Putting a Program on the Channel

Anyone who lives or works in Somerville may request channel time, free of charge, to cablecast a videotape.

Responsibilities

SCAT’s mission includes the promotion and protection of our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. At the same time, SCAT encourages producers and local program sponsors to use good judgment and to respect both the access center and the community at large when they submit programs for the channel.

Anyone requesting cablecast time :

• must be thoroughly familiar with the program’s content and shall agree to take full responsibility for that content
• must take responsibility to obtain clearances and permissions, as may be needed, from any and all organizations, individuals and groups to cablecast this material on the access channel.
• is solely and completely liable for any false, misleading or slanderous statements in the program and is fully responsible for the program content and compliance with all applicable laws, including, when relevant, election laws.

Restrictions

SCAT will not cablecast programs identified as having material that the law prohibits SCAT from cablecasting. The following may not be shown on the access channel:

• advertising or material that promotes any commercial product or service
• material that constitutes libel, slander, invasion of privacy or publicity rights;
• material in violation of FCC regulations, local, state or federal laws;
• material containing indecency or obscenity as defined by community standards
• any material containing unauthorized use of trademark or copyright

Advisory Materials and Disclosure Requirements

The person submitting a program for cablecast or requesting live programming time is responsible for the contents of the program. All persons requesting cablecast time at SCAT are required to disclose, on the Cablecast Request Form, the presence of any profanity, excessive violence, nudity or explicit sexual material (“Advisory Material.”) SCAT reserves the hours of 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM for programs that have been identified as containing Advisory Material. Failure to disclose the presence of Advisory Material is a major violation of SCAT's Policies and Procedures and will result in an immediate 90-day suspension of SCAT membership and cablecasting privileges and a written warning to and verbal consultation with the person who submitted the program for cablecast.

Process for Submitting Programming

Individual programs submitted for cablecast must be accompanied by a signed Cablecast Request Form. Anyone requesting a regular time slot for a series must complete a Series Request Form and schedule the slot with the Programming Coordinator. The person submitting the programs must deliver four programs for the series by dates agreed on in the Series Request Form before the time slot becomes permanent. The Series Schedule is renewed at least once a year. During the renewal, a series may lose its time slot based upon the priorities explained below. If a producer does not adhere to the renewal process, the program will not be shown on SCAT once the new period begins.

Program Scheduling

While SCAT will make every effort to schedule cablecast time on a first-come, first-served basis, we reserve the right to prioritize schedules according to the following priorities:

1. LIVE Programs produced at SCAT
2. Recorded Programs produced at SCAT
3. Programs produced in Somerville, but not at SCAT
4. Programs produced outside of Somerville
5. Requests for a second time slot within the same week for any of the above

SCAT members may also arrange to present programs live.

SCAT reserves the right to determine the portion of the weekly or daily schedule to be set aside for any category of programming.

SCAT will cablecast each program up to four times.

SCAT encourages political candidates to submit programs during their election campaigns and campaign programming will be treated like all other programming.

Any series may be scheduled for a maximum of one prime time slot per week. Prime time is considered to begin at 7:00 PM and end at 11:00 PM. Those submitting tapes for a series may select two alternate time slots, pending a series cancellation or air time forfeiture. Waiting list requests are assigned according to the scheduling priority.

Each series' submitter takes responsibility for supplying new programs as specified on the Series Request Form. New submissions must arrive at SCAT 24 hours before air time (48 hours if the program airs on Sunday). If SCAT does not receive a new show as specified, another program (not from the series) may take its place. If SCAT does not receive a new show within two weeks after its scheduled delivery date, SCAT may give the time slot to another series.

Technical Requirements

SCAT accepts DVD-R, SVHS and VHS cassettes recorded in U.S. NTSC format. DVD submissions are strongly encouraged. SVHS and VHS tapes must be recorded in SP (Standard Play) speed.

Each SVHS or VHS format program must begin with at least 30 seconds of color bars and a ten-second countdown. DVD programs must start at the beginning of the program (no bars or countdown). Each program must end with at least one minute of black. SCAT accepts only one program per cassette or DVD. Videotapes should be rewound to the beginning before being submitted.

Each program submitted must be labeled on the spine of the case and on the tape, or on the DVD face, with the producer's name, program title, series title (when applicable) and the exact length of the program (hh:mm:ss).

Ownership

SCAT producers own their programs and may keep the master tapes.
SCAT may keep a copy of any program and cablecast it an unlimited number of times. Any producer can arrange limits on re-runs with the Programming Coordinator.

With permission of the producer, SCAT may also use the program for promotional purposes related to SCAT.

SCAT may discard any tape 3 months after it was submitted if the sponsor does not pick up the tape or arrange with SCAT for its storage.

Promotion

SCAT requires two weeks notice to list a program in the local newspaper or on the Community Bulletin Board. In addition, producers may write and send their own press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and other access programs.

Producers may submit promotional materials (promos) to highlight their programs. SCAT plays promos between programs and on the SCAT Loop Tape (a compilation of short programs that repeats at intervals).

Funding & Solicitation

FUNDING FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES

SCAT encourages producers to seek funding for their projects. If a producer raises $2,000 or more for a project, SCAT charges rental fees for equipment used for that project. The producer takes the responsibility to inform SCAT if he or she reaches that limit. Such funding may come from grants, donations, sponsorships, admission fees, or any other source beyond the producer.

SPONSORSHIPS

All sponsors must be clearly identified on-air at the beginning and end of each sponsored program.

Producers may solicit cash or in-kind sponsorship to offset cash production expenses, subject to the National Program and Funding Standards and Practices of the Public Broadcasting System. Individual or for-profit sponsors are permitted only if the sponsor does not have or appear to have editorial control, or the right to editorial control, over the program being sponsored. Individual or for-profit sponsors must also meet at least one of the following conditions:

• There must not be or appear to be a direct connection between the interest, product or services of the sponsor and the subject of a program or series.
• The program or series content is not blatantly promotional or self-congratulatory.

Further guidance is available from SCAT upon request.

CHARGING ADMISSION

A producer wishing to charge admission to an event on SCAT's premises must obtain permission in advance from SCAT's Executive Director. The Executive Director will make decisions about the charging of admission in consultation with the Board of Directors.

SOLICITING FUNDS

Only non-profit groups incorporated under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may use the channel to solicit funds from the public.

Community Bulletin Board

Anyone wishing to communicate with cable subscribers for non-commercial purposes may submit a brief message and graphic to be shown on the public access channel’s electronic bulletin board.

Users must submit their messages two weeks in advance. All messages must be accompanied by a phone number for further information and the name of the sponsoring organization or individual. Somerville announcements take precedence over those from out of town.

SCAT shows messages announcing events until the day after the event. Messages announcing ongoing services or activities show for one month from the time the message is cablecast unless SCAT receives alternative instructions.