Quote Unquote, Inc. RFP Proposal

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 2.
2.1.1 Offeror Identification The submitter of this proposal is QuoteUnquote, Inc. a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit incorporated in 1979. Our current street address is 519 Central N.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 26206, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125. Our main telephone contact number is 505-243-0027. Those persons authorized to execute the Draft Agreement are the Executive Director, Steve Ranieri and the Board of Directors of QuoteUnquote, Inc. whose members are listed in Exhibits/Resumes. QuoteUnquote will comply with all laws stated within the RFP2012-000004. QuoteUnquote, Inc. agrees to the terms of the Draft Agreement with one minor QuoteUnquote, Inc. would be agreeable to utilize the negotiation clause 1.20 included in the RFP to finalize any details of the contract agreement if it is necessary. QuoteUnquote has carried, and continues to carry all necessary insurance for its operations and to protect the City from harm. Please refer to our Exhibits for the Certificates of Insurance. QuoteUnquote Inc offers this response to RFP2012-000004 with the understanding that our response will be confidential and not reviewed by anyone except the evaluation committee until after the awarding of the bid occurs. 2.1.2. Experience 2.1.2.1 Current Experience. QuoteUnquote, Inc. continues to operate Channel 27 (Public Access), Encantada TV (Channel 26) and is involved daily with the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School. See 2.1.2.2 below for more details on these projects. Our staff currently consists of eight full-time employees and one part-time. These employees all have a background in television, film and technologies. The Executive Director, Steve Ranieri is a graduate of Syracuse Universitys Newhouse School of Communications and has been involved in media as a journalist and producer of TV, radio and Internet news services since 1970. He has been the Executive Director of QuoteUnquote since 1998. In addition to his duties of administering the Community Media Center, he is currently working with the national networks Alliance for Community Media, MAGNet (the Media Action Grassroots Network) and two organizations within MAGNet (Center for Media Justice in Oakland California and the Media Literacy Project in Albuquerque both of which have recently been named to the FCC Media Advisory Committee by the FCC Chairman). In addition, his work with MAGNet and the Alliance for Community Media includes an initiative to develop policy and procedures for the creation and expansion of broadband networks in low income and rural areas. An off shoot of the broadband work is the start up of a Community 1 All contents of this Technical Proposal and RFP
August 2011 Quote Unquote, Inc.
Journalism Project statewide in New Mexico with content to be distributed over the Internet. This network is being funded by the McCune Foundation. John Ortiz, Director of Operations, was formerly in charge of running the government and public access operations for the City of Rio Rancho until that City decided to contract it out to a private company. John has been in charge of most technical aspects of the access channels since 2006. Susan Schuurman, our Training Coordinator has 17 years of experience in media and television in particular. This includes her years as the producer of KASA Fox 2 News At Nine. Please refer to Exhibit #1 for the resumes of the current staff. To summarize, the staff of QuoteUnquote is an exceptionally talented and experienced group that is up to date with the latest technology and techniques in the industry with a commitment to utilizing and expanding new technologies and social media. We have a very well established training program for teaching and certification in the use of video, film, and audio production software such as Pro Tools. We have trained numerous professionals in the use of these software programs including many members of the production staff at KOB TV. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has also been involved for years in providing training and media curriculum to schools. This expansion of our services to the educational community is an integral part of our mission. QuoteUnquote, Inc. was the founder of the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School (MACCS) and currently has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the MACCS to provide curriculum and classroom instruction in film, television and audio production at that school. The school is expecting to teach more than 200 students at MACCS this school year. The media arts curriculum developed by Quote...Unquote for the school is a model for the whole state. We also have on-going training programs with Amy Biehl High School the Native American Community Academy, and Atrisco Heritage Academy. The staff of QuoteUnquote, Inc. is remarkable in its diversity, experience, and ability to work with a demanding public in teaching the skills and tools of television production and community communication. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has been working with the City of Albuquerque, contracted to run the Public Access operation for the City, since 1986 and the Local Origination Channel, Encantada TV since 2009. 2.1.2.2 Past Experience Project #1 As noted above, QuoteUnquote, Inc. has been providing public access to television for the people of Albuquerque since 1981, and has contracted with the City of Albuquerque to operate the Community Cable Channel 27 since 1986. Through thirty years of experience in public access television, QuoteUnquote, Inc. has developed a system for providing public access which is held up as a model to access centers nationwide. It is especially recognized in the field of PEG access for its diverse 2
All contents of this Technical Proposal and RFP August 2011 Quote Unquote, Inc.
community participation, outstanding training programs, and the amount of locally produced programming. In recent years QuoteUnquote, Inc. has become one of the leaders nationally in expanding the mission and services of access television by deepening our involvement with educational institutions as well as utilizing diverse platforms and technologies for the distribution of media. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has received the Community Communications Award three times, which is the highest level of recognition from the Alliance for Community Media. This highly competitive award was based on the QuoteUnquotes overall performance, creative use of community resources, impact on the local community, contribution to national access development, ability to generate diverse programming and public participation, and innovations in television production and applications. Through all these years QuoteUnquote has trained and provided access to television for many thousands of Albuquerque residents. During this time it has steadily grown in the number of hours of programming and the numbers of individuals and organizations participating in access television. Since the 1990s the number of active programmers and producers at a given time has grown from around 150 to the current quarterly average of more than 400. Our data base shows a total of nearly 1000 individuals were involved during the past year with the production and/or programming of content on Channels 26 and 27. The number of hours of weekly programming on Channel 27 has grown from 58 in 1994 to an average of 142 hours today with 80% of the programming being locally produced. This has far exceeded the contractual requirement of 120 hours per week. These figures can be accessed from our data base and are shown in our quarterly reports to the City Legal Department. QuoteUnquote works with many non-profit organizations each year, involving them in access programs either as guests or producing their own regular shows on Channel 27 and now Channel 26. These organizations range from YDI, Animal Protection of New Mexico, Arca of New Mexico, and the League of Women Voters to numerous schools in the Albuquerque area. There are many more than can be listed here. Please refer to our 2010 Annual Report (in the Exhibits section) for the most recent listings of organizations. Since 1986 this work has been performed for the City of Albuquerque on contract and under the auspices of the franchise agreements in place. As the current contract holder this project is on-going. Project #2 QuoteUnquote, Inc. was also the founder of the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School, MACCS (both Board and staff members). Our work included writing of the charter, writing and submitting the Media Arts Standards and Benchmarks for the State which created the framework for academic credit in schools for media arts courses, raising money for the purchase of a building (MACCS is the only charter school in the state that owns its own building) and organizationally setting up the school by hiring a principal and obtaining all the equipment (media related and otherwise) through a $700,000 federal grant that we were awarded. This work was carried out with the approval of the Public Education Commission of the State of New Mexico (which approved the charter) and supervised by the Public Education Department of the State 3
whose primary contact with us was Don Duran PHD (then head of the States Charter School Division). QuoteUnquote Inc considers MACCS to be its most daunting achievement. Our school was opened in September 2008. This project is on-going. Project #3 A third project has been the creation of Encantada TV (Comcast Channel 26). This project began in 2008 and came to fruition on May 5th 2009 when we first began cable casting. Encantada TV was the fulfillment of creating the Local Origination Channel, as defined in the Franchise Agreement (a channel for arts, culture and events). This channel was started with no funding by the City of Albuquerque but was carried out under the supervision of the City Legal Department. This is also an on-going project of QuoteUnquote, Inc.
2.1.3 Proposed Approach to Tasks SCOPE OF SERVICES

