsoring a Candidates Forum on March 11th at the Cable Studio. The forum starts at 6:30 pm and is open to the public. This forum will also air daily until election day.

TOTAL INFO comes to Menomonee Falls

Although the Community Bulletin Board has become a handy avenue for information in Menomonee Falls, the need for up to the minute news and info has become apparent. The company that manufactures our server equipment has from day one taken suggestions on how to improve programming and Total Info answers that call. Now after every program you will get a mix of our community bulletin board and up to the minute weather, traffic, news, sports, entertainment news, and soon financial reports. As this blog is being written they have taken another suggestion of mine to break up the segments by time. Soon we will run traffic reports from 6:30 am to 8:30 am only while sports news will only run later in the evenings.

It is our hope at Channel 14 that we continue to change the viewing habits for cable access in Menomonee Falls. The new software will also help keep the schedule more current and give certain shows regular time slots. Check out Total Info today.

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

FOCUS on Our Children has 4 new shows on tap. Running this week are shows on the Japanese Exchange students and the Academic Decathlon Team. Next week 2 new shows on Quest Academy and School to Work programs are highlighted.

Village Voices has a new show that visits with the Menomonee Falls Rotary Club.

Reel Movie Talk with Matt & Paul promises a new show in a couple weeks where they are sure to rehash there Oscar Picks.

I Remember Menomonee Falls is taping another installment, this time visiting with teachers from the past. This show may prove interesting as our guests promised some juicy stories about some of some our more prominent citizens from their early years.

As Always...STAY TUNED!

So Now You Have a Choice

2008-01-03T19:07:10Z

Well, the recent signing of AB207 by the Governor introduced the deregulation of the video provider industry to Wisconsin residents. In a nutshell this is what it will mean to Menomonee Falls residents. The Village is no longer able to deal directly with the cable company on it's franchise agreements for use of the right of ways and roads. Any video provider meeting minimal requirements will sign a franchise agreement with the state. We will no longer be able to negotiate any extra perks for the village or school districts, no free Internet for schools or library, and no system for enforcement of customer service.

The Senate and Assembly did try to enforce the addition of Major Sports networks like NFL Network and Big Ten Network to all providers, (Sounds regulatory to me) but they will lose a long legal battle on that one. The Governor however did make some changes. He did not allow for lifetime franchise agreements, as the bill was written and did give some ability to the governing body to enforce some quality control. Providers will no longer have to show they are providing service to everyone in the village as the cable companies have for 25 years. It is apparent already as they are targeting the more affluent areas of the state and ignoring low income and hard to reach places. The bill was introduced to give people a choice but I will guarantee that the guy living in Some Place Little, Wisconsin will still only have one choice years from now. The only difference is he won't be able to talk to a customer service rep here in state they will be talking to Bob in Pakistan.

I have received my literature from the provider that actually paid over 13 lobbyist to get this bill passed and find a lot of it confusing to those not technically inclined. Without going into detail, (which I will do on this blog eventually), the pricing plans read to show the largest difference in plans instead of feature for feature. They provide extra equipment but the small print says there is a limit to how much you can use at one time. They do not mention the inability to record more than 1 HD channel at a time and neglect to mention that the competitors HD channels are part of the digital package and no extra charge. They have some neat new features that are really only software upgrades that the competitor is rolling out soon. But the biggest difference between the packages which really are close in price, is that ....drum roll.......they can't provide PEG Channels 13 -14 & 25 to the viewers in Menomonee Falls. Not only will you not be connected to local community television but you will be paying a franchise fee that gets re-routed to the village. The State franchise agreement still allows for the 5% of gross receipts to be collected. I have already received calls from friends who jumped on the new system only to realize after the fact that they no longer have Channel 14. Their kids are complaining and now they feel trapped by the agreement the signed. Now in fairness the new provider can stream the PEG Channels in computer screen quality (Ugh) but we will have to pay to get it to them at a ridiculous expense. Currently there are no access channels in the state that feel the can afford to send the signal to the new providers head end.

