2004 ANNUAL REPORT

Your Community Connection

“The PEG Network is truly our

community connection.”

—Gina AkinsCable Viewer

Dear Friends,

We are pleased to present you with the Montgomery County PEG Network 2004 Annual Report.

As you know, our primary goal is to enhance Montgomery County residents’ ability to be informed

and be involved in the government, education and cultural activities and opportunities that take

place in our community. Through the PEG Network, our residents gain a virtual front row seat –

in the classroom, at a community event, at County and City meetings – as well as the ability to

present their ideas and diverse points of view on issues that concern them.

This past year has again been exceptional! We have increased our community productions, offered

training opportunities for citizens and staff, added to our foreign language program offerings, and

maximized our reach through our digital enhancement. Via cable television, we connect to over

210,000 homes. And now, via the internet, we are able to offer our programming to viewers within

and beyond the County boundary.

Our future plans are to continue to increase community-based programming through the use of a

mobile production vehicle, phase in a down county area presence, and continue to keep ourselves and

our staff abreast of the opportunities that cable and fiber technology can provide Montgomery County.

As we continue to provide content that enriches the lives of our viewers, and provide a connection

to your local community, we ask for your continued involvement.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us or any member of the

PEG Network.

Sincerely,

Donna T. Keating Richard Turner

PEG Network Co-Chair PEG Network Co-Chair

Message to our Friends

1

Montgomery

Community Television

Taking a dynamic leap into the future,Montgomery Community Televisionhas embraced evolving technologyand laid the groundwork for transitioninto the digital era.

During FY04, MCT installed a new digital playback system.This system has served to enhance technical quality of thechannel while facilitating physical programming of theMontgomery Channel and The Open Channel. Additionally,acquisition of digital non-linear editing systems hasprovided MCT with the capability for more sophisticatedeffects, thereby increasing the quality of locally producedprogramming.

MCT’s dynamic leap also includes its expansion into moresophisticated productions. Through partnership withMCPS, MCT produced coverage of the Joint County GangTask Force Town Hall Meetings. The second of thesemeetings was cablecast live from Blair High School and aSpanish language version of this program was subsequentlyaired to broaden the reach of this important information.

The number and types of shows created and aired by MCTare also diversified. Production this past year includedFinancial Planning with Mrs. Juan, a Chinese languageshow; three African American Health PSAs which werefunded by a grant from the African American Healthprogram; and Revista Semenal Montgomery, a new Spanishlanguage series hosted by Graciela Rivera-Oven.

Integral to these achievements was the October 2003appointment of Richard Turner, MCT’s new executivedirector. In addition to his leadership in MCT’s digitaltransition, Mr. Turner has been active in exploring anddeveloping new community partnerships with groups suchas GapBusters and their youth leadership program and theGilchrist Center for Diversity.

In FY05, MCT will be developing a new strategic plandesigned to improve services and increase MCT’s presencein the community.

Contact: Mr. Richard Turner, MCT Executive DirectorVoice: 301-424-1730Fax: 301-294-7476Email: info@mct-tv.orgWeb: mct-tv.org

Channel 19

Channel 21

“Access channels

are vital to our

sense of

community.”

—Cheryl D. ThomasMontomery County Resident

Public

“MCT’s Media Literacy Day

was an unbelievable experience!

I knew my students were capable of great

accomplishments, but I had no idea

they would be able to take charge

and put a Public Service Announcement

into action in one day.”

—Yvette Butler, MDExecutive Director, GapBusters Learning Center

“The way your staff worked made them

(MCPS students) and me know that you

felt our video was important.”

—Karen CrawfordMCPS Coordinator of Student Affairs

Montgomery County

Public Schools

Instructional Television

MCPS continues to communicate withstudents, teachers, staff and thecommunity through one of its most usefulresources – Instructional TV.

Instructional TV has doubled productions since year 2000.In 2004, ITV provided important programming to MCPSand the community that informed, trained, and instructed.Our exciting educational programs include: Viewpoint, alive, call-in show addressing current community educationalissues; Take Ten (English) and Diez Minutos (Spanish), anin-depth look at educational issues aimed at parents andchildren; and Cover to Cover, a news magazine show withinterviews, features, and a behind–the-scenes look at MCPSpersonnel and history.

Going into its 19th year, Homework Hotline Live! remains ITV’sflagship program. The show’s teachers often handle morethan 1,500 homework questions from students each season.

Our Schools Today supports the MCPS mission byincreasing our outreach to the multi-national community.The talk show format is broadcast in five languages:Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, and English.

You can find the latest information on new programs,schedules of upcoming shows, and webstreaming ofselected ITV programs on our web site.

As a full-service multimedia facility, ITV has acquired a newall-digital media server. By providing tapeless digital on-airplayback, the server is a notable technology advance for ITV.

