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becoming public access where anyone can say anything they want. He asked the Board to allow <br />him to work with County staff on how to make this happen. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan although sensitive to the plight of non -profits, was <br />concerned that we already have a local for profit TV station, local radio and newspapers, and <br />other advertising media, and if the County gets involved in competing with them and giving <br />away taxpayer -subsidized free resource, wondered how we would address that matter with the <br />local television agencies. <br />Commissioner Solari had several concerns and would be willing to hear more in <br />the future, but said this was putting us on the road for the government to make up for lost private <br />support, and he was not sure this was the right road for the government to be travelling down. He <br />stated that if we were to do this, we would have to have very clear criteria, because half or more <br />of the non -profits in this area are church related and we have had church related problems. He <br />felt the only appropriate way was to look at it as an in-kind donation, as part of the budgetary <br />process so that we have a clear sense of where we are going and how much we are donating <br />ahead of time. Furthermore, we would have to have some agreement from staff as to how much <br />time would be available, and it has to be part of the budget process, because it does cost the <br />County something. He expressed his hesitance, thinking "it is a dangerous road to travel." <br />Attorney Collins explained that the cable TV system, through the Federal <br />Communications Commission, has a Public Education and Governmental (PEG) system, and we <br />have always operated as a governmental channel. He feared that if we open it up to the public we <br />could not restrict the content on that PEG station. He too, was cautious about going down this <br />road, and getting things on a government channel that are not related to government, and having <br />the ability to limit what is broadcasted on the government channel. <br />March 17, 2009 17 <br />