For those looking to make an educated choice I will provide a fair comparison in coming weeks. The fact that you can't get the access channels won't change however. In a land of media giants it is imperative that we keep our access to the airwaves so that we can express ourselves and opinions like our legislators have failed to do.

NEW ON CHANNEL 14

Because of the Christmas break the construction crews took advantage of the empty halls and the studio has been rendered useless for awhile. However all of our shows are making plans for new installments. The Community Christmas Card will still run for a week and there is hope that more School concerts will come in this week.

We are planning a couple of Sunday Theme Days coming up to help clear out the server for new programming. Look for a day of Army Newswatch Shows dating back to October of 2005, a day of Reel Movie Talk from 2007, Parade Day will cover the last 3 years of Memorial Day, Independence Day and the Christmas Parades. We will also show some timely episodes of FOCUS on Our Children and Village Voices from past years.

As Always...Stay Tuned!

The Biggest Christmas Card!

2007-11-27T14:59:00Z

Every Christmas for the last 20+ years, Falls Cable Access has produced a unique program that ties the village denizens together like no other. The Community Christmas Card has been a tradition in hundreds of households and receives the most feedback of any program on Channel 14. Along with little vignettes depicting the Holiday Season, are greetings from community groups and village services. From the service groups like Optimist and Rotary, to the Village staff, and special interest clubs, they all come together on 2 nights in December to give there annual greeting to the public.

Busy Beavers 4-H Club at the annual taping.

Each organization sends a small group of representatives, whether it is their board of directors or some of their members to the high school studio at a scheduled time. A few quick rehearsals, double check the hair, and the cameras roll. Although the actual greetings are only 15 seconds long, most groups and individual spent 15 or 20 minutes visiting with others and some check the posted schedule and wait to see other friends and neighbors when it is their turn. The taping turns into it's own social event. In past years calls were made 3 or 4 weeks before the taping to arrange times. Now groups like the Volunteers in Partnership at Community Memorial Hospital or the Menomonee Falls Community Chamber call in October to make sure they are included.

This year I'd like to extend the invite to any groups that haven't been contacted in the past so they can join the fun. We are also looking for other ideas for the vignettes. For those of you playing with iMovie or Windows Movie Maker on your computer, call me with your ideas or put together that 3 or 4 minute Christmas video using all your favorite snow pictures or all the Christmas lights in your neighborhood. Be creative and festive. Did your school or church have one Christmas musical number that stuck out form all the rest? That could be one of the greetings. Taping for the Community Christmas Card is the week of December 3rd, so email me as soon as you can if you would like to be part of the greetings. If you have an idea or video for the vignettes, they need to be in by the following week.

Send us an email at info@fallscableaccess.com or call the studio (262) 251-2866 and leave a message. You can help make this years Community Christmas Card the biggest ever!

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

Village Voices ... A can't miss these next few weeks is the show about the Patio Players "Best Christmas Pageant Ever". It includes a moving tribute to long time Menomonee Falls treasure Jack Strawbridge. On another show, we get to meet the new Chief of Police, Anna Ruzinski who provides insight into her first few months in the Falls and plans for the future.

FOCUS on OUR CHILDREN...Once again Host Beth Harwood visits with the Directors and participants of the High School Band Revue and then spends time with the Police liaison and DARE instructors. Upcoming shows include an update from the Superintendent and insight from student leaders in the district.

I Remember..Menomonee Falls....In the latest installment of IRMF, Jim Jeskewitz sits down with 4 of Menomonee Falls special ladies as they discuss "Holidays Past". This is truly the most entertaining show yet as one of the guests shows us at 97 years of age, that memories and anecdotes are truly priceless.

2007 Christmas Parade...There may have been some confusion out there when the Waukesha Christmas Parade showed up on Channel 14 in the Falls. No it wasn't a mistake, Time Warner hired our crew to tape the parade for Waukesha as a sponsor because their mobile van was tied up. As long as we had it, we decided to run it until the Falls Parade was complete. Through the rest of the season it will be available on Digital on Demand Channel 1111. Not available to you dish users.

