Agenda - 11-15-2007-4h - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 15, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. __`T' -~ SUBJECT• e-NC Capital Expenditure Grant for Qualified PEG Channels DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): Response to Request for Proposal INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, 245-2307 Alan Dorman, Management Analyst, County Manager's Office PURPOSE: To request authorization to submit a grant application in the amount of $3,950 to the a-NC Authority for the purchase of capital equipment needed to produce and program local content on the Orange County government access Channel 265. . BACKGROUND: In 2006, Session Law (S.L.) 2006-151 gave the Secretary of State exclusive franchising authority for cable franchise agreements. County and city governments are no longer authorized to award or renew local franchise agreements. The funding system for PEG (public, education, and government) channels also changed. Local governments are required to certify qualified PEG channels and are eligible to receive a portion of the $2 million set aside under SL 2006-151 -originally estimated up to $25,000 per channel, to be disbursed quarterly - to be used for PEG channel operating support. To date under this system, Supplemental PEG Channel Support, Orange County has received a total of $9,375 from the NC Department of Revenue. (Deposited June 15, 2007 for 1st Quarter, 2007). Additionally, in July 2007, the NC General Assembly awarded $1 million (non-recurring) to the e- NC Authority under Session Law 2007-323 to establish the PEG Channel Fund to be distributed as Capital Expenditure Grants per G.S. 66-359. Grant funds may be used only for capital expenditures necessary to provide PEG channel programming. Applicants must explain how the funding being requested qualifies as a capital expenditure in the PEG application. Each grant award may not exceed $25,000. An applicant may receive no more than one grant per fiscal year. The applicant must also match any e-NC grant award on adollar-for-dollar basis in the same fiscal year as the a-NC grant. Orange County management seeks authorization for an a-NC Capital Expenditure Grant in the amount of $3,950 to purchase camera, editing, lighting and audio equipment to enable the production and programming of local content for airing on Orange County government access Channel 265. (The County dollar-for-dollar match would be $3,950). The County contracts with The People's Channel for live casting and taping of BOCC meetings to air on Channel 265.