FCC Updates from ACM

Alliance for Community Media: President’s Message
Mike Wassenaar
03/15/21
On the heels of passage of the American Rescue Plan – Representative James Clyburn and Senator Amy Klobuchar have introduced a federal bill to radically expand broadband and broadband education. 

The bill, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act (HR 1783 https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1783) will probably be considered part of Infrastructure legislations in coming months.  Significantly, it includes on-going federal support for digital literacy education.

What’s “digital literacy”?  Here’s the definition in the bill:…the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information.
Is this what your organization does and do you actually talk about your work this way?  

My suspicion is for many ACM members, it is…we just don’t self-identify as digital literacy educators, or have a way to talk about digital education in our mission and strategy.  
As the Federal government and states prioritize digital education and expression – and solidify funding streams to support it, I would strongly urge you to consider what role it plays in your work.  
Mike WassenaarPresident & CEO The Alliance for Community Media

2019 Fall Station Tour

The Fall Station tour will be part of Central States Region ACM annual conference & trade show.
Here is the run down for Friday, Oct. 18, 2019:
12:30 PM-1:00 PM Rockford High School- Beyond the Rock Studio & Classroom: 4100 Kroes St NE, Rockford, MI 49341 (park anywhere close to the front entrance. We’ll meet at the front entrance and go to the classroom together)
2:00 PM-3:00 PM Wealthy Theater: 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 (parking is limited, look for street spots)
3:15 PM-4:15 PM City of Grand Rapids: 300 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (park in ramp under City Hall)
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM GRTV & GRCMC: 711 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 (park behind the building in the lot)
5:30 PM Networking dinner at a local spot by GRCMC
Please RSVP, by email to MichiganACM@gmail.com, if you are attending just the station tour, which is free for members or $20 for non-members.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,

Alysha (Schlundt-Bodien) Albrecht

The 2019 Conference, Trade Show & Philo Festival of Media Arts Award Ceremony!

Fall Conference Logo SQUAREThe annual Conference & Trade Show highlights include Creating Videos with your iPhone/iPad, Social Media Panel with the Pros, Hosting a Show…..What an Adventure!Onset Knowledge – Production Algebra Bootcamp, WKTV’s VOICES, an oral history project, which take place in a fully restored Airstream trailer, Building a Community News and Journalism Operation, FCC Public Policy & Discussion (Presented by Mike Wassenaar, National ACM CEO, & Mike Watza, General Counsel for PROTEC) and so much more! The schedule of events, session descriptions and registration link is on the website, click here.
Other networking opportunities will include:

We hope to see you all during the 2019 Conference, Trade Show & Philo Festival of Media Arts Award Ceremony Hosted by WKTV! 

Congratulations to all the 2019 Philo Winners & Finalists!! To view the list please visit our website by clicking here. The Award Ceremony will be on Thursday, October 17, in conjunction with the Conference & Trade Show from 7-10pm at City Flats Ballroom. Sponsored by Comrex! Winners will receive one free ticket or a discounted rate to the conference and trade show (registration code will be emailed to you)! Excellence Award Nominations have been chosen! NOTE: The Excellence Award Winner will be announced during the Philo Festival of Media Arts Award Ceremony on Thursday, October 17 from 7-10 p.m. at The City Flats Ballroom: 83 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Good luck to all the nominees! To view the nominations visit our website.

SLOGAN ONLY LOGO

2019 MAB Great Lakes Media Show Recap

We had a wonderful time at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Great Lakes Media Show on March 6, 2019 in Lansing, MI. Our first speakers included Deborah Macon who has an extensive background in growing better boards/commissions & Dave Albery the ED of Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission. They gave us many tips on building engagement in your boards and making sure everyone knows their tasks as a staff, board and volunteer!

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Next, we headed to the Keynote Address by Lara Logan, CBS “60 Minutes” Correspondent: Never scripted, at the podium, Logan offers a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at foreign affairs in the media. Speaking candidly with audiences, she shares her experiences reporting from the front lines, both as a journalist and as a citizen. Logan can also take audiences into a deeper understanding of her own experience with sexual assault and what it takes to survive and live fully afterwards. With compelling insight, refreshing honesty, and deep conviction in the institution of journalism, Logan imparts audiences with a message of truth, courage and integrity that will change the way you view the world. He talk was so powerful & her passion for journalism shook through the whole room!

Lara Logan at MAB as the Keynote Speaker.
Lara Logan at MAB as the Keynote Speaker.

We then took time to celebrate high school and college students during the Student Awards Lunch! Congratulations to all the winners!!

The next session was hosted by Carey Hammel the Operations and Administration Director of MAC TV Network & Otto Andrew an Engineer at Bluefunk Broadcasting & Technical Assistant at Access Fort Wayne on Live Streaming 101. They discussed what outlet are the most popular for streaming and how to do so, how much bandwidth and connectivity you would need and how to set up a stream via Facebook and OBS systems.