The MCPS Instructional TV unit also has many exciting plansfor the future. These include: reaching out to more familiesthrough a partnership with the County libraries, producinginteractive products on CD and DVD that deliver trainingand professional development to MCPS staff, and increasingthe variety of programs offered in different languages.

Contact: Dr. Dick Lipsky, Instructional TV SupervisorVoice: 301-279-3141Fax: 301-279-3118Email: Dick_Lipsky@mcpsmd.orgWeb: mcps.tv

Channel 33/34,88/89

Education

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Montgomery College

Television

Whatever your taste or interest,Montgomery College Television hassomething for you.

This year, as in past years, the talented staff of professionalsat Montgomery College Television produced hundreds ofhours of original programming to provide our viewers andstudents with a broad array of thought-provoking andintellectually challenging programs to stimulate the mind - andhelp them to reach their goal of a College degree.

Continuing series included creative student work such asbalderdash, our nationally award-winning entertainmentprogram designed and produced by the talented studentsat MC; Chautauqua, the living history initiative annuallyproduced by the College and the Maryland HumanitiesCouncil; Montgomery College Today, an inside look intoexciting college news and events; Fit, Fabulous and Over50!, an exercise show for "young" seniors; and a myriad ofCollege sporting events, theatrical productions, women'sstudies programming, and live coverage of major Collegeand community events.

The State of the College Address, Holocaust Remembrance,AFI/Silver Theatre Jim Henson Special, and coverage of theopening of the new Health Sciences Center were amongnew programming offered.

Production of Walking the Road to Brown, a look back atthe desegregation of the Montgomery County PublicSchools, and Tomb Guard: Voices from the Tomb, afascinating look at the history of the Tomb Guards at theTomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington NationalCemetery, were among Montgomery College Television’sspecialty program efforts.

For FY05, Montgomery College Television plans to developprograms to support English As a Second Languagepopulations and College preparatory students whileproviding increased opportunities for student successthrough internships, work for College credit, and directinvolvement in production and programming projects.

Contact: Mr. Brian Baker, ITV and Media ProductionServices ManagerVoice: 301-251-7160Fax: 301-251-7162Email: ITV@montgomerycollege.eduWeb: montgomerycollege.edu/itv

Channel 10

University of

Maryland University

College Television

Here at University of MarylandUniversity College Television, UMUC-TVChannel 18, we have a continuing and solid commitmentto our students and our Montgomery County audience, andwe have instituted major enhancements in our service tothese constituencies.

In the last year, we have made significant improvements inUMUC-TV’s technical capabilities. Our broadcast day hasbeen expanded to fifteen hours and operates with a newdigital server and program management system. We expectto begin webcasting our program schedule before the endof 2004.

Acquiring new programming is one of the most difficulttasks a cable access channel operator must face. Beginningin the fall of 2004, UMUC-TV refreshed its schedule byadding four new series: Minds of Our Own, Learning Math,Teaching Reading, and Abnormal Psychology. We alsocontinue to provide 14 hours of Spanish languageprogramming every academic semester.

Additional local programming at UMUC-TV providespromotional support and exposure for UMUC’s ArtsProgram, a unique showcase for renowned Marylandartists. Locally produced documentaries on this art and itscreators are important part of our programming.

Recently, UMUC-TV’s parent unit was integrated into a newdivision, the Office of Instructional Design, Developmentand Support, which develops new and innovative resourcesfor instruction. Our production unit at the Center for theVirtual University will continue to focus on custom videoproduction and multimedia design, as well as environmentalscanning of new media and technologies. Our new missionwill broaden our community outreach and visibility witheducational cable programming. We expect that 2004 and2005 will be very productive years at UMUC Television.

Contact: University of Maryland University College TelevisionVoice: 301-985-7439Fax: 301-985-7845Email: msmith@umuc.eduWeb: umuc.edu/umuc-tv

Channel 18

Education

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University of

Maryland Television

UMTV is the cable television station of the University ofMaryland. As part of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism,UMTV seeks to educate students and promote and marketthe University to an ever growing community of viewers. Inaddition to providing a training ground for students, UMTVaspires to be a leader in its industry by providing unique,high quality, culturally diverse programming.

This year the channel achieved its goals and receivedinternational recognition. UMTV was a winner of four TellyAwards. Regular UMTV favorites, Front and Center, TheWriter’s Tale and Discovery: Maryland, along with a specialprogram, Are the Media Colorblind? received finalist awardsfor excellence in television production. The Telly Awardsrecognize outstanding local, regional and cable TV programs.

Maryland Newsline, the daily UMTV newscast, washonored at the Emmy Awards ceremony in Washington.The National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Chapter of theNational Television Academy recognized the MarylandNewsline student-reporters with its OutstandingAchievement in Student Production award.

Maryland Newsline was also named “best daily college TVnewscast” in the region for the third consecutive year bythe Society of Professional Journalists.

