In this age of Twitter, Facebook, iPods, and 24-hour programming, there's still a place for community access television which first came to prominence in the 1970s.
Douglas County's Channel 16 in Carson Valley and Channel 19 at Lake Tahoe are getting a boost in a new partnership with the Carson Valley Arts Council.
Longtime broadcaster Lloyd Higuera signed a contract with Douglas County on July 1 to take over the day-to-day operation of Douglas County Community Access Television with offices relocating to the Copeland Cultural Arts Center in Minden.
"Our mission is to offer more local programming for the community and make Douglas County Cable Access TV more accessible," Higuera said.
That means people with an idea for a program can borrow the production equipment, be trained how to use it, and bring their work to Higuera who can edit the material and get the show on the air.
Cable access was invented in the 1970s, said Higuera, a radio broadcaster for more than 45 years.
"All cable companies were instructed to give a channel to the community. Whatever goes on in the community goes on cable TV," he said.
The free equipment is available at Douglas County Public Library.
"They (library staff) have been checking it out for a long time and know exactly how to do it," he said. "You can get cameras, tripods, microphones and training videos to produce your own show."
Higuera credited Tammy James, Douglas County communications manager, with fostering Douglas County Cable Access Television for the past 15 years.
"She did a great job, but now she's too busy with her new responsibilities to run the station," Higuera said.
He has the part-time technological assistance of John Campbell who also works in communications for the county.
Higuera, 67, has been a Carson Valley fixture since 1985 when he began operation of the community's first radio station, KGVM.
He sold the station in 2004, temporarily ending a broadcast career that began in 1962.
"As you know, radio was my life," he said. "I took a little time off, but I wanted to do something."
Higuera said he was contacted by former County Manager Dan Holler who asked him to develop new programs for community access television.
"I had to learn a lot - cameras, editing, and all that goes with it," he said. "I'm fairly well-rounded but I am still learning."
When Michael Brown took over as county manager last year, he promoted the partnership with the arts council.
Right now, Douglas County Cable Access TV has 12 hours of programming which are repeated every day.
That includes county commission and planning commission meetings, Northern Nevada Lifestyles, the county manager's report, and a program featuring Douglas Animal Welfare Group's "Dog Tails."
Higuera hopes to bring back "Let's Talk Douglas County" with Lisa Granahan, assistant to the county manager, a community outlook program with Carole Thompson, and a program featuring the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority.
Higuera said he wants to provide coverage of the Minden and Gardnerville town boards.
Cable access television isn't censored and the community sets its own criteria as to taste. That doesn't mean offensive material isn't pulled off the air.
"The criteria is spelled out, our producers sign an agreement and we trust our producers," he said.
Higuera hopes new programming will interest a large cross-section of the community of all ages.
"I really hope people will start coming forward with program ideas," he said. "We'll take them all."
Brian Fitzgerald, president of the Carson Valley Arts Council, said he was excited about the partnership with community access television.
"The future of community television involves not just arts but the arts council. This is an opportunity to eventually get arts programming on community access television.
"The opportunities are endless with all the contacts we now have and are getting with our youth programs, the school district, community theater groups and the dance studios," Fitzgerald said.
Moving the cable access studio into the Copeland Cultural Arts Center is what Fitzgerald called a "win-win-win" situation, benefiting the station, the arts council and the community.
"Like a lot of nonprofits, we're holding the line financially," FItzgerald said. "Programming-wise we're doing great. We're partners with other folks providing theater, expanded youth program and a lot more activities."
Fitzgerald said the winter-spring concert season has been planned and a new sponsorship program is in the works.
"We want people exposed to what we've got going. We've got a good story to tell and great vision," Fitzgerald said,
"I want to give some recognition to a very hard working board. We're all volunteers. There are nine members on multiple committees to not only bring cultural programs to Carson Valley, but tend to all the details involved in a nonprofit," he said.
GOT AN IDEA?
Anyone interested in producing a cable access television program is asked to contact Lloyd Higuera at 782-7685. Additional information is on the Web site, www.dccatv.org.
ON THE WEB
Carson Valley Arts Council
www.cvarts.com
YOU CAN HELP
People interested in volunteering or joining the Carson Valley Arts Council may contact interim executive director Theresa Chipp at 782-8207.