3.1.1.A Provide a Minimum of 120 Hours of Programming Per Week QuoteUnquote has been providing more than 120 hours per week of public access programming on Channel 27 under the current contract. Everything is in place to continue this. Our move to utilizing video servers makes this much easier to accomplish and track. Using this method increases the number of programs that can be scheduled and run through automation and provides a record of what was shown on the channel. Our policies give programming priority to new producers and programmers in order to facilitate as many people as possible using the channel. This results, each quarter, in some producers giving up their time slots to new people. On average we have been cable casting around 160 hours (out of 168 hours) of sponsored programming per week for the past two years. Our first run programming consistently exceeds 120 hours per week. QuoteUnquote was pleasantly surprised this past year when the results of a national survey of community media centers conducted by the Alliance for Community Media revealed that our media center, with its two channels, ranked fifth in the nation in the number of hours of 1st run, local programming. The 6308 hours put QuoteUnquote and Albuquerque behind only Manhattan Neighborhood Network in NYC, Queens Media Center, the Bronx Media Center and the Chicago Access Network (CAN). 3.1.1.B,-All Programming Must Be of a Contemporary Quality and of the Highest Standard-Scope of Services QuoteUnquote intends to greatly expand the scope of its training program. The quality of programming of the Public Access channels will be largely the result of local production capabilities and standards given that 80% or more of the programming will be 4
locally produced. We plan to expand our basic training program by offering advanced courses in studio, directing, lighting, camera, editing, script writing and even on-air talent. We have already initiated a program called the producers potluck that brings producers and programmers together, facilitating collaboration amongst them. One of the problems producers face in creating a quality program is a shortage of crew for their shows. Through the monthly potluck producers find additional help. This is already having a positive impact. QuoteUnquote, in response to City concerns about the technical quality of some programs is initiating a system in the studios of having staff directly supervise and aid with those programs that appear to be struggling with the technical aspects of their production. Two types of aid will be utilized. First, staff will require that these struggling productions have a pre-production meeting before each show. In addition, staff may, if deemed necessary, be present on the set in the studio to directly supervise and aid the productions volunteer during the production. In regards to field productions that are handed in to the staff, staff will briefly review them for technical quality but not for content, before entering them into the server(s) for playback. Digital Literacy Training Quote-Unquote Media Center (QUQ) understands how critically important it is in the st 21 century to expand our mission from being a public access TV station to a Community Media Center (CMC). Part of our mission includes training members of the community in digital literacy in order to allow residents to more fully participate in civic life. Not all members of our community know how to use social media or even use some basic communications devices such as smart phones. We will offer a Social Media Class to train producers and members of the community how to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter for promotion of programming, to find volunteer crew, and increase visibility and viewership. We will offer classes in how to use the Internet to expand distribution of video content beyond public access TV channels. QUQ will offer The EZ Road to Upload Class to teach producers how to convert prerecorded video content to media files, upload them to YouTube and Vimeo and then link the videos on the Miro New Mexico Community Video website and other websites, blogs and social media sites. Thus video content will not be restricted solely to Comcast cable subscribers and producers will be empowered to use digital tools to enhance promotion and distribution. It is especially important for older folks to learn how to use social media to communicate because youth are increasingly not using email for their messaging, thus learning how to use Facebook and Twitter will help bridge the generation gap caused by rapidly changing technology. We will also train our producers how to use Skype technology (VoIP) to enhance live studio production. Using Skype for video and audio transmission over phone lines allows producers to interview subjects who are out of town or out of state (or even out of country) during a live TV studio production. Using such innovative technology greatly enhances production values and expands the pool from which hosts/producers can choose their guests. 5
We will also host Web Media Hours, an open computer lab, so members of the community who do not know how to use the Internet can receive hands-on training in a supportive environment. Other classes we will offer include training on how to use iPads and/or other tablets and some of the thousands of useful apps being created everyday; plus augment our current training to include classes on animation, Avid and Premier editing software, Photoshop, motion capture, and other programs that enhance video production values. We will also develop Maker Spaces, computer repair classes, and we will offer a class in how to create apps for the iPhone, one of the most innovative sectors of the global economy. QUQ Community Media Center (CMC) strives to be a hub of digital literacy training and that means continuing our work of expanding training beyond traditional TV video production. Emerging Technologies and Innovation Public Access Centers have a strong tradition of being laboratories for new media adoption. The new media ecosystem challenges Community Media Centers to keep up with the latest technology, adjust our training accordingly, purchase additional equipment and software, and revise our media education curriculum and outreach, all based on data compiled through ongoing and regular community needs assessments. QUQ Community Media Center recognizes the exponential growth of smart phone usage in our community which enables average residents to record video and stills and post content online in much less time than traditional video production required. In order to take full advantage of this emerging technology, while instilling journalistic ethics and standards. QUQ has begun the planning and development of an ambitious, statewide New Mexico Community Journalism Network. Our first convening of a dozen anchor organizations from across New Mexico will take place on August 20, 2011. The QUQ-led New Mexico Community Journalism Project will feature a must-see web portal or blog to distribute and aggregate content across the statewide network, especially focusing on rural and small town communities, with Albuquerque as an urban hub for training, distribution and networking. We also will challenge those we train to in turn become community journalism mentors within their own local communities. The Open Technology Initiative of the Full Spectrum Media Report states, As video capability and other production tools become more pervasive on phone handsets, with higher resolution images and easier ways to transfer content off the phone, they become increasingly viable tools for television production, in addition to distribution via the web.i Recognizing this potential, we plan to purchase equipment and offer training that can turn a smart phone into a video production kit. We will employ a camera holder to hold the smart phone firmly and horizontally, plus a Steadycam rig or housing such as a Smoothee for steadier shooting, and a professional shotgun mic mounted to housing to provide high quality audio collection, a hallmark of professional versus amateur 6
videography. The unit can also mount to a tripod for less hand-shake. We plan to purchase encoding software that can easily convert this footage for editing and upload to social media sites for quick distribution. Smart phones with such rigging can also use Skype to become a high quality, mobile video production package airing live. Producers using these smart phone rigs become community correspondents who contribute content to enhance traditional in-studio live productions. Such innovative and emerging technology has already been employed by Akaku Community Media Center, Hawaii Public Access, and was demonstrated at the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) conference in Tucson in July, 2011. As stated previously in this response, QUQ seeks to embrace a multi-platform approach to community media, thus including Low Power FM Radio in our training and infrastructure, as well as training in Wi-Fi, mesh wireless technology, White Space Devices (WDSs), and how to utilize licensed and unlicensed spectrum use. QUQ supports an open Internet, free of strangleholds, chokeholds and gated communications. To achieve locally-controlled, locally owned media communications, QUQ recognizes that in addition to being a community of media producers, we must become a network of infrastructure owners. In this era of media consolidation, it is critical for CMCs to plan and budget for programs that emphasize local content and local control. We will prepare the grassroots to apply for Low Power FM Radio licenses when that window opens up. We will explore tapping into the Lifeline and Link Up programs to expand broadband penetration. QUQ believes that like the telephone and electricity, access to high-speed Internet is becoming crucial to civic engagement; expansion of broadband to all members of the community regardless of income or population density is thus incumbent on Community Access Centers. Increasingly, much content nowadays is only viewable with a high-speed internet connection; too many Americans are out of the loop and left out of the national conversation because they cant afford to purchase DSL or Broadband. Community Media Centers must address the persistent digital divide and help make fast internet available to the public regardless of income level; this expansion is critical for a democratic society to thrive. QuoteUnquote is planning to create workshops that will address these issues and thus offer a deeper media education to the public. We will also begin hosting Underwriting Workshops to train producers in how to acquire underwriting for their shows while following guidelines to keep in line with prohibitions on commercial advertising; we will inform producers about crowd-sourcing (e.g., Kickstarter) as another potential funding source. Quote-Unquote is committed to making all tools that help people communicate more effectively be readily available and accessible to everyone. To fully utilize these tools, means having access to training. This is how the QuoteUnquote training department will provide the needed link to using communications. Communication tools are rapidly evolving and QUQ is well-positioned and perfectly suited to be Albuquerques hub to bridge the gap between new media technologies and the general public eager to learn new skills. Digital literacy skills will enhance their quality of life as well as improve their job finding prospects in an entrepreneurial economy such as ours.
Outreach and Training to Other Organizations in the Community QUQ has a long history of reaching out to other local community organizations for partnerships, to offer training to community members and to receive video content to enhance our programming as well. We have trained students from Amy Biehl High School, the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School (founded by QUQ), Warehouse 508, and other schools. We will be partnering with numerous organizations to train its young leaders in media production. Some examples are Youth Noise/LinkTV, YDI, KUNM Youth Radio and countless churches. We plan to partner with groups like 516 Arts (our new neighbor) and the Alvarado Urban Farm to help with promotion and to acquire local, home-grown cultural content for our stations. We currently offer Community Media Studio Production Class through our partner UNM Continuing Education twice a year. Our New Mexico Community Journalism Network will provide QUQ with the opportunity to further our outreach to community organizations across the state, for training and to acquire and distribute content. We have already connected with twelve organizations that are interested in serving as anchor organizations for our statewide community journalism network. Building relationships with other groups and nonprofits in the Albuquerque community strengthens our ability to achieve our mission, to provide increased access to media production and infrastructure within our community. Following the Grand Rapids CMC model, we seek to become an indispensable member of our local community. QuoteUnquote wishes to point out that it also defines quality of programming by the diversity represented on the channel(s). QuoteUnquote has been exemplary in this regard. QuoteUnquote has the capacity to train people in Spanish. We also train the disabled and people from every socio-economic group in the area. Those producing and programming on Channels 26 and 27 are an extremely diverse group of people. The quality of programming has also increased as the channel has transitioned to a digital format with professional editing instruction available for the producers. As a result of the recent move to a new facility our technical production capacity is being greatly expanded. We will have full lighting grids in both Studios A and B with expanded equipment and capability in Studio B which will now have the full range of equipment that we currently used in Studio A (first class video switcher, Compix graphics for titles and graphics, full fledged audio board, 3 cameras and an array of computers and inputs not available previously. This is possible due to the Citys purchase of virtually all new HD digital equipment for our main studio, Studio A which allowed us to shift better equipment to Studio B. We believe the improvement will be very noticeable. Other enhancements which QuoteUnquote will implement during the next 5 years are: Enhance live shows with more viewer feedback, including more integration of Internet content with live studio shows by having show host use a laptop on set to monitor Twitter feeds trending during the show. Follow model used by MauiTube, based in Akaku, Hawaii, where viewers influence show content by 8
Tweeting and Phoning in questions and comments. Provide a larger classroom to better accommodate classes containing eight studentsl Purchase another Tricaster to use for training purposes Purchase and outfit a mobile truck unit for remote live cable casting Purchase IRBs to enable directors and producers to speak in the ear of the show host during live studio productions Purchase two teleprompters to enhance show intros by featuring scripted content; teleprompter training is also a valuable job skill that enhances economic development Achieve the capability to uplink to satellite feeds from our studios; offer as a revenue-generating professional service to local guests appearing on national shows Host monthly public forums in our facility that are theme-based, chosen from results of the recent city-sponsored survey; these forums will provide a space to foster collaborative relationships, coalition building and people-to-people networks. Follow the model of using media production as a community development tool pioneered by the Media Mobilizing Project in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tap into capability at senior centers and schools; create multi-generational mentorships and teams featuring seniors being taught digital literacy by youth, while youth gather content by recording stories told by seniors about their life stories; air on our channels Obtain the Cell Phone Literacy Toolkit when completed by partner Media Literacy Project which will teach producers how to use mobile phones for community media Conduct training off-site in partnership with organizations within their neighborhoods, where they have already established trust. Help organizations establish hyperlocal news bureaus, following GR CMC model, using Flipcams and whatever will be the next generation of the Flipcam concept. For further information on how we provide training, we encourage you to look at our training manuals located in the Exhibits file of the Addenda. Another important factor in determining the quality of programming on the two channels is a community outreach program that reaches all segments of the population and engages them consistently through the development of long term partnerships. QuoteUnquote has been successful with this. We were able to hire a full-time community relations and communication person, Erica Jones, who through much leg work and the use of the Internet and social media has made quite an impact. She, along with the Programming Coordinator and the Executive Director, form a team that daily is reaching out into the community bringing in new partners and programs. This team is also tasked with enhancing revenue for the channels operations.
QuoteUnquote fully expects that the above mentioned strategies and increased training will have a big impact on the quality of programming on Channels 26 and 27. 3.1.1.C Meeting the Requirements of the U.S. Code: Title 18, Section 1468-Scope of Services As mentioned earlier, QuoteUnquote has developed a strong set of rules that require that Viewer Discretionary Material be shown after 10 p.m. and that Adult Content be shown only after midnight (see Exhibit 4 Operating Rules Chapter I Sections 1 C and D). Rules and sanctions are in place to handle these situations. They strongly discourage anyone from programming these types of materials at inappropriate times (see Chapter IV of the Operating Rules). Our rules also clearly prohibit the programming of obscene and pornographic material on the public access channel(s). Chapter I, Section D-2-b states: Program material considered obscene or pornographic will not be shown on Community Cable Channel 27. Obscenity or pornography is not legally considered protected speech under the First Amendment. This material is defined by the United States Supreme Court as Material which the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, that considered as a whole, its predominant appeal is to the prurient interest in sex and it depicts or describes in a patently offensive manner, actual or simulated: sexual intercourse, sodomy, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sadism, masochism, excretion or lewd exhibition of the genitals, and considered as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political and scientific value. Note: the application of this Supreme Court ruling may be made by local authorities resulting in the arrest of, or a fine to, the individual responsible. Each incidence of obscenity or pornography is normally addressed on a case by case basis. In addition, we require each programmer to fill out and sign a Time Slot Application (See Exhibits) that explains to them that these types of shows are not permitted. They must initial beside each category of program, as well as sign the document at the end with the statement that they will not put these types of programming on the channel(s). All of this is done with the utmost care so that no individual or group has their First Amendment rights violated. Orientation sessions are required of all producers and programmers at which these and all other rules for the use of the public access channel are explained. They must attend orientation before they can proceed to training or place a program on public access. In addition, once an individual has completed training they fill out an Enrollment Form, (See Exhibits) have an ID made and receive a copy of the Operating Rules. Our staff is also instructed that if they determine that a producer is using public access facilities or equipment to produce pornography (even before attempting to cablecast it), they will immediately suspend the producer. The producer/programmer would then be required to meet with either the Director of Operations or the Executive Director to explain what they were using the facilities for. If they do not have an adequate explanation, they will continue to be suspended. The Operating Rules call for an immediate one-year suspension. A second violation would result in a lifetime suspension. (Please refer to Chapter IV Section 1 of the Operating Rules). If in the course of 10
investigating the incident it is determined that the producer was also making pornographic video tapes for sale, the police would be notified. These rules are repeatedly explained to would be producers during orientations and training classes. Furthermore, a copy of the U.S. Code Section 1468 is posted in the studios and offices of the channel in plain view for the public to read. These policies have been in place for a number of years and as a result we have had very few incidents. 3.1.1.D Violations of Federal, State and Local Laws-Scope of Services Compliance with the law and the operating manual of the channel is required of all producers providing programming. The prevention of illegal obscene material is a major goal of the channel. The training that is provided to producers includes all requirements of federal, state and local laws relating to acceptable programming including the laws relating to obscenity. Additionally, a producer is provided a handout specifically with guidelines on what programming is acceptable under the law. This is in addition to the other materials provided the producers that set forth appropriate standards for programming under the law and operating procedures of the channel. Master control decision making takes place during programming under our current procedures. While monitoring programming, (whether live or taped), master control monitors for anything out of the ordinary or in violation of the operating manual. When the programming is live, the issue is addressed immediately with the producer. If the producer fails to comply, master control contacts the station manager or operations director to handle the violation. When the programming is taped, master control notes a minor violation and the station addresses it with the producer and requires compliance in future programming. Repeated minor infractions can result in action being taken against the producer. If the taped programming is a major infraction or a violation of the law, it will be immediately removed. The station has taken action against those who violate the rules in the following fashion: samples of some of the reprimands that have been handed out in the past can be found in the Exhibits folder of the Addenda. In addition, behavior is not tolerated within the facility that violates the law or encroaches on the rights of others. QuoteUnquote has a policy in place that mandates that if any employee encounters unlawful behavior they are to immediately report it to a supervisor who will prevent the violation of the law from proceeding either directly or by notifying the police. As stated above, if, for any reason, a supervisor is not present at the time of the violation, the employee is then considered, by default, to be authorized to deal with said behavior. QuoteUnquote includes within the categories of prohibited behavior verbal or physical abuse and harassment of any kind. There is specifically a set of rules and sanctions to deal with any incidences of sexual harassment that may take place. We refer you to Chapter IV Section 5 of the Operating Rules and also to the Definitions section of the same book. Those violating the law and the rights of others will 11
