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Executive awards $300,000 in grants to maintain and upgrade community cable access to public, educational and government channels
Summary
The Executive’s negotiations with Comcast on a 10-year cable franchise agreement secured $300,000 in capital grant funds for four public, education, and government cable channels.
Story
King County Executive Dow Constantine today awarded $300,000 in grant funds to maintain and upgrade the community’s access to four public, educational and government (PEG) cable channels.
“Cable access supports free speech, promotes equity and social justice, and keeps people connected with their local government,” said Executive Constantine. “Cable access strengthens our democracy.”
The grants to Puget Sound Access, Voice of Vashon, Seattle Community Media, and King County TV range from $50,000 to $125,000. The funds will pay for upgrades to field equipment and delivery systems, and for renovation of existing studios.
All four PEG channels provide programming to their communities. Two of them, Puget Sound Access and Seattle Community Media, also offer low-cost public access to video equipment, production facilities, and training so that people can create their own programming.
“These PEG channels provide information opportunities for people by promoting informed communities and continued engagement,” said Bill Kehoe, the Executive’s Chief Information Officer.
The 1984 Cable Communications Act provides for the County to secure funds for public, education, and government programming as part of its negotiation with Comcast Cable on a new 10-year cable franchise agreement.
Profiles of the grantees
| PEG organizations | Audience | Grant amount | Grant uses |
| Puget Sound Access | Serves primarily south King County communities, including Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Maple Valley, Normandy Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and surrounding communities. | $50,000 | Upgrade producer field equipment, producer post production, delivery, and display systems. Upgrade new location (Carco Theatre in Renton) to better support video production. |
| Voice of Vashon | Serves Vashon | $75,000 | Upgrade old and failing cable system, include redesign, hardware, and integration costs. Construct new fiber line connection to enable VOV move to new facility. |
| Seattle Community Media | Serves most areas of North Seattle and North King County, including Shoreline, Bothell, and Bellevue. | $50,000 | Replace aging video production equipment, improve studio equipment, and expand production gear available for check-out. |
| King County TV | Serves all of King County | $125,000 | Upgrade and replace aging video production equipment, and assist with renovating existing building space. |
