[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of West Windsor 8-16-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-21. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
Programming on the West Windsor government and
education channel ("the channel") shall be the sole responsibility
of the Township of West Windsor, at the direction of the Township
Council and Administration and by recommendation of the Cable TV Advisory
Board. The channel shall operate in accordance with applicable provisions
of the State Cable Television Act[1] and the Federal Telecommunications Act. The relationship
between the municipality and the school district relating to the operation
of the channel shall be in accordance with any shared services agreement
in effect.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1 et seq.
The objectives of this chapter are to:
A.
Provide unedited content of cablecasts of Township
Council meetings and other municipal public meetings, as designated.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
B.
Provide comprehensive information about programs and
services offered to West Windsor residents by municipal departments.
C.
Provide information pertinent to West Windsor residents
from other local, state, and federal governmental entities.
D.
Widen the dissemination of information on the activities
of the municipal government advisory bodies of the Township.
E.
Provide emergency communications in the event of disaster
or widespread service disruption.
F.
Provide and distribute programming of interest to
the residents, which will inform, educate and enlighten, as well as
encourage participation in government services, activities and decision
making.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
The channel shall operate on all cable service
providers offering service in the Township pursuant to a franchise
authorized pursuant to the provisions of the State Cable Television
Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 48:5A-1 et seq.
The types of programs shall be as follows:
A.
Live cablecast. Live coverage of designated meetings
and events may be provided.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
B.
Taped-delayed cablecast. Taped meetings, shows and
events videotaped in advance for cablecast at a later time. Some events
will be cablecast live and will also be taped for later playback.
C.
Staff-originated programming: approved programming
produced by the municipality, to include programs for local departments,
issues related to municipal government or about groups, committees,
boards, etc., that are affiliated with government.
D.
Outside-originated programming: approved programming
that is related to government that is produced by an outside source.
This programming may be donated, purchased, rented or borrowed for
cablecast.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
E.
Bulletin-board information: messages related to municipal
activities, programs, services and events sponsored in whole or in
part by West Windsor or another governmental unit affecting its residents.
F.
Emergency
broadcasts, as needed.
[Added 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
G.
Promotions.
Promotional announcements for Township-sponsored events, programs
and activities will be permitted. Promotional announcements for events,
charities or outside organizations shall only be permitted when the
event is being held in the Township.
[Added 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
H.
Programming
restrictions are as follows:
[Added 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
I.
Political
programming.
[Added 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01; amended 12-9-2013 by Ord. No.
2013-14]
The channel is not intended as a mechanism to promote any particular
issue or candidate for public office. However, this provision will
not preclude the channel from cablecasting nonpartisan programs sponsored
by mutual third parties designed to inform and educate the citizens
of election issues and candidates. An example of what is permitted
are debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
A.
All programming requests will be reviewed by the Cable
TV Advisory Board, which shall make its recommendation to the Administration.
B.
A weekly log will be kept to record all programming.
C.
The channel is not to be utilized for announcements
from the general public. Access to the channel shall be limited to
municipal, governmental or quasi-governmental functions and operations.
Utilization of the channel for personal gain is not permitted. The
channel is not a public access channel.
Following is a general list of programming priorities,
in order of priority. The priorities may be altered on a case-by-case
basis by the Cable TV Advisory Board.
A.
Emergency override communication by the Mayor or designee
takes priority over all broadcasts.
B.
Programming of or about meetings of policymaking bodies
such as the Township Council, Etc.
C.
Programming of various departments and their services.
D.
Programming of county, state, federal government and/or
Township boards, commissions and authorities and/or agencies that
use public dollars.
E.
Approved programming produced by the Township or outside
sources that is relevant to local government or interests of the community
at large, or identifiable segments thereof.
F.
Video bulletin board.
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
Management of the government access channel
shall be by the station manager, under the direction of the Administration.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 60-8, Political programming, § 60-9, Editing policy, § 60-10, Endorsements, § 60-11, Promotions, and § 60-12, Programming restrictions, which immediately followed, were repealed 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01. This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 60-13 through 60-15 as §§ 60-8 through 60-10, respectively.
Township-owned video equipment shall be restricted
to municipal activities, and its uses shall be restricted to trained
personnel. Loaning of equipment for personal or outside use shall
not be permitted.
Programs containing copyrighted materials will
be used only if copyright clearance has been obtained.
A.
The original tape of each public meeting may be maintained
by the channel for production purposes.
B.
Both master tapes and copies will be copyrighted in
the name of the Township of West Windsor.
C.
Videotapes shall not be considered an official record
of any meeting and there shall be no liability for inadvertent erasure
or omissions.
D.
Retention period. It is the general policy to retain
public meeting tapes for a minimum of two months.[1]
[Amended 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 60-16, Government Channel
Committee, and § 60-17, Consistency with interlocal agreements,
which immediately followed, were repealed 2-7-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-01.