be immediately asked to leave the building. The police department will be brought in if the persons committing the violation refuse to vacate the building. An incident report is required to be submitted to the Executive Director within 24 hours by those employees who dealt with the offenders and a decision will be made promptly by the Executive Director to determine if further action, such as criminal prosecution is required. A copy of the incident report will be given to the police if they did not respond to the incident by coming to the studios. We also want to mention that another tool in enforcing this is the issuing of IDs at the successful completion of a training program where a certificate is also presented. The individual is then required to present his/her ID before using Public Access equipment and facilities and we require producers using the facility to wear their ID around their neck on a lanyard while in the building. We also ask guests on shows to sign in. Dispute Resolution QuoteUnquote has in place an appeals process (see Chapter IV, Section 6 of the Operating Rules). QuoteUnquote takes immediate action against violations of the law and the threat of, or carrying out of physical violence. The person is immediately suspended and barred from the premises. They may appeal this decision of the employee to the Executive Director and eventually, for violations carrying a sanction of one year or more, to the Board of Directors. For other violations of the Operating Rules, the individual(s) are brought in for a meeting to discuss the situation and give their side of the story before any sanction is implemented. For most violations a warning is given for a first time violation and sanctions begin with a repeated violation (again please refer to the Operating Rules). In rare instances where a resolution to a conflict cannot be found within QuoteUnquotes system for dispute resolution, QuoteUnquote hires either a private, professional mediator or utilizes the services of the City of Albuquerques Mediation Services. 3.1.1. E Eighty Percent Shall Be Local Programming-Scope of Services QuoteUnquote will continue to adhere to the goal that 80% of its programming be locally produced by fully trained and certified field and studio producers. This has become easier to maintain as many more people have their own video cameras and a capacity to edit their own field production videos at home using PCs, iMacs and video editing software to produce a program. In some cases these producers take a QuoteUnquote training course but find it more convenient to use their own equipment at home. In other cases they dont utilize training or production facilities but do bring in a finished, locally produced video. Our field production services are especially important in serving the lower income and minority populations who dont have the financial means to buy video cameras and editing systems. We have not had a problem accomplishing 80% of local programming except occasionally in December when local programmers and producers are more interested in the holidays. We do maintain a policy however, that we will not remove programmers 12
who have already scheduled a show that was produced elsewhere or prevent someone in the community from scheduling a non-locally produced program solely in order to attain a percentage of 80% local programming. We believe that such an action may be interpreted as a violation of that individual programmers First Amendment rights. The means of attaining a goal of 80% local programming therefore is not by excluding anyone, but rather by having an adequate training and production staff and a heavy emphasis on recruiting local individuals and organizations to become involved with our Community Media Center thus generating that high percentage of locally produced programming. 3.1.1.F Trained and Qualified Staff-Scope of Services All staff members are thoroughly trained before they are left in charge of the studio, field or master control operations. They are, and will continue to be trained in both the rules and procedures of the channel(s) as well as in all technical requirements. No one under 18 is left alone to be in charge of any part of the facility. One of the heaviest obligations of running the Public Access service is the extensive training that each person hired must go through. It takes several weeks of instruction before an employee is capable of carrying out their duties without direct supervision. Interns are utilized in delivering services to the public. However, interns, regardless of their age, are never left unsupervised. As stated earlier in this proposal, QuoteUnquote plans to place great emphasis on staff development to ensure not only the best technical capability, but also the best customer service and interpersonal skills as well. As stated earlier in this document, an increased emphasis will be placed on professional development of the staff. QuoteUnquote is committed to raising the money necessary to accomplish this. For more information please refer to the documents in our management folder of the Exhibits. 3.1.1.G Availability of Rules and Procedures-Scope of Services QuoteUnquote, Inc. will continue to provide a copy of the Operating Rules for Channel 27 and Channel 26, Encantada TV. (Exhibit 4) to every person who completes a training course and becomes qualified to utilize the services of public access or contracts with QuoteUnquote to provide programming for Encantada TV, Channel 26. We also double check that the producers or programmers have a copy of the Operating Rules each quarter when programmers have their appointment with the Programming Coordinator to renew (or newly acquire) a time slot on the Channel. QuoteUnquote also continues to make available a copy of the Operating Rules of both channels to any member of the general public who requests one. 3.1.2 Reporting Monthly-Scope of Services QuoteUnquote schedules programming by the quarter. It will make available a list of all scheduled programming to be shown on the channel(s) for the following month by the 15th day of the previous month. This will be delivered as a list of projected programming. 13
It should be pointed out that the nature of Public Access programming is different from commercial broadcasting. Programs on Public Access are largely produced by nonprofessional volunteers and therefore often more susceptible to last minute changes. QuoteUnquote, Inc. will in addition to the above mentioned list also deliver a copy of its program guide for the following month to the City. QuoteUnquote has moved toward replacing the formerly limited paper newsletter with an expanded electronic newsletter and program guide. These program guides will include the title, cablecast time and a brief description. We will make available upon request a printed copy of the electronic newsletter for those who request it. We recognize that there are still many people in Albuquerque who dont have access to the Internet. In its monthly report QuoteUnquote will also include the total number of hours of programming, totals of all studio and production time used, schedule of all training classes and the number of trainees certified. 3.1.3 Future Revenue Enhancement 3.1.3. A QuoteUnquote, Inc. first began the process of developing a plan and strategies for increasing its revenue from sources other than the City of Albuquerque in 2006. In 2009 we responded to the request by the City to deliver a business plan to the City. This culminated in the development of a business plan for the organization in December 2010 that was delivered to the City Legal Department. The business plan was written with help and advice from the Small Business Development Center located in the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. QuoteUnquote Inc. is a member of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. The plan was devised to attract private businesses to either donate to QuoteUnquote or partner with us. The plans objective is to greatly increase QuoteUnquotes revenue in order to not be so dependent on City funding. QuoteUnquote Inc. has many plans for expansion of services and thus expansion of staff. However, given the current economic situation of the City we recognize that we are unlikely to receive a significant increase in our budget from the City any time soon. Therefore, reaching out to the business community is essential for the growth of community access TV in Albuquerque. Please refer to our revenue goals and estimates contained in the Business Plan located in the exhibits section of this RFP response. Our marketing strategy will be consistent in promoting our quality brand and reputable corporate image delivered by each entity administered by QUQ. Our promotional strategy will involve integrating traditional advertising, web site, social media, internet video marketing, personal selling, public relations, and direct marketing, details of which are provided in the marketing section of this plan below. B2B Production, Distribution and Workshops 14
Our experienced team works with you to create engaging video stories, supported by multimedia content documentary-style video production ranging from short films to special event coverage. All production components including scripting, video and audio editing, talent, graphics and digital compression Ability to download video stories onto your computer, laptop or handheld device Guidance in developing the most effective content promotion strategy Use our experts to advise on the best practices for presenting your message. We offer a range of options from videotaped interview skills to workshops on developing your own video production. Some other revenue sources outlined in the Business Plan are:
Fundraising/Development Resources
Corporate Giving and Sponsorship: Creation of network funding sources including private donations, federal, state and city contracts, grants from private foundations, school districts and business/organizational sponsorship/underwriting of programming, workshops or digital media production services. Cash Donation: Businesses can provide cash or grants. Businesses are also encouraged to participate in fundraising events that take place throughout the year. Gift of Appreciated Stock: A gift of appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds are always welcome and provide tax savings to the donor. Legacy Gifts: A planned gift in a will, trust, or other estate plan. Retail or Grocery Store/Restaurant Community Partnership Program: QUQ receives a portion of what is spent in participating stores when the customer uses the program card when making purchases. Special QUQ dinner promotions at partner restaurants can result in a percentage of proceeds on a designated date with a QUQ flyer. 3.1.3.B, Innovative Plan for Additional Revenue QuoteUnquotes plan for creating additional revenue has been under way for quite some time. We have been aggressively working to increase revenues. Recently we have been seeing some of the first fruits of this plan. Revenues earned directly by QuoteUnquote Inc. have increased steadily over the past two years despite the bad economic climate. During the past two years QuoteUnquote Inc has raised $108,000 toward operating Channels 26 and 27. This is a big improvement over past years. Our 15 All contents of this Technical Proposal and RFP
goal, as you will see further into this document, is to reach a budget of $402,000 at the end of fiscal year 2011-2012 and $560,000 for the operation of the two channels by the end of 2013. As we roll out new initiatives we expect to continue increasing our non-City income. Below are some additional sections from our Business Plan. We also want to make it clear that this business plan and our strategies are continually growing. Future Plans for Revenue Enhancement In line with our need to diversify revenue sources, QuoteUnquotes is carrying out a plan that commenced in 2006. The goal has been to increase QuoteUnquotes value and standing in the community. This has focused on our involvement with the vibrant film industry in New Mexico. We have been steadily developing our organization as an incubator for the media industries in the state. The first phase was the establishment of the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School (the first state charter) as part of a long term effort to help create a home grown film industry for New Mexico that includes the above the line creative workforce needed to sustain media growth. QuoteUnquote has worked with the Governors Media Task Force and the State Film Office while also networking with private media companies in the state. Hand in hand with this effort is the rebranding of the organization, currently under way, to establish a more professional image and make the public aware of how much we have expanded from the days of offering just one service, public access. During the next year, QuoteUnquotes goal is to entirely revamp the image of the organization and increase our non-governmental funding from private sector by at least 35%. We then intend to keep expanding our services and our revenue at the same pace from year to year as we increase our capacity with more staff and better equipment. Channels 26 and 27 will be going fully digital within the next few months. We expect these channels to be upgraded to HD within the next 3 years. This process is beginning now with Quote Unquote involved in discussions with the City and Comcast Cable. QuoteUnquote has, as mentioned earlier in this plan, established 24/7 streaming of Channel 27 to be followed soon by Channel 26. We have also established our own New Mexico Community Media Space. This is our own You Tube for the state of New Mexico. Just a few months old, it is already receiving many video uploads. QuoteUnquote is placing a much greater emphasis on usage of the Internet for distribution. QuoteUnquotes niche in New Mexico media is providing local and state wide content. The national trend has been, for many years, homogenization of programming from national sources. This has left a terrible gap all across the country. These corporate media trends have resulted in a lack of local content and consequent opportunities for New Mexicans. QuoteUnquote is dedicated to both creating excellent content that will draw viewers to our channels but also provide opportunities for New Mexicans to excel 16
in the media industries. Expansion of programming, and acting as an incubator for economic development in the media industries, go hand in hand. In five years we anticipate that our organization will have a much higher profile in the state, receive most of its money from non-governmental sources and will reside in a top of the line media facility. As may be seen from the paragraphs above, our vision is that the enhancement of revenue goes hand in hand with the development and wide use of the numerous new media technologies and social networking. These comprise a strategy for both, bringing in more and better programming, as well as money. We also wish to add that a successful strategy also depends on cooperation between the access management and the City. We should agree upon what types of fundraising activities are acceptable to the City given the restrictions in federal regulations and the Citys franchise agreement with Comcast regarding the noncommercial nature of PEG channels. Another source of income that could become significant in the future with modern, cutting edge studios is the renting out of studio facilities to private production companies during the hours when the studios are not normally being used. The renting out of high grade professional equipment could also be a revenue source. QuoteUnquote believes this would require the approval of the City of Albuquerque. QuoteUnquote has plans for many more fundraising events. We see a great potential for success through collaboration with the City in which fundraising events could be held at the Kimo Theatre. These events could be cable cast live on the access channels given that the Kimo and the new facility are now connected by a fiber optic line. The venue would greatly enhance the ability of QuoteUnquote Inc. to raise money. QuoteUnquote will, of course, also continue the funding methods that it has been using in the past in addition to new means of raising money. These include fees for training courses, the annual fee for access to equipment, technical services (e.g. tape dubbing), marketing of products (e.g. t-shirts, blank video tapes, producing training manuals and periodic fundraisers. QuoteUnquote has also been more successful lately in regards to foundation grants. It recently received a grant from the McCune Foundation to develop a state wide community journalism project. We have also been in contact recently with the Knight Foundation regarding its initiative to create Tool Kits for Media Needs in Communities. Going Green: Turning lights on without the guilt As part of our efforts to incorporate emerging technologies, Quote Unquote community media center is already implementing, and plans to further develop, our goal of going green. We currently have shifted our cleaning services to an environmentally friendly operation that uses ecoSafe, biodegradable, and non-toxic cleaning agents. We 17
will expand the number of skylight units inside our facility to offset our current electricity usage and to decrease our carbon footprint. In our TV station studios, we plan to convert our high-powered, energy draining conventional studio lights to low-energy consuming LED lighting. We are researching local solar energy companies to obtain competitive bids for the installation of roof-top solar panel systems. This will not only reduce our carbon footprint, but it will act as a cost-saving measure that will lower our utility bills and be the cornerstone for our efforts to going green. We plan to pay for solar installation through federal and state tax credits and donations; the initial investment should be recouped and even become revenue generating within four to five years. Another factor that should bring in more revenue to QuoteUnquote Inc. is the decision by the Board on August 6th to create a full membership structure for the organization. Producers and programmers would pay an annual membership fee that would not only include their access to the equipment and programming but give them voting rights on a number of issues, including the election of 4 producer/programmer members to the 11 member Board of Directors. We feel that this will create a tighter community with wider participation and likely help generate more revenue through more volunteer fundraising work from these members. A supporting membership category will also be created in the same mold as seen at non-profit media organizations such as KUNM and KNME. Please review Section 3.3-Additional Scope of Services for more plans and initiatives that we are planning that will increase revenue. Community Needs Assessment and Consolidation of Public, LO and Educational Access Channels QuoteUnquote Inc. strongly supports the idea of a community needs assessment to determine the future direction of the access channels. We believe that the goal should be that of giving the public what they want and need in regards to non-profit, community media in Albuquerque. Our organization is willing to research the costs and process that would be necessary. We propose that QuoteUnquote Inc., the City and Comcast collaborate on carrying out this needs assessment. This assessment could also be very helpful in determining the future role and services of the educational access channel as well. QuoteUnquote, Inc. is interested in developing a proposal for operating the Educational Access channel when an RFP is issued for it. We believe that consolidating the channels physically into one facility with one source of administration and with one set of staff will save money on operations budgets and especially the iPEG Fund in regards to equipment. Please note that there is a proposed organizational chart that includes the education access staff. That is located in the Addendum with other management files. That facility already exists at 519 Central Ave NW where QuoteUnquote is housed. QuoteUnquote has a history of providing services to schools. It has added on to that experience by actually starting up a very 18
successful charter school (MACCS) has a very good idea of what educational institutions in the Albuquerque area are in need of. In addition, as can be seen in several areas of this response to the RFP, QuoteUnquote has an extensive and proven training program and curriculum for education. QuoteUnquote already has a partnership in place with CNMs Film Program and through recent conversations we have learned that it is interested in working on such a plan for the Educational Access Channel with us. A needs assessment would be very helpful in determining the specific scope of educational services needed in our community. Community needs assessment would take place, with staff support by QuoteUnquote and other participation which will be requested from the City and Comcast. This community needs assessment will engage the community in establishing a vision of community media, identifying obstacles to this vision, as well as resources, and developing plans of action which can be taken to achieve this vision. QuoteUnquote has contacts with professionals who conduct needs assessments regarding media services in communities. 3.1.3C, Annual Report QuoteUnquote will tabulate the information it gathers in order to publish quarterly and annual reports for delivery to the City. These reports will include a list of those schools and organizations that have been the targets of outreach, or that have used the channel and the video bulletin board service. They will show all financial information and the usage of the channels for programming and production.The channel(s) financial status, grants applied for and received, cash and in-kind contributions will be reported. Any changes in programming and operations will be included in the Annual Report as well as a listing of the current Board members of QuoteUnquote, meeting dates and minutes of the Board meetings. 3.1.4 In Kind Contributions QuoteUnquote, Inc. will provide a record of in-kind contributions. These contributions are usually the provision of many hours of volunteer time by producers who volunteer to help the channel above and beyond doing their own shows and the time donated by the QuoteUnquote, Inc. by the Board of Directors. QuoteUnquote will devise an estimate of the monetary value of such in-kind donations. QuoteUnquote has also been the recipient of donated equipment from many sources over the years that is used for Public Access and we anticipate that this will continue. 3.1.5 Changes to Documents: If any rules, organizational changes or By-Law changes occur, QuoteUnquote, Inc. will deliver copies to the City in a prompt manner. An updated organizational chart is provided in this response to the RFP. Please see the Exhibits section of our response. 3.1.6 Direct Monthly Financial Statements QuoteUnquote, Inc. has been delivering these to the City each month during the length of the contract that it is currently operating under. However, we would request 19