School and Church Christmas Programs...Any Church or School in Menomonee Falls can send a DVD or VHS (Ugh) to the High School Office marked for Falls Cable Access attn. Harry Stoetzel to have their program air during the Holiday season. They must be in by Thursday December 20th to be included in the rotation.

As Always...Stay Tuned!

Yikes! Holidays Approaching Fast

2007-11-15T14:28:00Z

This Holiday Season looks to be the busiest ever for the Cable Access Channel in Menomonee Falls. With new shows, more volunteers, Community Christmas Card participation at an all time high and more schools and churches submitting holiday programming, the daily schedule will stuffed full of goodies, just like Santa's sleigh.

The schedule for the new Mobile Video Van is also filling up. This weekend a crew will be taping the Waukesha Christmas Parade, and next weekend the Falls Parade. Several sporting events and a concert are also on tap. The photo below was taken inside the MVV during a recent Indians football game.

RECENT LEGISLATION

On November 8th the Wisconsin Senate approved AB207 a bill introduced to promote competition amongst video providers, mostly cable and phone companies providing video service. There was a long debate as to whether it will truly help the consumer when presented with more choices. Time will only tell, but my guess is that those people who don't live in an urban hub will still only have one choice, and that provider will no longer have any regulations regarding quality or customer service. In the more populated and affluent areas, customers will be switching services back and forth looking for the best deal and the best service, actually costing them more. (Much like the fee on a balance transfer on your credit card. It may look like 4.9% interest but add the fee and you are back up to 11.9%). A similar bill was adopted in Illinois that was better suited to the public, but Wisconsin choose to go with with the version written by the providers themselves. I watched the entire process of amending the bill while I was working that day. Each amendment relating to consumer protection and community access television was voted down with the exception of a sunset or grace period for the access channels who are losing funding and get this...an amendment to guarantee that cable companies broadcast the Badger games. Didn't realize the Senate was made up of so many Badger alum's.

How will this bill effect Channel 14 in the Falls? Not much at this point. Many communities rely on PEG fees or pass through fees that the cable subscribers pay in addition to their monthly bill. This bill will eliminate those fees in 3 years or when a communities current contract expires before the 3 years. In some cases this accounts for 100% of a stations funding. Many access centers around the state will be forced to close, denying the public access to the video providers system. Our funding comes from franchise fees based on the providers gross receipts. As of right now that shouldn't change but the percentage may change based on the the states idea of franchise fees. Either way, Channel 14 will be providing programming for many years to come. If you are interested in preserving free speech you may want to let the governor know that you oppose this bill as he has yet to commit to signing it. You can email his office at http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/contact.asp and let them know your concern for AB207 and ask that they reconsider the bill adopted by Illinois. Enough on the politics.

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD

For the past 20 some years, the Community Christmas Card has become a beloved tradition in Menomonee Falls. There are 2 sides to this unique program. First there is the entertainment value, whether it is used as background music during gift wrapping and present opening, or just to see the faces and places that make Menomonee Falls special. Secondly there is the taping itself, where all the community service groups, non-profit organizations, youth groups, and village services get together and provide the holiday wishes. It is always a fun 2 nights as people cross paths in and out of the high school studio, sometimes appearing in 2 or 3 group renditions of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". This year the taping is scheduled for December 4th and 5th at the Access Studio in the high school. If your group is interested in participating in the Community Christmas Card this year, please send me an email at info@fallscableaccess.com . Show the name of the group and the contact info. We will then contact you for scheduling on one of the 2 nights. There is a pretty tight schedule so appointed times are necessary.

SCHOOL AND CHURCH PROGRAMS

If your school or church has a holiday program that they have taped and would like it included in the rotation this Christmas, send a copy (preferably DVD) over to the high school office marked Attention Harry Stoetzel, Channel 14. Provide the name of the program, the name of the school or church and the total running time of the program in minutes and seconds on the outside of the envelope. Also include the contact information for returning the program. Tapes and DVDs will be held for pickup unless they can be discarded.

THIS WEEK ON CHANNEL 14

Morning Story is planning 2 new shows for the holidays for our pre-schoolers here in the Falls. Be sure to watch for them weekdays at 9 am.

