9:10pm | After a three-year absence of public access broadcasting, the Long Beach Community Foundation (LBCF) and the Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP) are moving forward with the revival of public access for Long Beach. The Public Access Digital Network (PADNET) being managed by LBCAP will allow locally produced programs to air on local cable channels and through podcasts on the Internet and mobile devices.
PADNET is being funded by a public/private partnership. Long Beach Community Foundation was awarded a two-year $325,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through its Community Information Challenge initiative. This initiative helps community and place-based foundations support news and information projects that inform and engage residents.
The public funding comes from the City of Long Beach’s cable franchise fees, known as PEG (Public, Education, Government) funds, which are restricted solely for capital expenses like equipment and facilities. In May of this year, the City Council approved use of these funds for the match requirement of the Knight Foundation’s grant. The matching amount will be channeled through LBCF to support PADNET. In addition, the City of Long Beach is providing additional PEG funds to LBCAP to support PADNET’s launch.
The PADNET model includes establishing neighborhood media centers throughout the city where basic equipment and training resources will be available in convenient locations to those interested in producing programs. Programs can be uploaded from the neighborhood centers to the LBCAP hub for broadcasting on local cable channels along with Internet podcasting and distribution through smartphones and other mobile devices.
More information can be found at www.lbcap.org or by contacting Darick Simpson at (562) 216-4600 or [email protected].