one change in the timing of the delivery of the reports. Instead of delivering on the 15th of the subsequent month, we request delivery on the 25th. This is due to the work that our accountant must do to prepare these statements and the fact that our bank statements are usually not available until the 15th of the subsequent month or even later. 3.1.7 Compliance With All Federal, State and Local Laws QuoteUnquote, Inc. has for many years held the contract from the City to manage Public Access. We believe we have always complied with these laws and with the City ordinance that is the franchise agreement. We will continue to do so and would seek out the City Legal Department for advice on any issue that may require a legal opinion. 3.1.8 Electronic Bulletin Board: QuoteUnquote will include the number of hours and the times that the electronic bulletin board is cablecast, within its monthly report to the City. 3.1.9 Payment of Utilities: QuoteUnquote, Inc is currently paying for the utility costs on the new facility at 519 Central N.W. It has been doing this since January. 3.1.10-Appropriations from the State Legislature: As stated earlier in this document, QuoteUnquote, Inc. has been successful in the past in obtaining capital outlay money from the State for the purchase of equipment. We certainly hope that some day capital outlay money will again flow from the State. We are very familiar with all the requirements for this money and the process that takes place in disbursing it. We understand and comply with the legal necessities and the states antidonation clause. We intend to continue seeking state grants and if the opportunity arises, would also like to explore with the City how we may obtain special appropriations grants from the State that would enhance our operating revenue. 3.2 LOCAL ORIGINATION 3.2.1A Local Origination: QuoteUnquote, Inc. was asked in the 2002 RFP for Public Access to develop the concept and parameters of a local origination channel as one of the public channels within PEG. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has successfully developed the basic outline for this channel and began operation of the LO Channel 26 (EncantadaTV) on May 5th 2009. We have been successful in building this channel through partnerships and much outreach to the film and other media communities through which we bring in content. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has consistently programmed the LO channel with programs of local interest and occurrence that focuses on educational, cultural, civic and recreational. These will continue to be the aim of the LO channel as operated by QuoteUnquote, Inc. 20
On another note, QuoteUnquotes accomplishments so far with the LO channel have been carried out without receiving money from the City. 3.2.1.B: 120 Hours Of Programming Per Week: The current contract between QuoteUnquote Inc. and the City of Albuquerque calls for reaching the goal of 120 hours of programming per week by the 4th year of operation. Today, after operating the channel for a little more than two years, we have reached a weekly average of 103 hours per week. We are greatly pleased and even a bit surprised by the response from media makers in Albuquerque and from all over the state. Public Access in Albuquerque, for instance, took 20 years to reach the level of 120 hours of programming per week. The advantage that QuoteUnquote, Inc. has is its ability to form partnerships. 3.2.1.C. All Programming for the LO Channel Must Be Done By the Contractor or Through Written Sub-Contracts-Contractor Maintains Control of Content and Production Quality. QuoteUnquote, Inc has a process in place whereby any productions or submissions of content from entities other than QuoteUnquote, Inc. are thoroughly reviewed. These individuals or production companies are considered sub-contractors and must sign a written agreement with QuoteUnquote, Inc. affirming that they will adhere to the rules and production standards set by QuoteUnquote, Inc. In addition, they must affirm that the content submitted is their content and that no copyright violations have occurred. We also wish to clarify that an MOU is still in place between QuoteUnquote Inc. and the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School as well as the South Valley Economic Development Center for purposes of providing training and programming access for these organizations. However, QuoteUnquote is the sole operator of the LO channel with all operating decisions (including content) made by the Board and staff of QuoteUnquote, Inc. 3.2.1.D- All Programming Of A Contemporary Quality and Highest Standard QuoteUnquote, Inc. has complied with, and surpassed the standards of most local origination channels. Our goal has been to create a channel that approaches the quality of a PBS channel. Encantada TV has received many program submissions that are at that high level of quality. With few exceptions, we do not accept programming that is not of high production quality, and consistent with the focus and purpose of the channels mission to showcase the arts, culture, community events, sports and the ethnic diversity of New Mexico. The participation of many local filmmakers and professional media people has greatly benefited Encantada TV. The channel is far surpassing what is seen on most access channels. 21
All programs submitted to Encantada TV are first thoroughly reviewed by the Programming Coordinator for approval regarding content and production quality. They are then given to the master control operators to be placed into the server. In this process the programs are reviewed again for any technical difficulties that might arise such as incompatibility with the formats accepted by the server. We have been very happy and fortunate to receive so many excellent programs from media makers throughout the state. This state has many filmmakers and artists who do not have an outlet for their work. Encantada TV is addressing that need just as it was planned to do. For more specific information regarding quality of programming and training to accomplish quality productions please refer to our response to this question in the corresponding section regarding programming quality in the Scope of Services for the Public Access channel. 3.2.1.E- Meeting The Requirements of the U.S. Code: Compliance with the law and operating manual of the channel is required of all producers providing programming. The prevention of illegal obscene material is a major goal of the channel. The training that is provided to producers includes all requirements of federal, state and local laws relating to acceptable programming including the laws relating to obscenity. Additionally, a producer is provided a handout specifically with guidelines on what programming is acceptable under the law. This is in addition to the other materials provided the producers that set forth appropriate standards for programming under the law and operating procedures of the channel. Master control decision making takes place during programming under our current procedures. While monitoring programming, (whether live or taped), master control monitors for anything out of the ordinary or in violation of the operating manual. When the programming is live, the issue is addressed immediately with the producer. If the producer fails to comply, master control contacts the station manager or operations director to handle the violation. When the programming is taped, master control notes a minor violation and the station addresses it with the producer and requires compliance in future programming. Repeated minor infractions can result in action being taken against the producer. If the taped programming is a major infraction or a violation of the law, it will be immediately removed. The station has taken action against those who violate the rules in the following fashion: samples of some of the reprimands that have been handed out in the past can be found in the Exhibits folder of the Addenda. 3.2.1.F-Contractor Must Comply with all Federal, State and Local Laws: QuoteUnquote, Inc has a well defined set of rules and regulations in place that governs behavior and programming. (Please see Exhibits section Operating Rules of Encantada TV and for Public Access). QuoteUnquote, has also created a set up rules and practices for the LO channel to supplement the operating rules. These cover the guidelines for producers of content for the L.O. Channel to submit their programs for cablecast.
22
3.2.1.G-Trained And Qualified Staff and Sub-Contractors: Programming will be reviewed by QuoteUnquote, Inc. before being cable cast. This is the best way to determine whether it has been produced by trained and qualified sub-contractors and staff. Any organization that wishes to produce programming for Encantada TV and feels that it needs training will go through our training program. As discussed previously in this proposal (3.1.1 F), QuoteUnquote is expanding its training program with the goal of creating higher and higher quality programs. At the same time, the majority of producers of content for Encantada TV are professionals and graduates of film and other media programs. One addition to this training will be the assignment of a staff member to continue guiding and training each organization as long as it needs that support. 3.2.1.H- Establishing Rules and Regulations: QuoteUnquote has complied with this requirement. Please refer to the Encantada TV General Rules and Policies found in the Exhibits section of this response. 3.2.1.I Submission of A Program Schedule The schedule will be determined for the following month no later than the 15th of the previous month. There may be occasional changes to this schedule; such is the nature of television programming. Occasionally there is programming of immediate interest to the public requiring pre-emption of a scheduled program. These changes will be noted and reported to the City. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has revised and upgraded its ability to provide this schedule through the software provided with our servers from Telvue. However, we have recognized the need for an additional computer that will act as a server dedicated to carrying our entire network and including the programming schedules of the two channels. We are currently scoping out a server that will upgrade this technical capacity and we will send this information to the iPEG Committee. In addition, we have plans for this information plus a description of the programming to be published in a program guide that we wish to produce for Channel 26 that will be distributed to the public. The City would, of course, receive a copy of this program guide. We are currently waiting for more revenue to create a part-time position to carry out this task. 3.2.2-Future Revenue Enhancement and Funding Strategies: QuoteUnquote, Inc. has developed a business plan and a strategy for increasing its revenue for both Channels 26 and 27. 3.2.2. A Please refer to 3.1.3.A of the Public Access section as well as 2.1.6 the Five Year Plan. 3.2.2.B-Innovative PlanQuoteUnquote is submitting a plan that includes funding strategies for channels 26 and 27 in conjunction with our organizations proposals for expanding the scope of services through innovative use of new technologies. We again refer you to 2.1.6 (Five Year Plan) and Section 3.1.3 of the Public Access section of this Response for more details. 23
3.2.2.C-Annual ReportAn annual report will be generated that will show the channels financial status, all cash or in-kind contributions, programming enhancements and changes, any results from surveys conducted, community outreach initiatives and results, grants applied for, received and/or denied and a listing of the Board of Directors, meeting dates and approved minutes or summaries of all meetings. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has delivered the Annual Report for 2010 to the City. As we have stated previously to the City Legal Department, we prefer to produce our annual report on the basis of the calendar year rather than the fiscal year that coincides with the City. We find that a calendar year annual report is usually more useful in obtaining foundation grants. You can find a copy of the Annual Report in the Addendum. 3.2.3-In-Kind Contributions: The most prominent in-kind contribution that QuoteUnquote, Inc is receiving and will continue to receive is the hard work of many hours by volunteer Board members and producers/programmers to make Encantada TV a reality. QuoteUnquote, Inc. is an organization that has historically benefited from hundreds of volunteers in order to maintain itself and the channels it has operated. Reporting of these in-kind contributions will be included in the quarterly and annual reports. 3.2.4-Changes To Be Reported: QuoteUnquote, Inc. will deliver any changes to the City in regards to Operating Rules, By-Laws or other management decisions and practices in a prompt manner. 3.2.5-Monthly Financial Statements: QuoteUnquote, Inc. will include its quarterly report on performance for the L.O. channel as a separate section of the report that we provide for public access each quarter. We request that the date for delivering our monthly financial statement to the City be pushed back to the 25th of the month. Our financials are audited and reconciled by our accountant (Bottom Line Accounting). This firm receives our bank statements directly from The Bank Of Albuquerque and from those statements they reconcile our accounts. However, the accounting firm normally doesnt receive the bank statements until the 14th or 15th of the month which makes getting the financial report to the City on the 15th impossible. We have, with the agreement of the City Legal Department, delivered these financial statements to the City on the 25th of the month during the period of the current contract. 3.2.6 Log of the Electronic Bulletin Board The number of hours used for the Electronic Bulletin Board on Channel 26 will be reported to the City. QuoteUnquote, Inc requests clarification in regards to whether the City wishes a monthly report or a quarterly report.
24
3.2.7-Programming for the Local Origination Channel There is a great need and demand for the coverage of live cultural and sporting events in Albuquerque. Our experience has been that commercial channels will not incur the costs of covering many of these events, nor will they make channel time available by pre-empting network programs in prime time. The overwhelming majority of the events, many of which generate intense interest, such as high school sports, do not receive any live coverage at all and seldom any taped coverage. They are not seen on TV except for short news clips on the evening sports report. QuoteUnquote, Inc. through the LO aspires to be the principal medium for coverage of these events in Albuquerque. The concept for this channel is to bring together arts organizations, economic development organizations, schools and as many other non-profits and businesses as possible to contribute programming and financial resources to make it successful. This has worked as a formula for launching the channel. Please refer to our Annual Report for 2010 which shows a list of organizations that work with Encantada TV. A focus of the LO channel from the start has been to showcase the talent that exists in Albuquerque that is also clamoring for an outlet where it can be seen. We feel we have been very successful in creating this opportunity for Albuquerque residents. We also intend to keep expanding the scope of talent seen on Channel 26. In our next step we will aspire to increase the use of Encantada TV through incorporating more musical performances on the channel including live performances. The success of this model in Austin Texas for creating a positive image for the City should not be ignored. These new initiatives will require more money and more community participation. QuoteUnquote anticipates raising more funds for the operations of the channel with its expanded efforts to acquire funding for the organization overall. We do request that the City, in the next contract, lift the restriction on the use of iPEG funds for equipment. In our accompanying 5 year plan we suggest the consolidation of the Public, LO and Educational Access channels through one organization working out of the new facility at 519 Central NW. It is important to note that Encantada TV has sparked a lot of interest from many people around the state, not just locally. While we receive most of our content from local sources, we also receive program submissions from all over the state and we have received a lot of support from the states film initiative. Our partnership with Pro View Networks is another example of this. While based in Albuquerque it covers high school sports in many parts of the state. Pro View Networks contract with the New Mexico Activities Association covers the entire state. These games are also run on Encantada TV and all indications are that there is a very large audience for this programming. QuoteUnquote Inc and Pro View Networks have had some initial discussions with Comcast about having Encantada TV run on the Comcast network in other New Mexico cities and towns. The submission of programming from all over the state will lead to Encantada TV easily surpassing the 120 hours per week requirement but just as importantly provides a common sense of cohesiveness state wide.
25
We have worked for the creation of programming blocks (such as Native American, Spanish language, performing arts etc.) which is an avenue for obtaining support by foundations, businesses and sectors of the community interested in that specific programming and could result in much needed revenue. Target Audiences and Program Emphasis for the Present and Future QuoteUnquote intends for Encantada TV to provide programs to the widest and most diverse audience possible. Audiences: Students who are involved in school sports programs and their families; Members of the community who are involved in youth sports (e.g.YAFL, youth soccer); Youth organizations and youth in general; The arts community; Members of the media industries; The Native American Community; The Spanish speaking community; The general population of Albuquerque who are interested in health and fitness issues; The general population who are interested in local events of interest; The population that is interested in self-help and personal development; Types of Programming for Encantada TV and sources: Programming generated by youth from educational institutions, public schools both district and charter, and youth organizations; student-generated projects, internships; the arts community, including the performing arts such as music, poetry, and the visual arts; Working in conjunction with the City Department of Cultural Affairs to showcase its programs. Programming with local authors; A block of programming from Native American communities from around the state; A Spanish language block dealing with language, culture, ESL/GED competency and citizenship; Programs that showcase specific communities in the Albuquerque: the goal being to get them greater exposure leading to economic and social development. Entrepreneurial shows from the business community; Consumer protection; History/Culture/Documentaries from around New Mexico; Short films and features from New Mexico filmmakers; Public Health & Safety; Financial Literacy/Planning; The very rich local music scene including coverage of concerts for which permission can be obtained; Mens and Womens Sports programs; High School Sports; Non-profit organizations and their clients; Creative Albuquerque; 26
Food and Fitness, healthy cooking; Large community events such as parades, marathons etc. that are not covered by other channels. 3.2.8-Utilities QuoteUnquote Inc. has been paying these utility bills since January 2011. 3.2.9- QuoteUnquote, Inc. understands the workings of the New Mexico Legislature and the anti-donation clauses relevant to both the State and the City. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has worked with the City of Albuquerque within this framework for a number of years. 3.3 Additional Services Proposal for an expansion of media and educational services utilizing new technologies and methods. Beginning more than two years ago, a number of media and technology organizations began a discussion that concluded that the role of access television had to expand in order to survive. QuoteUnquote, Inc has been a part of that discussion since this dialogue began. Several months ago, with the input of many organizations, (some that are community media centers offering access and some that are technology programs) a policy paper began to take shape. The product is titled Full Spectrum Community Media/Expanding Public Access to Communications Infrastructure-The Open Technology Initiative. The initiative was supported by the New America Foundation. In the opening paragraphs of the report it states:
Formed as a network of producers for local cable channels, ACM (Alliance for Community Media) has a legacy of successful advocacy for policy reforms, policies that secured public access to cable television infrastructure and public benefit from cable companies' use of public property. Today, as the divisions between different media fade, a focus on cable is not enough; embracing a multi-platform approach, is a strategic necessity for long-term survival. QuoteUnquote, as one of the participants in this initiative, fully supports this recommendation. For its part, QuoteUnquote, Inc recognized this reality quite awhile ago and its first step towards reinventing the mission of access television was the creation of the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School here in Albuquerque which aimed at uniting the missions of an access center with that of a public school in order to greatly enhance media education in conjunction with core curriculum. The creation of the school has greatly benefited QuoteUnquotes standing in the community and has led to big changes in our curriculum at the access channels. QuoteUnquote is now using the following means to distribute its content: Two cable television channels on the Comcast Network; Streaming video of these channels;
27
Vimeo-our own video on demand web site that can be accessed from main web site; Below are proposals for additional services and means of delivering content.
Framework for Utilizing Technologies for Training at Access Centers and Schools The following is from the Full Spectrum Community Media Report (pg. 16). Broadband Adoption - Literacy and Training
In the broadcast era where most people were confined to the role of media consumer, media literacy focused on the critical thinking necessary to sift through advertising and implicit messages in broadcast content. The seminal 1992 Aspen Institute "Report of The National Leadership Conference on Media Literacy" notes that "a media literate person and everyone should have the opportunity to become one can decode, evaluate, analyze and produce both print and electronic media."85 Nevertheless, except for community media institutions and the basic writing taught in school, the skills and tools of media production have traditionally been reserved to secondary or post-graduate education. PEG centers have been key to expanding the definition of media literacy to include media production. In 2009, Quote Unquote, Inc. Albuquerque's community media center and public access channel operator, working with the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, pushed successfully for a media literacy statute at the state level. HB 342, passed by the New Mexico State Legislature, established media literacy as an elective for public school students beginning in the 6th grade.86 In discussing the impact of HB 342, Quote Unquotes Steve Ranieri says, The bill has helped [us and Media Literacy Project] in regard to opening doors and we have spread our curriculum around The campaign at the legislature has really helped us focus on expanding all aspects and methods to deliver content. We are now using not just channels but streaming, e-newsletters, web sites, and video sites that we have created. The latter are quite popular. We will be back someday with more legislation.87 Quote...Unquote even started its own high-school the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School, in order to expand its role in media literacy education. 88 There is growing evidence to suggest that the inclusion of media production skills in core subjects, such as history or science, can improve student performance.89 However, it is important to focus on the creativity, critical thinking and teamwork involved in digital media production, rather than getting caught up in the latest technology; programs that rely on expensive technology labs are neither replicable nor sustainable. Community media centers thrive on providing this type of media-based collaborative learning environment.90 28 All contents of this Technical Proposal and RFP August 2011 Quote Unquote, Inc.
QuoteUnquote, Inc believes that it is important to recognize the dual objectives of expanding our use of new technologies and distribution platforms. The teaching on how to use technology is an important service and development. However, all of this has the objective of delivering knowledge to improve our communities. As the last paragraph above reminds us, it is important to focus on the creativity, critical thinking and teamwork involved in digital media production, rather than getting caught up in the latest technology.. In reading the Introduction to this RFP we were pleased to recognize that many of the concepts and services that the City wishes to provide to the public through the access channels are already being done by QuoteUnquote. A number of other services mentioned are in the planning stages right now. Some of these proposals are contained in our Business Plan that we delivered to the City at the end of 2010 (see Exhibits Folder of this RFP Response). A little more than two years ago QuoteUnquote Inc began planning how to take further steps toward the creation of a multi-platform-media operation and technologies training center. Media centers, such as the one we operate, can, and should be, resources for educating the public in how to participate in not only providing content to the media but also how to use technologies to find employment for people and increase their job skills. As an example, QuoteUnquote Inc is developing a partnership with CNMs film program to this end by working with James Graebner who also is a member of the QuoteUnquote, Inc. Board. This initiative could be showcased on Encantada TV or on the Educational Access Channel. Initiatives Already Under Way QuoteUnquote, Inc. began streaming Channel 27 more than two years ago. We recently began streaming Channel 26 using the services of a company named Easy Stream. Easy Stream will also archive the programming that we put out over the Internet. More than a year ago we switched our paper monthly newsletter to an electronic newsletter published twice per month. This has saved money and is much easier to distribute. Those individuals who wish to receive a paper version are accommodated also. Use of social networking media such as Facebook, Twitter,and LinkedIn began two years ago. This has greatly improved our outreach and has brought in many individuals and organizations to our center. Our profile in the community has been steadily increasing as a result. Training for Non-Profit Organizations Our training program currently provides tech support and production training for nonprofits in our community. This is one of our most successful efforts and has be going on for many years. It has been one of the core services of QuoteUnquote, Inc. Non-profits are given a Community Journalism Project Earlier this year QuoteUnquote received a grant from the McCune Foundation to launch a state wide network for news gathering and distribution using any and all platforms that are available. It is no secret that journalism and news outlets are in big trouble these days. A movement started several years ago to address this situation. A non-profit model is developing
29
which bases itself on local and regional gathering of news at low cost and distributed mainly via the Internet. This project is in its first stage which is the development of organizations and individuals from throughout the state who would work as reporters supplying information and/or disseminating the information from around the state back to their local communities. The concept is to utilize the resources of QuoteUnquote in Albuquerque as a central point for finalizing the news packages and then distributing them using our access channels, streaming the video, loading it up to video web sites (ours and others around the state), and providing it to radio stations for audio broadcast. Become invaluable to other media outlets in our area. Follow San Diego collaborative model, which partnered with NBC to create Voice of San Diego, San Diego Fact Check and San Diego Explain, giving accountability and depth NBC couldnt afford, which was then well publicized via NBC. Conduct training off-site in partnership with organizations within their neighborhoods, where they have already established trust. Help organizations establish hyperlocal news bureaus, following GR CMC model, using Flipcams. Hire Full-Time Community Journalism Coordinator to assist producers who upload stories via Drupal Content Management System; edit for clarity, assist with mentoring and make sure uploads are performed correctly. The participants will be a mixture of professional journalists (many of whom are without a job right now) and members of communities with something to say. As part of this project QuoteUnquote will conduct training in journalistic ethics, practices and legal issues. The first convening and training session will take place in Albuquerque on August 20th. We have had a great initial response from people all over the state. This project is entirely funded by QuoteUnquote Inc and foundations. New Mexico Community Media Space Nearly two years ago we launched the creation of our own video on demand service. With the help of an organization in New York City, MIRO, our New Mexico Community Media web site allows people and organizations to post their content through using a link on our web site. This effort cost QuoteUnquote and the City nothing. This began as an experiment by MIRO and we, as one of the first guinea pigs, were given this opportunity for no cost, in perpetuity. A very recent development is our usage of Google TV which can accelerate our practice of acquiring and posting content from the Internet. We had waited until now since this is part of our plans for upgrading our master control operation now that we are in new, and better, studios. Our next step is to publicize it better and make it more of a showcase. Part of doing this coincides with the expansion of our training programs. QuoteUnquote, Inc has engaged in the process of setting up training in digital literacy skills. One of the basic skills that we wish to teach is how to post content, especially video, to a web site such as our New Mexico Community Media Space on demand site. /While teenagers today seem to have been born with this skill, many people in our community, particularly those over 40, dont know how to utilize this opportunity or many other features of modern technology. But there is much beyond this that we can teach through QuoteUnquote, Inc., much that is already being taught at the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School.
30
More Initiatives in the Works We have plans for the following initiatives over the next five years: Utilizing Open Source Software QuoteUnquote, Inc. will begin utilizing open source software such as Drupal within the next year. This software would allow for many ways to keep records and interact with producers and programmers in terms of scheduling and uploading content remotely. Use of this software would expedite programming and save our operation some money. We will continue to search for other types of open source software that can be useful to us. Low Power FM Radio Plan for the acquisition of a LPFM (Low Power FM) radio station. The FCC is expected to open a window for licenses in 2012. We know of 4 possible frequencies in Albuquerque. QuoteUnquote intends to apply for a frequency. This would be a project for which we would not ask for any funds from the City. Please refer to attached description of this project in this Technical Proposal. Mesh Nets Developing Wireless Mesh Nets in low income neighborhoods is another project we are investigating. The mesh net would give low income residents an opportunity to access the Internet from their homes. A mesh net works essentially by daisy chaining wireless routers and modems. The structure for administering this would be the setting up of a legal cooperative. QuoteUnquote Inc. would seek to work with private companies in the industry to subsidize access to residents that would never have the financial and technical means to buy their services otherwise. This would be a project to be initiated in 2012. Maker Spaces Maker Spaces are workshops where we would teach people of all ages how to build, repair and best utilize technologies. One example of this training would be to teach people to build their own computers. There are many people around the country, (most of them rather young) who are already organizing Maker Spaces. This would be a project for 2 years hence. Broadband Infrastructure and Mobile Broadband Usage We wish to utilize broadband as an additional means of distributing our access content. This can be done both through usage of wired networks to the Internet as well as mobile broadband. For mobile broadband much would depend on access to the broadband networks from our signals so that people could pick up our content using cell phones, 4 G devices and any other emerging inventions. This, we anticipate, might take some time to initiate since we would need the cooperation of broadband providers both governmental and private. Utilization of broadband networks is something that should be happening between community access centers and schools. This would be a perfect project for Educational Access.
31
We are fortunate that our new facility is wonderfully wired by fiber optic cables to the Citys network and thus out to the Internet. This is a start. All of these initiatives above, with the possible exception of the broadband networks, can be done without huge expenditures or the need for very sophisticated technologies. Our major obstacle to some of these projects is money. We first need to greatly expand the training staff if these initiatives are to succeed. This is why we are so determined to put all possible efforts into significantly increasing our revenue from the private sector. We need the additional money now and given the current economic doldrums we know that we cant depend on the City right now to significantly increase our compensation. Therefore the success of these initiatives depends a lot on the success of our fundraising efforts. In addition to the many tried and true ways of raising money, QuoteUnquote and many other organizations nationally are very involved in effecting change in public policy at the national level. As part of this effort we are encouraging the Universal Service Fund to extend its funding to community media centers around the country with the specific goal of funding these media and technologies initiatives. We are also exploring how we could become involved in E-Rate programs to provide tech support to schools with this federally funded program. QuoteUnquote, Inc. has also submitted one federal grant proposal to the Economic Development Administration and will continue to search for grant money. We have the expressed support of the New Mexico Congressional and Senate Delegation, especially the offices of Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. We intend to keep plugging away to get the funding needed for the training programs and services mentioned above whether from government or private sector sources.
TECHNICAL PROPOSAL CONTINUED: 2.1.4 Management and Leadership Plan: QuoteUnquote, Inc. currently has a nine member Board of Directors which establishes or approves overall policies and is responsible for the contractual agreements between the City, schools or other organizations. The Executive Director of QuoteUnquote, Inc. is charged with carrying out the policies of the organization, hiring staff, allocating resources and ensuring the completion of all of the administrative and financial transactions of the organization. The Director of Operations is in charge of technical matters and scheduling of staff. He works with the Executive Director to order and maintain equipment. The Director of Operations, John Ortiz, is also in charge of maintenance of the physical plant, technical training of the staff, researching and recommending equipment purchases or repairs. He also troubleshoots technical problems and supervises the production projects of QuoteUnquote, Inc. John occasionally interfaces with the City in regards to the ordering of equipment. All production, training and master control employees answer to the Director of Operations in their day to day tasks. All employees answer to the Executive Director in 32
terms of the evaluation of their job performances. The Development Specialist will answer directly to the Executive Director. (Please refer to Exhibits-Management Chart). As stated in our last RFP response in 2009, we still intend to finance separately (non-City money) the hiring of a Development Director for QuoteUnquote who will have the responsibility of coordinating fundraising and revenue development for the two channels in coordination with the Executive Director. We hope to have this position filled by the second fiscal year. The Programming Director coordinates and schedules the channels by receiving applications for time slots each quarter and plugging them into a programming schedule. This position also supervises the staff and interns that run master control, as well as scheduling and providing support service for the studio productions. The Director of Training and Media Education is in charge of scheduling and supervising the training of people who wish to get involved with producing or programming on Public Access. This person supervises the personnel who will offer the media training to the public. This person also is a trainer and teacher. Almost all of our personnel have a number of hats to wear. Our Outreach and Communications Coordinator is responsible for creating partnerships, joint projects, attracting individuals and organizations to use our media services, and developing our profile in the community by using many different forms of communication from newspaper ads to social media. The Executive Director and all coordinators met at least once a week to review what we have accomplished and what the next project will be. Full staff meetings are conducted weekly. The Executive Director requires weekly reports, either written or oral, from each coordinator. The Executive Director works with the Board of Directors to plan and define the objectives of the organization as well as the progress being made. The Executive Director delivers a written and oral report to the Board at each monthly Board of Directors meeting. The Executive Director also delivers monthly financial statements (prepared by our contracted accountant) to the Board and the City Legal Department. In addition, the Executive Director delivers a quarterly report to the City Legal Department showing all data related to the tasks required in the contract with the City. Each department head is also in charge of training and supervising interns who work at Channels 26 and 27. Our internship program has expanded dramatically during the past 2 years. We now have between 5 and 10 interns, usually college or high school students, who work with the staff to carry out the day to day tasks of running the access channels. Our Personnel Policies and organizational structure are very well developed as should be the case for an organization that has been in place with the same overall mission since 1979. Please reference Exhibits, The Personnel Policies of QuoteUnquote, Inc. and the Organizational Chart for a closer look at the policies and structure of the organization. The Executive Director has the responsibility for ensuring that all relevant FCC regulations and laws (local, state and federal) are strictly followed. All staff, and in 33
particular, those operating Master Control, are trained by the Programming Coordinator and Director of Operations in regards to what is, and isnt permitted as programming on Public Access, including at what hours of the day that various types of programming can run. Our operating policies have been developed over many years and are always being updated. We are currently in the process of updating the operating policies of Public Access again as they need to reflect new realities and technology. We developed policies for Encantada TV (Channel 26) last year. All members of the paid staff are responsible for insuring that the rules and regulations of the access channels are adhered to. Please see Exhibits Operating Rules and Regulations and the Encantada TV policies. Compliance with obscenity laws are a crucial element in our management of the access channels, especially in regards to Channel 27, Public Access which is essentially a free speech channel. Through many years of experience we are very aware of the mission of protecting freedom of speech. We, as an organization consider ourselves staunch defenders of the 1st Amendment. At the same time we know what comprises actions that are not protected under the 1st Amendment. These are delineated in our operational policies that we give to each new producer and programmer and require them to know what is in the document. Although Public Access television is not required to adhere to FCC regulations we enforce the practice of creating a safe harbor. Any program that contains adult content and language runs after 10 p.m. Programs that contain still stronger content run after midnight. Any content submitted to QuoteUnquote that qualifies as obscene under the standards delineated by court decisions will not be shown on the access channels 26 or 27. QuoteUnquote has recently implemented a stricter method of ensuring that these standards will be maintained. All content submitted will be reviewed by the Programming Coordinator and/or master control operators before being shown on Channel 27. We will only be reviewing for violation of obscenity standards and will not make judgments regarding other aspects of the content. This policy has already been in place in regards to Channel 26, Encantada TV given that the LO channel is distinct from Public Access in that QuoteUnquote, Inc programs Channel 26 and is not obligated to run any particular program that does not fit the programming model developed for Channel 26 (ie. arts, culture, entertainment and events). These documents have been created through three decades of experience interacting with the public in managing access television. They are periodically updated. Related to this management issue is the concern of the City regarding production quality. QuoteUnquote began the process of improving production quality this year. We are now in the process of setting basic standards for programs that are submitted to Channel 27 (this draft is found below in the Proposed Approach to Tasks). We do preview the programs submitted for Encantada TV, so we can preview programming for Channel 27 when we load them on to the server. However, live studio programs are another thing. We will have staff supervising live studio programs, on set, which we believe will help although errors will still happen on live TV (Im sure you have seen this even on the most professional of live, commercial studio programs. To accomplish this we will need to create at least one additional staff position which will mean an increase in our operating budget. 34
2.1.5 IPEG Funds Below is a list of equipment that we anticipate would be necessary to carry out QuoteUnquotes contract obligations during the next 5 years.
Public Access / Local Origination Station 5 Year Equipment Plan