FOCUS on Our Children also has 2 new shows in November, visiting with the students involved in Band Revue and checking in with the officers in the DARE program.

Village Voices host Karen Nelson introduces us to the new Chief of Police, Anna Ruzinski and spends time with the Patio Players cast of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

Reel Movie Talk with Matt & Paul is about to come out of hiatus and there will be many new surprises in store.

I Remember... Menomonee Falls gathers around a warm fire to talk about Christmas Past.

As Always... Stay Tuned!

New Fall Season

2007-09-28T16:49:26Z

Just like the major television networks, Falls Cable Access starts their new season of programming in the Fall. I'd like to say the reason is we want be part of the competition with the big boys but the real reason is because it coincides with the start of the school year. Watch out NBC, we're right on your tails.

   The new season brings a few exciting changes to Channel 14. We have some new specials provided by graduates of the Rec. Dept. classes and a new home to call our own in the high school stadium press box. By the way, many thanks to the Booster Club and their Capital Improvement Campaign for a great job on getting the track rebuilt and replaceing the old dangerous press box. This is truly an example of what Menomonee Falls is all about.

   Another exciting addition is the new mobile TV trailer. Modeled after a news truck, the 6x12 cargo trailer is equipped to be able to do 2 or 3 camera live shoots from remote locations with announcers and hopefully next year microwave transmission for "Live" events. That would mean the parades, concerts and possibly high school sports would be broadcast as they happen. Look for the black trailer with Channel 14 on the side as you drive around town. We are also looking for people to train for these live events. If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, while you're watching the football game. this is the best way to find out. Join the fun and contact us at 251-2866.

This Week on Channel 14

Village Voices - With all that is happening in the village this September, Host Karen Nelson can barely keep up. We have shows running on the Big Pig Gig, the Safety Fair, the Capital Improvement Campaign and the Art Guild. Community League just finshed their show about the "Community Affair" and Patio Players will be in our Studio this week to discuss The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.

FOCUS on Our Children - 4 New shows kickoff the school year.  The newest show is a tour of the construction at the high school. You will also get to meet the School Districts new Business Manager Jeff Gross and get inside infromation from Technology Director Mary Schoonover. The last show visits with the Booster Club and CIC group.

I Remember... Menomonee Falls - The latest installment of this highly popular Historical Society show is about neighbors and neighborhoods. Once again providing a great hour of reminicing.

Reel Movie Talk with Matt and Paul - The is the last show before the boys go on hiatus till November. Congratulations to the whole crew for a great year. This show is a good example of people taking their passion to the public through electronic media. They worked hard, had fun and hopefully entertained and informed the viewers.

Remember the Menomonee Falls Community Ed. and Rec Department Television Production class is open for registration with the 2nd Class starting in late October. Go to http://fallsrec.org/ for more info.

As Always...Stay Tuned!

Busting at the seams, Cable studio to expand!

2007-08-24T18:27:54Z

Back in 1990, I called then high school principal Dick Woosencraft and asked him if they had any students interested in film or video who might want to do freelance camera work. He didn't answer my question but suggested I come by and meet with him. When I got there he told me that "No we don't have a program for teleproduction or electronic media, but we do have a mud room ". There he showed me an entire 50 foot square room with just dirt for a floor, just inside the west side entrance. I thanked him for the tour, but I needed camera operators, I had more space than I knew what to do with in our offices in the old Westbrook A-frame office building. I left with little more than a new acquaintance.
      The following year, after a new cable contract was negotiated with MetroVision of Wisconsin (the cable provider at the time), I received a call from Paul Wickesberg a member of the village appointed Cable Commission charged with purchasing the equipment for a new TV studio in the High School. I was more than happy to make some suggestions based on my own experience. Before I left the meeting on that Tuesday night I was asked to be a member of the Falls Cable Access Board and thus began my journey into the world of Locally Produced Public Television. It also was the start of a relationship between the FCAC and the School District of Menomonee Falls
      It took a lot of blind faith for the school district to invest in a program where there was no supply of instructors or even a tested curriculum to build on. Tom Shannon, the media studies instructor has now built the program into one of the best in the state. Media Studies I & II are two of the most popular electives classes at the High School.
   It's because of that popularity and the rapid growth of Cable Access use that the Falls Cable Access board recently approved the funding for expanding the studio at the high school. While the referendum in September '06 provided for new science labs and offices, the media studies studio was on a wish list and low on the priority list.
   Starting next spring the south wall of the studio will be moved out 16 ft. to match the same expansion of the music department. This will allow for a larger stage, better lighting, storage for props, increased classroom area, dressing rooms, and a parking space for a mobile TV trailer.
   The decision to expand was an easy one for the Access Board because the other option was to move from the high school and build a new facility. Abandoning the high school media studies program was never really an option. When graduates from Menomonee Falls High School continue their education in the electronic media, communications or film, they are usually far ahead of the rest of the field and isn't that what we want for all of our graduates.

