From the City of Austin:

The City’s Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Division (TARA), will launch a survey Nov. 14, 2014, to get Austinites’ views about Public Access Television and the Community Digital Media Center and how they can meet the diverse media needs of the Austin community.

The digital media center is managed by channelAustin under contract with the City which expires on September 30, 2015. The survey responses will be used to develop the scope of work used to request proposals for the next public access TV management contract.

Founded in the early 1970s when a University of Texas professor and a small group of students and local social activists petitioned Capital Cable for access to its Austin cable system, Public Access Television provides free distribution of non-commercial programming from individuals and non-profit organizations over three local cable TV channels. Public Access programming is carried by each of the Austin area cable providers — AT&T, Grande and Time Warner. Google Fiber will also carry the three channels in high definition when in begins service in the coming year.

The survey will help determine how well individuals and community groups are taking advantage of the training, equipment, facilities and cable TV programming opportunities and what else is needed.

The survey will be available through Dec. 4th at www.austintexas.gov/PublicAccess

For more information, call TARA at (512) 974-2999.