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The last session of the day was a Public Policy Update by Attorney Michael J. Watza from Kitch & PROTEC. He discussed the current FCC Future Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Cable franchising along with local Public Right of Way bills that are in affect and iteams to look out for.

MikeWatza
Mike Watza speaking about the FCC FNPRM.

MAB Great Lakes Media Show 2019 Itinerary

Join us for the Michigan ACM/NATOA Joint Luncheon on

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

At the end of the day, we will have a joint meeting with

Michigan ACM & NATOA members. All events take place at The Lansing Center.

Attendance including lunch and admission to the Trade Show is $40

Sign up through the Great Lakes Media Show Registration 2019 page and select the NATOA/ACM under Registration Type.

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Itinerary  (online schedule, click here):

8- 10 a.m. Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall & Registration Opens

9:00-10:00 AM- Session I: How to Grow Commission, Boards & their Members

In this session, panelists will introduce best practices for identifying, recruiting, and retaining Board Members and Commissioners who reflect the diversity of their community. Other topics will include:

  • Working vs advisory boards and what that means to you and your organization
  • Building and sustaining community connections.

Speaker(s): Deborah Macon, Commissioner from West Bloomfield) & Dave Albery, Executive Director of Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission.

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Break (Innovation Stage Session)

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Keynote AddressLara Logan, CBS “60 Minutes” Correspondent: Never scripted, at the podium, Logan offers a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at foreign affairs in the media. Speaking candidly with audiences, she shares her experiences reporting from the front lines, both as a journalist and as a citizen. Logan can also take audiences into a deeper understanding of her own experience with sexual assault and what it takes to survive and live fully afterwards. With compelling insight, refreshing honesty, and deep conviction in the institution of journalism, Logan imparts audiences with a message of truth, courage and integrity that will change the way you view the world.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Break (Innovation Stage Session)

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Student Awards Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Break (Innovation Stage Session)

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Session II: Live streaming 101

In this panel discussion we’ll discuss what outlet are the most popular for streaming, how much bandwidth and connectivity would you need and what it takes to live stream a professional production.

Speaker(s): Otto Andrew Boschet Jr., Engineer at Bluefunk Broadcasting & Technical Assistant at Access Fort Wayne & Carey Hammel, Operations and Administration Director of MAC TV Network- careyhammel@gmail.com

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Break (Innovation Stage Session)

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Session III: Public Policy Update

Attorney Michael J. Watza from Kitch & PROTEC will discussing the current FCC Future Notice of Proposed Rule Making on Cable franchising and local Public Right of Way rule making.

Speaker(s): PROTEC General Counsel Michael J. Watza

***speakers subject to change

Speaker Bios:

Deb Macon is a 20 year Member of the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission, where she serves as Vice Chair of the Program Committee.  She is passionate about leveraging volunteer engagement and leadership to strengthen the community. As a governance and strategic planning consultant, Deb engages, educates and empowers elected and appointed officials.
Dave Albery has been the Executive Director of the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission for over 30 years.  The Commission serves residents of Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake, Sylvan Lake, and West Bloomfield by providing governmental and educational access, community radio, and on-line services including cable content and a comprehensive community events calendar.  Dave is the Treasurer of the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and a member of NATOA’s Member Services Committee.

Otto Andrew Boschet broadcast experience began in high school at radio station, WJHS-fm and currently works at Access Fort Wayne and WELT-LP located in the Allen County Public Library and called the station’s MacGyver. You will also find him working as the Chief Engineer for Blue Funk Broadcasting’s This Week In America. He is on the Central States Alliance for Community Media Board were his continues helping communities staying involved in combination of use of media.  This involvement strengthens his importance in media and to share inexpensive ways to use many platforms available.

Carey Hammel is the Operations & Administration Director at the Mid Michigan Area Cable Consortium(MAC TV Network) which serves several communities in Mid Michigan.  Through his work at the MAC TV Network Carey has worked on several forms of broadcasts and has designed their current playback and operations system. MAC TV makes use of live streaming to enhance their traditional broadcasts and regularly streams Mid Michigan College Basketball games and other events for their communities.  Carey has also led a group of volunteers in providing a free to view live stream of the Michigan Indoor Track Series State Championship Meet for the last three years. Carey & MAC TV staff use a variety of tools to produce high quality broadcasts and streams on a small budget using the free software OBS Studio as their main method of streaming, recording and graphics.

Michael J. Watza heads the governmental litigation and affairs practice at the Kitch firm. Mr. Watza’s areas of concentration include litigated, legislative and administrative solutions on behalf of municipal, non-profit and private sector clients in the areas of Telecommunications, Energy, Complex Litigation and Legislative Consulting. Mr. Watza serves as general counsel for PROTEC, a consortium of several dozen Michigan municipalities with unique interest in local government right-of-way issues and has served as special projects counsel for the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority.

Contacts for more information:

Alysha Schlundt-Bodien, President of MIACM Aschlundt-bodien@a2gov.org

Deborah Guthrie, President of MINATOA Guthrie@meridian.mi.us

 

Supporting PEG Access, Michigan communities and free speech!

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