Longmont Public Media in perilous position, official says

Sergio Angeles says Longmont Public Media is shaking off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ready to expand its universe. That is if the city allows Longmont’s only public access channel to do so.

Angeles, co-founder and executive director of Longmont Public Media,  sees Channel 8 airing  mayoral talks, updates from the city manager, host musical recordings and conduct poetry readings.  Channel 8 already airs local community programming, including city council and other government meetings, and as a makerspace helps create other media and platforms.

Many of Channel 8’s programs and plans were stifled during COVID-19 and the city helped underwrite the station to keep it operating. LPM, if given the same support from the city, can do much more, he said.      

“We are so underutilized by the city,” Angeles said. “We can be disseminating information, letting the community know what’s going on.”

“There is nothing like us for hundreds of miles,” Angeles said. “Most other public access stations have been absorbed by cities. We can be so unique to Longmont and the state ”

Still, LPM’s current status is uncertain as negotiations continue with the city of Longmont to determine next year’s level of funding. “If we get our funding cut, we will have to re-evaluate whether we can stay open or not.”

Angeles spelled out the station’s perilous position in an email sent to LPM backers and community members last week. He admits some city council members — who will have the ultimate say on how much the city can allocate to the station — may not be enthusiastic backers of the station.

“I think they just don’t understand what we do,” Angeles said.

Funding for LPM comes primarily through franchise fees that Comcast pays to the city. The city gets 25% of the franchise fees, which last year was $140,000, Sandi Seader, Longmont’s assistant city manager said via email. The rest of the fees the city puts into its general fund, Angeles said.

In addition, the city council has contracted with LPM for $120,000 in one time funding to help the station during COVID, Seader said. Last year’s contract between the city and LPM was $260,000, Seader said.

LPM was fortunate to receive supplement funding from the city over the past two years to compensate for the stifling effect COVD-19 had on Channel 8’s growth, Angeles said.

The contract’s budget is due to be reviewed and voted on by the city council in early fall, he said. LPM is asking that the city dedicate more of the franchise fees to LPM and/or request another year of supplemental funding.

“Based on the conversations we have had with individual city council members, we are at risk of not receiving the additional funding and/or dedicated fees needed to stay open,” Angeles said in his email to supporters. “Without additional funding, LPM will not be able to recruit and retain the staff we need to continue our mission.”

Angeles declined to say who on the council he has approached about LPM’s future.

Councilor Tim Waters, an LPM volunteer, said the station has overcome huge challenges to be a community focal for education programming and political discourse.

“I think they have done a remarkable job in a short period of time,” Waters said. “They have been able to recruit members and volunteers and connect with the community and take advantage of the assets they have.”

LPM can bring together people from different political stances and encourage civil debate on the issues of the day, Waters said. “We can use it as an example of how the city can encourage civil discourse. This is worth sustaining.”

Mayor Joan Peck declined to talk about the LPM’s upcoming contract vote. “I don’t want to influence anyone’s vote. But I will listen to all sides of the issue.”