Traverse City -- A local nonprofit and its supporters hope to keep the closing credits from rolling on public access television and launch a new season.
Channel tctv2 will lose public funding and operational support this summer, but local nonprofit Land Information Access Association proposed to take over and keep the station on the air.
"It fits with our overall mission, which is about civic engagement and helping people in communities become better informed about their communities," said Joe VanderMeulen, executive director.
"Public access television has a long history in the state that is one of providing public access in a free and equitable way," he said. "We would like to make TV 2 a stronger community service."
The Traverse Area District Library supplies administrative services and oversees operation of tctv2, but will sever its involvement at the end of June, when area municipalities pull the funding plug.
The channel receives 30 percent of cable franchise fees collected by Traverse City, Elmwood and Garfield townships, the three remaining members of the Cherry Capital Cable Council. Paradise Township and the Village of Kingsley also contribute.
The council is dissolving after changes to franchise agreements dropped Charter Communication's operational funding responsibilities, leaving local governments to foot the bill. Seven area townships left the council since that change in 2005.
The Land Information Access Association also hopes to take over operation of the new governmental channel 99.
LIAA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides technical and educational services to local citizens, municipalities and nonprofit groups for land use planning, resource management, emergency management and environmental protection.
The association plans to build a television studio in its office on Munson Avenue in Traverse City.
A citizen's advisory board would set policies and standards for tctv2 programming and services.
David Poinsett, a member of the group Friends of TV 2, wants the station to take a more proactive approach in attracting and helping people to produce shows.
"TV 2 is a community resource, it's community media, it's a chance for locally produced programming to celebrate what's in the Traverse City area," he said.
The proposed budget is $216,300 for personnel, overhead costs, materials, construction and relocation of existing equipment.
LIAA hopes most of its costs will be covered by funds left over from the cable council and contributions from municipalities.
Other funds are expected from franchise fee collections and fees for services such as production assistance and studio rentals.
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