When we're not doing live or taped programming, we have a multimedia bulletin board that lets people know about programs and services that are available. It's funded through franchise fees collected by the cable company. In Mount Prospect, we put all that back into local programming. One other model that's unique is Bensenville, Illinois. They have an intergovernmental agreement between the village, the park district, school and library, to do local programming.
All agencies can work a lot easier together than they can separately.
They get a utility tax rebate so that in lieu of taking money back from the village, they're just offsetting the cost and participating in the joint venture. It's very economical because they get coverage and publicity out for their events. It's happening all over the country. You need to contact the local government usually the city or village manager's office that handles cable regulation. Ask who oversees the franchise agreement with cable.