2011 Equipment 3-Panasonic Studio Camera for Studio A 20-Apple I PADS 10- Apple IMACS 5-PC with Adobe Premier Suite 5 2012 Equipment
LED Studio A Lighting Studio Risers Furniture/Props Monitors Teleprompter Waveform / Oscilloscope Arri Lighting Kits Steadicam F24VLNHS Camera Stabilizer B&H # STF24IDXCV Mfr# F24VLNHS $ 20,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $10,000.00 $ 13,000.00
Current on Order
$ 130,000.00 $ 8,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00
TOTAL
$ 168,000.00
Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera Production Truck
$ 5,000.00 $ 75,000.00
TOTAL:
2013 Equipment Lectrosonic wireless microphones Electro Voice RE50N/D-B - Omni-Directional Handheld
Shotgun microphones Rode NTG-2 Condenser Shotgun
$ 168,000.00
$10,000.00 $ 3000.00
$ 3000.00
Strand Lighting Preset Console (Lighting Board for studio B) Canon XF300 Professional Camcorder Sony HVR-Z7U HDV Camcorder VariZoom QuickJib Extension Kit with TCR100 Tripod
$ 5000.00 $ 16,000.00 $ 12,000.00 $ 11,000.00
35
TOTAL:
$60,000.00
2014 Equipment Sennheiser Evolution G2 300 Series - UHF Lavalier System TelVue Princeton Server Winstead System 85 Rack systems TelVue Princeton S3000F Digital Video Achieve
Altman 1000L-HM Location Fresnel, 1000 Watts -
$ 3,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00