THIS WEEK on Channel 14

Concert in the Park - Accompany of Kids 2007 edition will join the rotation of concerts this week.

Village Voices - More info on the Big Pig Gig coming up in September.

I Remember Menomonee Falls - Host Jim Jeskewitz spends some time with his baby sitter on this new installment.

As always......Stay Tuned!

America's Pastime

2007-06-29T14:34:03Z

They never seem to get old. I'm not speaking of the players from little league, because as we know they grow up too fast. No, I'm talking about the taped replay of games from '91 to '93 Menomonee Falls Little league. There are over 100 video tapes from those initial 3 years of Little League baseball that are stored in protective cases in the Cable Access studio. They quietly wait to be snapped off the shelf and plopped into the only S-VHS machine we have, so they can once again entertain the cable subscribers in Menomonee Falls.
    Last year when we ran the games from 1992 on the first weekend in July, we not only got calls and emails, but people were taking the time to stop by during the July 4th Parade to tell us how great it was to see them again. It seems watching kids play baseball is infectious. Some watched because they wanted to see all the old friends, some watched to remind them how cute their kids use to be and others watched to see people they didn't know at the time but know now. So there they are waiting to see just who the next batter is at ...3 am.
   Although the replays do show some questinoable parent conduct and some bad coaching, they are few and far between all the priceless moments and wonderful smiles on parents and players. Football has become a marketing monster, and basketball (despite some image problems) continues to command a good share of our attention. But....as James Earl Jones so eloquently puts it in Field of Dreams, "The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time." When you add children to that mix it is Americana at it's best. Nothing will take you away from your troubles faster than a good Little League game, live or on TV.
   So tune in this weekend and see if you can watch just one. This year we are runniung all three years but we scheduled the '92 games in the wee hours since they ran alone last year. Next year we will run all the games again, but in prime time during the week and between 8 am and Midnight on the weekend. As they are always saying down in Cubsville..."Wait'll next year!"

THIS WEEK on Channel 14

   Tom Makowski, the producer of "Bridges VI" has just finished his tour of the fire stations in Menomonee Falls and with the help of Paul Wickesberg has put together an hour long look at the MFFD.
   Reel Movie Talk with Matt and Paul airs their 10th show this week with Guest Host Nick Stoetzel joining Matt Grennier, while Paul Unger is on vacation.
   The "Concert in the Park" series starts again with the Ellen WInters Group performing at the Village Park Gazebo.
   And for all the preschoolers out there, a new Morning Story highlights some Jungle Animals dancing in our studio.
   The 4th of July Parade will run again this year but we are going to try and put the fireworks on "Live" on July 3rd.

As always....Stay tuned!

Concerts, Parades and Baseball

2007-06-19T16:43:24Z

As we start the summer season here at Falls Cable Access there will be plenty of entertainment in store for our viewers. We are still short volunteers but are hoping to bring the entire Concert in the Park series to Channel 14 this year. For a list of upcoming dates and times check out the Village Centre Website at http://menomoneefallsdowntown.com/travel.iml?mdl=events.mdl .

We will also be taping the Optimist Indepedence Day Parade on July 3rd. We are still looking for some help on that day, and if you are in the area on Appleton Ave. across from Nordstrom's Jewelers, stop in our tent and say Hi!

