March 19, 2007

Simsbury, CT 06089

Simsbury Community Television, Inc. has received your complaint form regarding the airing of the “Simsbury River Oaks Mixed Use Development” video. Your objection of it being a commercial piece has been noted. SCTV considers this an informational program, as there is nothing being sold to make it commercial. It contains information and ideas that are of interest to some people in Simsbury. No policy has been broken.

The primary goal of SCTV is to promote community participation in the production of noncommercial programming and facilitate the First Amendment right of free speech through the promotion of free expression and diverse ideas and opinions. That is what SCTV has done and to further that goal we wholeheartedly invite your opposing viewpoint to be aired on the station.

As is stated on our complaint form, it is not the responsibility of the Station Manager or other staff person to review each program for compliance prior to airing; the Producers/Sponsors signature on our channel use agreement form binds all parties to the terms included on the form. Once a complaint was filed, the program was reviewed by the Station Manager and found to be within our policies. The Department of Public Utility Control, the regulatory agency that oversees community television, has also upheld that decision.

A producer or provider is only required to provide proof of age and residency to be eligible to air programs on SCTV. We do not do background checks or require knowledge of what their livelihood is to be eligible.

I find it curious that the organization that could help you the most in getting your own ideas out to the community is the one you choose to target as not doing it’s job properly.

Respectfully,

Karen Handville
Station Manager