Philadelphia Community Access Media (PhillyCAM)

The Open Media Globe
Submitted by Gretjen on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:13
Contact Information
Individual Applicant Name: 
Gretjen Clausing
About the Center
1. Does your organization currently have a public computer center?: 
No
2. What is the goal of your public computer center? If it currently is not set up do you have organizational capacity for one?: 
PhillyCAM’s computer lab will accommodate all the possible needs of producers offering basic and intermediate training in video editing, sound recording and mixing, graphic design, digital photography and word processing. PhillyCAM members will sign up for time to edit video projects, update their online member profiles, create and write video blog posts, do research via the Internet, participate in social media websites, upload content, import and manipulate digital photos, scan documents, and compose and edit music and audio files. The lab will also be a teaching space where all classes will take place. Producers will also have access to a computer ingest station to transfer their video programs from DVD, hard drive, laptop, flash drive, tape or cell phone into the PhillyCAM’s broadcast playback server. This data-centric workflow facilitate the creation of a regional archive of community-based media, increase and make the system more robust and available to more people across the city and link our programs with the nationally file sharing network. Plus it will enable users to more easily collaborate by sharing large video files in close to real-time to be able to facilitate creative collaboration from remote locations. Staffing the lab will fall under the responsibility of several PhillyCAM fulltime employees including the Media Center Manager, Adult & Youth Education Coordinator, Technical Director and IT Director. Their responsibilities will include upkeep and maintenance of the equipment and storage systems, teaching workshops and day-to-day technical support. Trainings will be led by independent media professionals hired as independent contractors and volunteers.
3. What percentage of content submitted to your station is posted online?: 
0
4. Will your organization's public computer center be available to all members of the general public or a specific population?: 
Philadelphia is one of the least wired cities in the US, with 40 percent of its population with no Internet access at home, 50% of households earn less than $35,000 and 21% are without high school diplomas. PhillyCAM sees its role as a “physical” community center where people can come together for in-person, peer to peer learning, cultural expression and education. Anyone who lives or works for a non-profit organization in Philadelphia can participate in public access television creation and training. The denial of media access cuts people out of the political and social realm, especially those communities that have historically not had access to the tools of production and distribution. PhillyCAM will seek to build an engaged constituency of people of color, working people, women, sexual minorities, the disabled, activists, social justice workers and organizers, immigrants, educators, artists, community arts creators and presenters, senior citizens, former prisoners, youth, unionists and other communities who have often been left out or maligned by mainstream media. The computer lab will be available to all PhillyCAM members. Memberships are available to every Philadelphia resident regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or economic status. In our first year of operation we will offer a special “Charter Membership” offering member fees at a reduced rate to create as few barriers as possible to membership. Scholarships would be made available to low-income individuals to cover membership and instruction fees.
5. Do you charge membership dues or other fees to the population you are proposing to serve?: 
Yes
6. What is the disabilities status for members in your area? Check all that apply.: 
Blindness, Deafness or a severe vision or hearing impairment.
A condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying.
A physical, mental or emotional condition lasting 6 months or more.
Center Capacity
7. For the following questions regarding your center's capacity, are the values current or proposed?: 
Proposed
Public computer center name and type.: 
Philadelphia Community Access Media
How many broadband-related equipment units (e.g. computers, wireless devices) have you/do you intend to purchase overall?: 
8
Center's Broadband Connection Speed (MBps): 
1
Number of Persons served per 120-hour business week?: 
100
Number of Persons served per 48-hour weekend?: 
40
Center Demographic Information
8. What is the estimated population size of your service area?: 
1447395
9. What is your service area identifier?: 
Philadelphia County
10. What age distribution(s) will your center serve?: 
5 to 19 years
20 to 29 years
29 to 39 years
40 to 49 years
50 to 59 years
60 to 69 years
70 and above
11. What ethnicity(s) will your center serve?: 
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic American Indian
Non-Hispanic Asian
Non-Hispanic Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Other
12. What gender(s) will your center serve?: 
Male
Female
13. What is the median household income for the population your center will serve?: 
$10,000 - $14,999
$15,000 - $24,999
$25,000 - $34,999
$35,000 - $44,999
$50,000 - $74,999
14. What education levels will your center serve?: 
Elementary - Kindergarten to Grade 5
Middle - Grade 6 to Grade 8
Secondary - Grade 8 to Grade 12
College
Masters
Doctorate/Post-Doctorate
15. What is the unemployment rate for your service area?: 
9
16. What describes the language preference of your service area?: 
English - Primary
17. Please describe your center's outreach strategy and how can you reach communities lacking broadband access. : 
Philadelphia is the last major US city to get public access television and many residents are unaware of the opportunities public access offers, its relevance and importance as a communications and community-building tool. PhillyCAM must build public awareness of its vision and the availability of its services with particular emphasis in underserved communities with limited access to the Internet. PhillyCAM will dedicate significant staff outreach efforts to promote public awareness and use of the access system. A lot of our outreach work will focus on in-person, off-line campaigns and events where we will work with community partners to promote public access. PhillyCAM has been working for the past seven months with a group of Philadelphia institutions including the Free Library and dozens of other community groups to contribute ideas born out of the communities’ own needs and wishes for inclusion in the City of Philadelphia’s broadband plan. This project will have a massive city marketing campaign and PhillyCAM will be part of this multi-faceted program. We will also: Advertise on our channels and create a “How to Get Access to TV & the Internet” program on Comcast’s “Get Local” Video on Demand channel Advertise in community newspapers and on community radio stations. Table and cover local events, community fairs and events Distribute printed materials (cards, stickers, posters) as part of a grassroots street outreach campaign & possibly extend this to include ads on public transit Generate local media coverage including print, television, radio and Internet coverage
18. If you provide a computer checkout or giveaway program, how many users do you expect to provide equipment or computers?: 
We do not have a plan for a computer checkout or giveaway program at this time.