Also on the agenda is Little League Weekend. A big hit last year, this year we will be running games from the intial 2 seasons of MFLL Some of the t-ballers are now college graduates and many of the senior players now have t-ballers of their own. Check the schedule for teams and times on the weekend of June 29th.

For those still looking for info on the stalled Video Competition Legislation, here are some real good sources.
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com:80/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/CWS0101/706170724/1980

http://www.leadertelegram.com:80/story-sports.asp?id=BD8U9EGR3PM

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=617282

Things are buzzing at the station and an announcement is forthcoming from the school district on future expansion.

NEW THIS WEEK

Menomonee Falls High School Graduation will air for the next 3 weeks.
Reel Movie Talk with Matt and Paul #9 previews and show #10 promises a guest host.
Several new Fire Dept videos will be airing along with a Drug Free Workshop held at Village Hall recently.
All of the School District Budget hearings wiill be shown this month.
Several Legislative updates from the WAPC will keep people informed. Remember to ask your State Representative and State Senator how this bill will affect the future of cable access and cable rates.

As always....Stay Tuned!

We're Moving! (not the studio)

2007-06-09T19:25:37Z

By Harry Stoetzel
We're Moving! (not the studio)
.
Yes we're moving, to the other side of the screen. "Don't Touch That Dial" is moving from the Blog section of Menomonee Falls Now to its own space on the right side. That way the daily schedule will be available on the first page, and updates to program will be more current. Look for the change in a week or so.

Legislation Update

Many people have been asking about the "Video Competition Legislation" that is held up in the finance committee at this time. There have been many calls from people worried when they hear that the future of cable access is in jeopardy across the country. There have been many offers to help which we really appreciate. The best way to help is to contact you State Representative and State Senators. They need to be aware of all the problems this bill will create for the consumer. They say it will mean better rates, but there is proof of the opposite happening across the country. You will have more choices, but look what that has done to your cell phone bill. And by the way those choices will only be for those who live in close proximity to metro area and in neighborhoods that are more affluent. Unlike the cable companies who were bound by contract and law to provide service to all the community, these new providers will cherry pick who they want to service, and the rest of you will be left with rabbit ears.
Falls Cable Access is not in the same trouble as other centers around the state, as a matter of fact they are listed as one of the couple of centers that will survive this bill. It is starting to have an affect on our financial structure here in the Falls but only in policy right now. There have been some public statements made recently about the new contract with Time Warner that were made without any background information and managed to get it wrong. To set the record straight I'd like to offer a little primer into Cable Access Fees and the legislation.

There are 3 types of income that come from the Cable Provider (Time Warner in Menomonee Falls).
1. PEG fees which are provided in contract negotiations to promote community access and are considered a perk.
2. Franchise Fees which are based on the providers Gross Receipts and are paid to the community for use of the right of ways and roads. This is listed on your bill and all though it looks as if you are paying this fee it is really listed to show what part of the Gross Receipts are coming back to the community. Originally mandated at 5% with 3% going to the village and 2% funding the running of the community access channel.
3. Pass through fees which are usually $0.15 to $0.25 per month added on to your bill. These fees are assessed when a community wants to make a major purchase or project and the cable company is collecting to cover the purchase. This is generally considered a tax but it appears on your bill as Pass Through Fee.
Menomonee Falls has never opted for pass through and our PEG fees were given up front in the contract such as building the studio at the high school. We do have however a 5% franchise fee. Where the legislation has come into play is how these fees may be viewed. Because the arrangement with Time Warner (Originally Metrovision) allowed for the 2% to be paid directly to Falls Cable Access, it was the concern of Falls Cable Access, Village Staff and the attorney negotiating for us that this fee would look like a PEG fee and not a Franchise Fee. Since the new competition bill eliminates PEG fees we run the risk of losing the 2% forever. Because of TIme Warners good relationship with Menomonee Falls the 1 year extension was signed to allow negotiations to go on and the payment arrangements to be changed. This was good foresight by all concerned parties and supported by Falls Cable Access. We still don’t know all of the repercussion this bill will cause, but the general feeling is that Falls Cable Access will continue to grow and provide an avenue of self expression, information and entertainment to the citizens of Menomonee Falls.

