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TOP = Welcome = toc Welcome to the Pocono Community Access Television Wiki Page. We are using the site to keep you informed of the progress we are making toward making community media a reality for Monroe County, PA. It is our hope that, after reviewing this information, you support the creation of a Community Based Multimedia Organization in Monroe County, PA. We will not stop fighting for our right to an open channel until our goal is accomplished. PCAtv is TV for YOU by YOU!!

On this site, you will find:

Mission Statement Vision Statement Strategic Plan Proposed Budget Letters of Support Resume's of key people

= Who We A =

 is dedicated to providing equal air time on a local cable access channel for offering diverse points of view, training in various aspects of media production, and coverage of participating municipal meetings when available.

We treat anyone who comes through our doors with the same courtesy, respect, and tolerance regardless of ethnicity, social background, faith base or sexual orientation. Our goal is to aid in the advancement of culture, promote education, and support local government in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

•Public Access •Educational Access •Government Access
 * Public Access Television **, also known as **P.E.G. ACCESS**, can be divided into three basic categories:


 * Public Access **consists of video programming and other electronic information produced, directed, and engineered by community volunteers. In the case of public access, the programming is developed or acquired by nonprofit community groups, neighborhood organizations, social service agencies, and individual citizens. It focuses on many aspects of community life, ranging from the services and activities of community organizations to the opinions and beliefs of individuals in the community.


 * Educational Access **is developed or acquired by school or college employees, students, and school volunteers. It typically focuses on distance learning, school activities, and information that the school/college wants to get out to the community or share among schools.

Most people confuse **Public Access Television** with PBS; here are some of the main differences. **PCAtv** is available to anyone from our community, is mostly local programming and we will accept almost all programming so long as it is noncommercial, legal content and does not solicit. Public television on the other hand is very selective about the programs that are broadcast most of which comes from the PBS network. In addition, programming for PBS is supported and often produced by larger corporate bodies, whereas the majority of **PCAtv's** programming comes directly from **__YOU__**, the community producers. We anticipate that we will be fully operational within three months of the acquisition of the channel by a participating municipality from the cable company. We have been meeting with area non-profit organizations throughout Monroe County since early 2009 in hopes that they would have the vision to partner with us. Additionally, area law enforcement has expressed an interest in working with **PCAtv** to create video programs aimed at reducing crime, and establishing a better relationship with the community. Our base of operations is yet to be determined, however, we are hoping to be housed somewhere in the East Stroudsburg or Stroudsburg area. We have a partnership in development with East Stroudsburg University to provide programming created by students, distance learning opportunities though the various academic departments, and use of the pre-existing head end infrastructure to cablecast from until a permanent location is established. Some goals we expect to accomplish during our first five years are: • Establish an electronic medium for members of the community of Monroe County, PA in order to establish an open forum for the free exchange of diverse ideas and opinions. (i.e. - The Channel) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">• Set up a rotating showcase for urban artists. This would encourage area youth at risk to move away from “tagging” buildings or commit other acts of vandalism and give them a proper forum to create and display their artwork. Each artist would be allowed time to create a unique community oriented work of art and given a space to display it for one month. The space would then be prepared for a new artist to repeat the process. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">• Create a “Video Camp” in conjunction with East Stroudsburg University. The purpose of the camp would be to give area youth at risk an opportunity to learn how to create public service announcements for air on our channel. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">• Produce podcasts of participating municipal meetings. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">• Establish **PCAtv** as a part of the Vocational Technical System in Monroe County by welcoming area high school students into our studios and classrooms to learn an otherwise unavailable skill set that will translate into endless opportunities for them after graduation. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">We feel our work can be of great benefit to Monroe County by providing a service that is desperately needed. Students will have a place to showcase their creativity, and have an alternative source for learning opportunities. Local Government can use the medium to keep citizens involved in the political process. Non-profit organizations can take advantage of the air time to get their message out to the community. The opportunities are virtually endless. Funding sources will be grants, in kind and monetary donations, and a possible yearly arrangement with area municipalities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Government Access **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">is created or acquired by local government employees, elected officials, and volunteers. It typically focuses on information about services provided by local, State, and regional governments, issues faced by local governments and public meeting coverage (where available). Government Access is also used for other purposes, such as providing training to City employees or exchanging information between City agencies and other institutions. The content of the material carried on PEG access is determined by the individuals, groups, or organizations that produce it.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">Margaret Mead

The PCAtv "Three pager" can also be viewed in PDF format = BOTTOM = TOP NEXT PAGE HOME