$ 3,000.00
Sony UWP-V6 Wireless Plug-in & Lavalier Microphone 2,000 Watt Junior Solarspot Studio Lights
$ 2,000.00 $ 3,000.00
TOTAL:
2015 Equipment Sony UWP-V6 Wireless Plug-in & Lavalier Microphone
4-Altman 1000L-HM Location Fresnel, 1000 Watts -
$46,000.00
$ 3,000.00
$ 2,500.00
TOTAL:
2016 Equipment LED Studio Lights Studio B
4-Altman 1000L-HM Location Fresnel, 1000 Watts -
$5,500.00
$ 10,000.00
$ 3,000.000
TOTAL:
$13,000.00
GRAND TOTAL
$460,500.00
2.1.6 Five Year Plan: QuoteUnquote, Inc. has been engaged in a process of planning its future for the past five years. Our goal is to reach the point of being well ahead of the game in regards to using new technologies and strategies. We see this as the way to survive these times and flourish in the future. Analysis of trends in the media industry will lead to the following main point: Quote Unquote, Inc will need to utilize a multi-platform strategy approach in order to successfully achieve its goals as a community media center. 36
Overview of methods for five year plan QUQ will use a multi-platform approach in delivering its products and services as a community media center. This approach is necessary because it is becoming increasingly apparent that in a world that is moving towards media convergence into one medium, the Internet, success is based on connecting audiences to content and is based on multi-platform approaches. This method is increasingly being utilized by a number of television and multi-media companies, both large and small, as well as cable and telecom providers who are finding themselves in direct competition with each other. Additionally, radio is also finding ways to reach audiences globally through expansion to online points of access as well. We do wish to mention, however, that presently most people still prefer to watch TV over channels and on big screen TVs if they have one. In seeking to meet its Community Media Center objectives to establish multimedia platforms for multi-media content production and distribution accessible to the public, Quote Unquote will implement programs, training, and infrastructure development in a number of areas. The method of approach taken will ensure that the varied voices of the community will be heard, and taken into account. The information gained from this community needs assessment will help Quote Unquote, Comcast and the City obtain an in-depth understanding of the communitys needs, wants and current obstacles. It will also add to and inform structural build out on topics not discussed in this RFP, as well as inform program development and training. The areas of infrastructure development which Quote Unquote plans to address as a community media center are: Radio (Low Power FM and online podcasts and media streams) Television (Public Access TV, Local Origination TV, Educational Access TV, online podcasts, media streams and archiving, and possibly LPTV) Broadband network and mesh network access Information Systems build out to meet multi-media data storage needs and access points. Information Systems build out to increase efficiency in content production (for example, setting up a multi-media render farm) Online community driven platform(s) and development via open source software platforms like Drupal and/or video.quote-unquote.org, and integrating social media tools and/or platforms. Integration of alternative energy infrastructure (like solar panels) to offset energy consumption and decrease expenses. The areas of program development and training which Quote Unquote plans to address as a community media center and an incubator for economic and small business development are: Multi-media production training for multiple platforms (TV/standard broadcast/cablecast formats, online podcasts and web streams, Radio/standard broadcast, Online podcasts and web stream formats) 37
Training on Transmedia and multi-platform strategies for content production and distribution. Basic Digital media training for job and life skills development In depth Digital media training for job and life skills development Workshops designed to support production company development Underwriting program development and training Membership development Community Journalism Training based on the 7 main areas included in the Media Content Standards and Benchmarks formally accepted by the NM Public Education Department as part the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School. Please note that this is in the Addendum under Exhibits. Educational Access programming will relate to two main areas: content programming and production, as well as educational programs designed to integrate distance learning techniques and technologies for the delivery of education, which can relate to multi-cultural language, preservation, production, but are not limited to this. These plans incorporate some initiatives we have already put in place as well as new projects. Please review our response to Section 3.3-Additional Scope of Services for a list of many new services with wish to launch. First, lets look at the financial structure that would allow us to carry out this work. Financial Information: The following is a summary of projected annual income and revenue growth for both Public Access and the Local Origination channel (hereafter referred to as Encantada TV). QuoteUnquotes current operating budget for the access channels has risen from $305,000 in 2009 to $315,000 last year. Of this $270,000 is funding from the City of Albuquerque earmarked for Public Access Channel 27. Encantada TV was launched without City funding, but QuoteUnquote Inc. has made a go of it anyways. Roughly $45,000 a year has been raised to keep Encantada TV going. We do wish to note however, our belief that the City should contribute some funds to Encantada TV for the operating budget and for equipment when the Citys finances improve. We are striving to increase our earned income significantly to accommodate the new services we intend to roll out during the next 5 years (please refer to Section 3.3). (If QuoteUnquote were to receive the bid on the contract for the Educational Access Channel these figures would be revamped.) Our goal for the first year of the contract is to raise our combined income (City and QuoteUnquote, Inc) to $402,000. To reach this level QuoteUnquote, Inc. will 38
need to generate $132,000 in revenue. In the second year our goal is to reach a budget of $560,000. Our proposal is for QuoteUnquote, Inc to raise this money. The success we have with this fundraising will determine how quickly we can provide the additional scope of services contained in this RFP Response. Funding Strategy QuoteUnquotes long term strategy is to diversify its funding through partnerships, new services, underwriting and a greatly expanded training program which would have an eventual goal of developing into an incubator for economic growth in the media industries. How Do We Get There? Transforming QuoteUnquote Inc into a higher profile organization in the city and state will have a very positive effect on drawing in revenue. QuoteUnquote, Inc. believes that access television in general, including public access can have a much greater impact and value to the community than what the traditional model of access has produced so far. Please refer to our more detailed answers to funding in the Scope of Services regarding enhancing revenue for the channels as well as QuoteUnquotes Business Plan found in the Exhibits folder of the Addenda. Our overall financial goal during the next five years is to raise sufficient funds for both channels so that eventually QuoteUnquote, Inc. will obtain a 50% or greater match with the funding supplied by the City. QuoteUnquote, Inc. however, wishes to be clear that it does not believe that the City has no obligation to ever increase its funding levels to the PEG channels. We hope that someday the economy will improve and the overall budget from the City will rise with QuoteUnquote Inc. continuing to match with at least 50% of the overall revenue. What QuoteUnquote, Inc. is striving for is a partnership with the City where both entities agree on goals that are of value to the public and work together to achieve them. We have submitted a business plan with this RFP Response. However, we recognize that this document is a living, and changing, archive of our progress and must be updated regularly to keep up with economic realities. QuoteUnquote would like to work directly with the City to periodically review and improve our business plan. Current Funding and Revenue Projections The City of Albuquerque has been funding Public Access, Channel 27 with a total of $270,000 per year since 2003. We anticipate that this amount will not change by very much during the next year or two. Earned income by QuoteUnquote, Inc for supporting Channels 26 and 27 has been steadily increasing. In 2001 Public Access was only generating around $7000 per 39
year in earned income (mostly training, fees) During the past two combined fiscal years corresponding to the latest contract, QuoteUnquote Inc. has generated a total of $108,000 in earned revenue above the Citys contribution. This has allowed us to expand our services and slightly raise wages and salaries for the employees. We feel we are making great progress but our goals are still much higher. Traditional sources of funding include revenue from: Training, Membership Fees, Sales of DVDs and other media, Dubbing of Programs, Marketing of Products, Fundraising/(grants, numerous types of donations, QuoteUnquote Productions for hire, renting of equipment and studio time to for profit companies not associated with access TV, State of New Mexico Capital Outlay (someday), Additional Services (see Section 3.3)
Fundraising/Development Resources
(From QuoteUnquote Business Plan 2010) Corporate Giving and Sponsorship: Creation of network funding sources including private donations, federal, state and city contracts, grants from private foundations, school districts and business/organizational sponsorship/underwriting of programming, workshops or digital media production services. Cash Donation: Businesses can provide cash or grants. Businesses are also encouraged to participate in fundraising events that take place throughout the year. Gift of Appreciated Stock: a gift of appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds are always welcome and provide tax savings to the donor. Legacy Gifts: a planned gift in a will, trust, or other estate plan. Retail or Grocery Store/Restaurant Community Partnership Program: QUQ receives a portion of what is spent in participating stores when the customer uses the program card when making purchases. Special QUQ dinner promotions at partner restaurants can result in a percentage of proceeds on a designated date with a QUQ flyer. . Finally, we will assist the Board of Directors in planning a highly choreographed fundraising event to raise money across a five-year-period. To this end, we have already begun introducing the Benevon Fundraising Model, demonstrated by CEO Terry Axelrod at the ACM 2011 Conference in Tucson, a highly successful fundraising strategy for nonprofits that emphasizes creating lifelong givers for sustainable funding over the long term. QUQ expects to raise $100,000 using the Benevon Fundraising Strategy (average nonprofit raises $200,000 if they pay the $14,000 consultant fee, which we dont think is necessary). 40 All contents of this Technical Proposal and RFP
In addition to these means of raising revenue, QuoteUnquote, Inc. has as its goal the hiring of a Development Specialist (funded initially by a foundation grant) who will work with the Executive Director on grant proposals, fundraising events and most importantly individual and corporate donors. These methods, while not new ideas in the world of fundraising, have been underutilized in the past. The Development Specialist and the Executive Director will simultaneously be raising funds to support and expand Public Access Channel 27 and Encantada TV (the LO Channel). Some of the initial plans for Encantada TV fundraising are approaching corporate donors to sponsor specific programs much in the manner that PBS currently operates. Approaching the banking community to provide funding and giving them underwriting credits as corporate sponsors is a tried and true method that can work with a channel such as Encantada TV. Periodic telethons will also be used for raising money with help from our many non-profit partners. (For more detail please refer to the Business Plan in the Addenda). Over the five year period our goal is to raise QuoteUnquotes funding by 35% during each of the first two years so that our annual budget would be in the $560,000 range. Each additional year we will strive to continue increasing our revenue. With this level of funding QuoteUnquote, Inc. can accomplish the numerous new projects related to utilizing the latest technologies as discussed under Section 3.3 in this RFP Response.
Using Social Media for Community Outreach and Fundraising