There is a lot of new programming this month, so check the schedule above and look for the unveiling of our new website.

"FAST" Good for diets and NASCAR...Bad for Legislation

2007-04-26T16:41:46Z

The WAPC, Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels, announced the 2007 Video Festival Award winners and Falls Cable Access did very well this year. Village Voices, I Remember Menomonee Falls, and Reel Movie Talk all won Awards of Merit in their respective division. The Talk Show division is probably the most competitive because of the nature of Cable Programming. The entry by Access Graduate Tom Makowski also won a Merit award for his program, Bridges VI. The Community Christmas Card a long time tradition was entered for the first time and won an Achievement Award, awarded to the upper 30% of all entries. But the biggest surprise was the Award of Excellence awarded to our 2 favorite story tellers, Maggie Brooks and her daughter Ellen Brooks for "Morning Story". Congratulations to all our producers, we will be picking up the Awards at the festival next weekend in Madison, where Maggie & Ellen will actually have to prepare an acceptance speech. Falls Cable Access is by the way providing all the video and graphics for the festival this year.

   Now on to "Speed". The Video Competition legislation hit a snag this week as the cost of administering the policies by the state came into question. This is a good thing. I have always said this "Fast Track" legislation was way too broad and loaded with traps. Now Madison is starting to see that. Here is a reprint of an article from a Senator who did not receive campaign money from AT&T.

   When is Competition Not Competition?
By Senator Kathleen Vinehout

When is competition not competition? When the 800-pound gorilla teams up with few 500-pound gorillas and sets the rules for the game. What we end up with are tons of monkey business!

Who loses are you and I, small companies, local government, and the little gem called public access channels. In this story, the 800-pound gorilla is AT&T and the 500-pound gorillas are a hand full of large cable companies. The fight is over the rules followed by the companies that bring us cable TV. This time the big guys are writing the rules. And if you want to know what is happening – follow the money.
   To bring us cable service, companies have an agreement with local government. Some agreements include money and support for public access channels. These are the folks that broadcast high school sports, local government meetings, interviews about local issues and people and the community calendar. Most stations run on a very tight budget. Their mission is to bring the voices of the local community to the airways.
   Some cable agreements also help pay for connections to schools, hook ups to city government and libraries and distance learning. The big boys are writing the rules to eliminate all local control over cable. All agreements would be with the state. And the state’s hands are tied to prevent any real oversight. Under the new rules, small telephone companies and rural cooperatives would have to meet stronger rules than the few large companies. Complaints and problems with service would be sent to bottle up at the state – not the city; and the public access stations would lose most of their funding – putting many of them out of business.
   Some of the details in this bill are almost unbelievable. Cities would have no oversight over construction in their right of ways. Large refrigerator–sized control boxes could be placed on city corners and AT&T would call the shots on when and where. And the law would stop the city from charging a fee even to recover its costs. When I read through the bill, I only got half way through and my blood was boiling. “This sounds like it was written by a corporate lawyer.” I thought. I was correct.
   Tuesday’s Madison paper had the headline “Cable industry, AT&T helped shape video franchising bill.” The paper told the story of the drafter of the bill being given instructions by speaker phone from Washington, D.C., in a meeting of AT&T operatives. What has happened to democracy? My office has been very busy this week as we sort through what is wrong and what can be done. By newspaper accounts, there are 15 AT&T lobbyists working the legislators. They have been to see us. But they haven’t gotten very far. For most of the legislators, the first time we knew details on the bill was in a two and half hour caucus meeting on Tuesday. Many people raised concerns.
   Unfortunately, the bill appears to be on the ‘fast track.’ It had a committee hearing in both the Assembly and the Senate this week. I have heard that it will be scheduled for the floor of both houses on next Tuesday. As I write, several other states also are grappling with the same problem. Just this week hearings were held in Illinois and Florida where the headline told the story “Bill is anti-consumer legislation disguised as cable competition.” “Legislators across the county are under attack” a public access station manager told me this morning. And th