Policies & Procedures

Below is the summary of Policies and Procedures that address the most frequently asked questions about the use of the Lower Merion & Narberth Public Access Television (PATV) channel. Don't hesitate to contact PATV for additional information.

Residency

Residents of Lower Merion and Narberth, as well as non-profit 501(c)3 organizations that serve the residents, may produce programs to be cablecast on the PATV channel. The policy is based on PATV's mission as well as on the principle that the channel emanates locally, has limited local distribution, and receives partial funding from the local municipal authority for its residents. The circumstance in which a non-resident would produce, or participate in a program, would be as the authorized representative of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves the residents or as a program guest for expert information on a particular subject.

Copyright Issues

Take for granted that all music and lyrics are copyrighted, including 'Happy Birthday'. Copyright issues extend to all performing arts, including school plays. You either have to obtain written authorization for television use from the author, composer, and performer, or purchase rights, for example, low cost limited rights from www.magnatune.com. You can also compose music with some video editing software. Your Public Access Channel will ask to see the written authorization from the author and performer or a copy of the contract with the music-provider web site.

Commercial Content

For-profit corporations and their representatives may not cablecast programs related directly or indirectly to their business. The intent is to prevent the use of the channel for profitable gain, and to protect PATV's 501(c)(3) status. For example, a real-estate agent may not produce a program on how to stage or sell a house; however, the president of a civic or non-profit association, who happens to be a real-estate agent, may give information on behalf of his/her non-profit organization. The only circumstance, in which a professional or business owner would inform viewers about an issue related to his or her business, would be as a program guest for expert information on a particular subject.

Political Content

Government elected officials and candidates may not produce programs on the Public Access channel. The intent is to prevent the use of the channel for political gain or influence, and to protect PATV's 501(c)(3) status. It also follows that residents may not produce programs on several cable channels that are reserved for governments and elected officials. For example the Township channel 7 is reserved for the Lower Merion Township government and elected officials, the Education channel 6 is reserved for the Lower Merion School District government and elected officials, and the PCN channel186, is reserved for the Pennsylvania government and elected officials. The circumstance in which government elected officials appear on the Public Access channel is in the context of community events that are being recorded for use of the Public Access channel.

Lower Merion and Narberth political party committees registered under the PA Election Code, for example the Democratic and Republican Committees, and 501(c)(4) organizations such as the League of Women Voters, may produce programs about their respective organizations, events, and activities, as long as they do so without proselytizing content. They may also cablecast debates between all elected officials and candidates and host programs in which all incumbents and candidates are invited to be videotaped 5 minutes each, with the same video background and rules. During election periods, PATV shall remove programs by producers who are registered as candidates for an upcoming election.