Background: Increasingly non-profit and for-profit organizations are frequently hiring more staff members to be in charge of their social media outlets. Social media has served as an additional platform for outreach, fundraising, and more largely, organizational branding. The term social media is such a buzz word often heard in the more general perspective of interfacing on Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. However, social media can be further broken down into more specific categories. Foremost, it is important to provide a larger context of demographic information for social media in our current society. Below are some facts about social media and its usage statistics, user information, and other outreach efforts: Social networking now accounts for 22% of all time spent online in the US.[1] A total of 234 million people age 13 and older in the U.S. used mobile devices in December 2009.[2] Twitter processed more than one billion tweets in December 2009 and averages almost 40 million tweets per day.[2] Over 25% of U.S. internet page views occurred at one of the top social networking sites in December 2009, up from 13.8% a year before.[2]
41
Australia has some of the highest social media usage in the world. In usage of Facebook Australia ranks highest, with over 9 million users spending almost 9 hours per month on the site.[3][4] The number of social media users age 65 and older grew 100 percent throughout 2010, so that one in four people in that age group are now part of a social networking site.[5] As of June 2011 Facebook has 750 Million users.[6] According to a report by Nielson[7] In the U.S. alone, total minutes spent on social networking sites has increased 83 percent year-over-year. In fact, total minutes spent on Facebook increased nearly 700 percent year-over-year, growing from 1.7 billion minutes in April 2008 to 13.9 billion in April 2009, making it the No. 1 social networking site for the month. To further concur on this insightful information, Quote Unquote, Inc has been working extensively over the last three years to effectively brand its organizational identity through many of these more popular outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace. These platforms have been helpful in promotion of fundraisers, television shows, contests, updates, and largely networking. Currently our Facebook fan page has almost 300 followers. Quote Unquote, Inc staff updates this page with current news, classes, and other relevant information that its constituency could benefit from. In order to expand on this social media outreach, other initiatives and projects have been explored. Below you will find a list of both additional outlets currently being used (noted with an asterisk) and other channels which can be implemented into the Outreach plan for Quote Unquote. Outreach & Fundraising Multi-Media: This incorporates sharing content over a variety of multi-media platforms such as live streaming of programming, uploading & hosting videos online for public access, and creative promotional design using a video version of our brochure. Webcasting: justin.tv, skype, ustream Examples: 1. Video sharing: *Vimeo, *Youtube, *Viddlerproducuer and QUQ staff media, psa, promo spots 2. Video Brochure
42
Content driven communities: This space is used for centralizing videos stored on video hosting sites (i.e. Youtube, Viddler, Vimeo) that are relevant to New Mexico-based media. Online users can access this site to watch and view videos that pertain to the New Mexico community and serve as an organizing tool and outreach service for further expanding the viewership of QUQ produced media as well as other members in the community. Examples: *Miro community video space (video.quote-unquote.org) Wikis: A website that allows collaborative editing of its content and structure by its users. This method would encourage collaborative participation from community members in defining and understanding the structure of Quote Unquote, Inc. This could entail explanations around our community media center, trainings, public access television, Encantada television, and other operations. This would assist in further branding our organizational identity and gathering a sense of community participation in the defining of our operations. Communication: Additional outlets for cross-promotion and organizational branding are utilizing venues like Wordpress, Twitter, Facebook, and enewsletters. When new information arises internally, Quote Unquote communicates through several mediums the message. It is a strategic way to mass promote updates, news, classes, etc to our constituency. Furthermore, each outlet reaches a different audience, which enhances our membership. Examples: 1. Blogs: *Wordpress, 2. Microblogging: *Twitter 3. Social Networking: *Facebook, Google+, Ning 4. *Electronic Newsletter 5. Events: Meetup.com 6. *Google TV-channel outreach Online Advocacy and Fundraising: According to Mark Davis, director of technical solutions for Blackbaud, Traditionally, organizations use online action as a space to learn about and discuss topics, as well as to act. Actions often include online petitions, direct communication with elected officials, or an option to forward to a friend. Email communications is also critical to most advocacy actions because email has been the primary method used to deliver calls to action to constituents. More recently, organizations have also used social networking to build activist communities that participate in discourse while promoting campaigns to support the organization. [8] 43
Examples: Kickstarter.com Indiegogo.com Jumo Causes Collaboration Content Management Systems: *Wordpress, Drupal,
Goals: Quote Unquote, Inc has been rooted in the community for over thirty years and is still expanding its constituency base through traditional means. However, through outreach and fundraising efforts using social media and other various multi-media platforms, our organization can work to increase our community visibility, increase community participation, and increase revenue stream. These social media outlets will be generally effective for further enhancing relations with existing supporters as well as reaching out to new members. Over the course of the next 6 months, Quote Unquote, Inc staff members will work on developing a timeline for executing these projects with a concrete outline of the steps, as well as documenting the procedures to ensure long-term sustainability and capacity building. List of Resources 1. http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/global/social-media-accounts-for-22-percentof-time-online/ 2. http://digital.venturebeat.com/2010/02/10/54-of-us-internet-users-on-facebook27-on-myspace/trackback/ 3. http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/social-media-stats-in-australia-facebookblogger-myspace/. 4. http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/. 5. "Boomers Joining Social Media at Record Rate". CBS News. 2010-11-15. 6. http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/23/facebook-750-million-users// 7. "Time Spent on Facebook up 700 Percent, but MySpace.com Still Tops for Video, According to Nielsen". 8. http://www.blackbaud.com/files/resources/downloads/WhitePaper_ConnectingOn lineAdvocacyAndFundraising.pdf
44
This Five Year Plan, like our Business Plan, is a working document. QuoteUnquote would like to have an on-going dialogue with the City regarding future changes and innovations to be incorporated into this plan.
Full Spectrum Community Media: Expanding Public Access to Communications Infrastructure, February 2011, p. 14
45

Quote Unquote, Inc. RFP Proposal

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Quote Unquote, Inc. RFP Proposal

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 2.

2.1.3 Proposed Approach to Tasks SCOPE OF SERVICES

Public Access / Local Origination Station 5 Year Equipment Plan

$ 130,000.00 $ 8,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00

Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera Production Truck

$ 5000.00 $ 16,000.00 $ 12,000.00 $ 11,000.00

$ 3,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00

Using Social Media for Community Outreach and Fundraising

You might also like