19. How will you measure the program's impact in reaching disconnected communities and increase broadband adoption?: 
PhillyCAM will gauge our impact by reviewing our member data for demographic information. We will also capture more anecdotal/informal data by collecting personal stories about how members in disconnected communities are using their new skills. And we will also look for ways to ask for demographic info when users upload content, watch or vote on content.
20. Please describe your primary training and educational programs, including curricula, student certification programs, etc.: 
The mission of the PhillyCAM is to provide Philadelphia residents and organizations with the opportunity to communicate with each other through the creation and distribution of non-commercial media. PhillyCAM provides residents and community organizations access to media-making tools and training and opportunities for interaction between diverse communities. PhillyCAM’s intent is to operate a vibrant community media center which is accessible and welcoming to all and provides a valuable means for people to gain access to and training in the use of new digital media technologies, including computers, Internet, radio, video, and television, that enable people to address the diverse social and cultural needs of their communities. All Philadelphians, not just the influential, will have the opportunity to make and watch programs about themselves, their lives, and interests, as well as utilize other new technologies. PhillyCAM will provide training not only in television production but also assist producers in the production of videos for the Internet and the creation of websites, video blogs, podcasts and other platforms. And we will offer training so that users will learn technical skills which they will be able to apply in other situations such as new job opportunities. The trainings offered by the PhillyCAM will develop the technological capabilities of the participants so they would be able to take full advantage of the tools the Access Center provides to tell their own stories. Specialized trainings would also be available for youth, non-native English speakers, people with disabilities and other identified groups who could most benefit from specialized instruction. All member producers will be required to attend an orientation workshop that would give a full overview of the purpose, policies and procedures, and benefits of PhillyCAM. This orientation would be a mandatory prerequisite to all training or use of the public access system. After attending an orientation session, members would be required to take a media literacy class that would teach future producers the power of the television medium, how to use it responsibly, and how it can be used both as a resource for personal expression and a tool for community empowerment. The third phase of training would be in technical skills in television studio or field production, and editing workshops. After the required trainings are successfully completed, the member would become a certified producer. Producer’s studio time, editing time or equipment can be reserved and a time slot given for broadcast on one of the public access channels. Additional workshops could also be offered to help producers enhance their production and editing skills. Such workshops could include computer basics, website design, desktop publishing, animation, advanced editing techniques, etc. A schedule of training classes shall be maintained, published and updated periodically, and shall include classes in evenings and on non-business days.
20a. How many hours of training do you/expect to provide per person on average through training programs(s)?: 
15
20b. How many full-time instructors/facilitators do you/will you employ for broadband and digital literacy training purposes?: 
PhillyCAM’s Youth and Adult Education Coordinator will be responsible for the conception, planning and scheduling of all workshops and trainings. This includes recruiting and contracting with up to 10 part-time Community Media Educators. The Education Coordinator would also lead orientations, selected production workshops and oversee the development of youth led productions and develop media literacy trainings and materials. Other responsibilities will include cultivating relationships with all regional organizations working with young people and media.
Other Information
21. Is there evidence that less than 40% of your service population has broadband web access?: 
Yes
22. How will your center provide a $10,000 match of funds?: 
Since PhillyCAM is in its first year of operation we have budgeted $10,000 towards the development of our website and the purchase of backend software to execute the many reports required by our operating agreement with the City of Philadelphia. This could go towards our match.
23. Does your center currently have an online component or plans for an online component?: 
Yes
24. How do you plan to maintain a public computer center?: 
PhillyCAM's Technical Director and IT Director will have primary responsibility for the maintenance of the computer hardware and software. We will maintain an equipment maintenance line item in our operating budget as well as a plan for annual replacement and upgrade of computers in our capital budget. We will work closely with a regional hardware repair/recycle non-profit to extend the use of our workstations and then pass them onto other possible users.
25. How do you plan maintain a website for your station or for the public computer center?: 
PhillyCAM's IT director and Marketing & Outreach Director will be responsible for the website maintenance and ongoing content updates. They will work closely with a contracted website developer on upgrades and new features. We will maintain a line item in our budget for future programming and hardware upgrades. We will be sure to have a backup system in place to safeguard our site in the event of a massive failure.
26. Are you interested in enabling your community to directly schedule any portion of your programming schedule?: 
Yes
27. Are you interested in sharing content with other public access TV stations?: 
Yes
28. How many total new home subscribers (households) to broadband do you expect to generate over the entirety of the program?: 
Have not data to answer this question.
29. How many total new business and/or institutional subscribers to broadband do you expect to generate?: 
Have not data to answer this question.