FCC Vote Endangers Monrovia’s Community Media of the Foothills

By Rena Delgado, Chair of Community Mediaof the Foothills

Does freedom of speech matter to you?

A recent FCCvote modifying long standing cable franchise fees will benefit major cableoperators at the expense of funding for educational public access media centerslike Monrovia’s Community Media of the Foothills (CMF), home of KGEMstudio. 

With the needfor local media representation more urgent than ever, it’s time to acknowledgehow vital this unsung hero of public, educational and governmental broadcastingis to our community.

For overthree decades, CMF has operated three public access television stations: KGEM,KGOV, and KMAC.

Thanks to thewisdom of Monrovia’s city leaders, community advocates and the Cable FranchiseUsers Act of 1984, our city dedicated funds received from cable franchises tothe establishment of Community Media of the Foothills, a nonprofit corporationto protect your first amendment right to free speech by ensuring citizen accessto the broadcast airwaves without city or commercial influence.

Here is justa brief glimpse into the hundreds of hours of local content produced byCMF.  Can’t make the city council,planning commission, or school board meetings? Watch them from home on KGEM(channel 3) or KGOV (channel 98). Would you like to see your child’s performancein the holiday parade? View it on KGEM-TV’s YouTube channel. Want to knowwhat’s going on in town this month, or listen to current and cultural exchangesbetween local residents? Check out KGEM or KMAC (Channel 99). 

As you cansee, CMF holds a unique place in the local media landscape by providingbroadcast coverage for municipal transparency and a home for non-commercialvoices and opinions to be seen and heard in the public square on television andon digital platforms.

Why, you mayask, would an all-volunteer board of directors, citizen producers, andcommunity leaders care so much about providing access and inclusion for“everyday” people to broadcast their voices?

For me, it’ssimply a matter of preserving our freedom of speech in the public commons,namely the public airwaves, that we all have a stake and share in. Preservingthis cultural legacy requires that we as neighbors, viewers, and contributorsengage fully and actively in making sure equal access for local voicescontinues to thrive for decades to come. 

What can youdo to participate in or support Community Media of the Foothills and ensurethis community resource doesn’t evaporate? You can run for a board of directorsposition, produce a show of your own, volunteer as crew, and yes, you can alsomake a tax deductible donation.

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