On the horizon for the upcoming year:

• UMTV begins web streaming its broadcast signal liveon the UMTV website: www.umtv.umd.edu

• More coverage of University events like last spring’sConsidering Brown v. the Board of Education, a day-long community/scholar dialogue which recorded thedesegregation experiences of former students, facultyand community residents.

• And two new public affairs series.

Contact: Ms. Serena Ferguson Mann, UMTV Vice Presidentand General ManagerVoice: 301-405-3610Fax: 301-405-0496Email: umtv@jmail.umd.eduWeb: umtv.umd.edu

Channel 2

“Your quality productions have earned

high praise from my colleagues and

the community.”

—Professor Betsy ZwingMontgomery College

“ These channels allow me to see my

government in action.”

—Doris Gaskins,

Montgomery County Resident

Montgomery Municipal

Cable

Montgomery Municipal Cable (MMC)provides coverage of town events,community programs and services, andinterviews with elected officials and other noteworthyindividuals. We opened our new state-of-the-art studio inOctober 2003. Since that time, our original programminghas increased over 50 percent.

Our political coverage is outstanding. We have countlessofficials on, not only from Montgomery County, butAnnapolis as well. Recent guests on Municipal Notebookwith Steve Barrios include Senator John McCain, GovernorRobert Erlich, and Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, justto name a few. We have had the County Executive as wellas all members of the County Council on the air.

MMC is also a leader in diversity programming. We offerprograms for the variety of communities within MMC'smunicipalities. Programs such as:

• Latina Generacion with Marta Bohrquez and CarolinaPena for our Hispanic community audience;

• Voices of the Four Winds with Jay Winternightwolf forour Native American community audience;

• New Tang Dynasty Television for our Chinesecommunity audience;

• Afrika Plus for our African community audience, and;

• Caribnation Television for our Caribbean communityviewers.

We continually cover outside events, providing local artistsand musicians a number of opportunities to showcase theirtalents.

We currently tape 14 half-hour programs every week, aswell as outside productions. We will continue to inform ourresidents about everything that goes on in their communityand in their government.

Contact: Mr. Vinnie Walter, Station Manager/ExecutiveProducerVoice/Fax: 301-942-6276Email: mmctv@comcast.netWeb: www.mmctv.sailorsite.net

Channel 16

Government

9

County Cable

Montgomery

County Cable Montgomery (CCM)provides information to expandresidents’ awareness of the Countygovernment, its organizations, functions and decision-makingprocesses.

In addition to our long running shows such as regularCouncil Sessions and hearings, Council in Brief, The ParksShow, Montgomery County Comments, One on One,Montgomery Focus, and Paths to the Present, weexpanded programming to include:

• Where Does It Go? Your Local Tax Dollars at Work – aprogram that examines the important services ourtaxes provide and how residents can get involved tohelp improve the quality of life in Montgomery County;

• Transportation Update – a series that provides up-to-date information on local traffic and road construction,and;

• Did You Know? – a series about little known or quirkytidbits about Montgomery County. Topics haveincluded volunteer programs in the Police Department,how many books circulate in our expansive librarysystem, and historical landmarks.

CCM’s excellent work was recognized again this year.Coming Attractions won second place in NATOA’sGovernment Programming interview talk show categoryand the County Cable Montgomery web site received firstplace. The GreenMan Show won a 2004 Bronze TellyAward for the open and graphics as well as a 2004 PegasusAward of Excellence for Government Programming.

In 2005, we will increase the use of new technologies toimprove government communications, increase original andlive programming and enhance our programming offerings.We will begin providing on-line indexing of our archivedprograms so viewers can research topics of interest. We willcontinue a program produced in Spanish and create a newprogram to highlight our community outreach efforts. Bothprograms will be produced in conjunction with the Office ofCommunity Outreach. CCM is here for you!

Contact: Ms. Donna Keating, Executive ProducerVoice: 240-777-3668Fax: 240-777-3770Email: donna.keating@montgomerycountymd.gov Web: montgomerycountymd.gov

Channel 6

Takoma Park City TV

Takoma Park City TV is the award winningcommunity channel for all things TakomaPark! From coverage of City Councilmeetings to tree planting, if it is happeningin Takoma Park, City TV is there!

The channel’s goals are to provide Takoma Park residentswith quality programs about City government services andcommunity activities. In addition to live cablecasts ofweekly Council meetings, City TV has a monthly magazineshow, Takoma Park Snapshots. Snapshots features shortsegments on everyday life in Takoma Park, including thepopular Community Oriented Policing segment.

City TV also covers many annual events, such as theannual Independence Day Parade, Street Festival, MartinLuther King, Jr. birthday tribute, Folk Festival, Jazz BandBrawl, Jazz Fest, and the Library’s annual My FavoritePoem Event. City TV also cablecast a number of specialevents this year including the Public Forum on theWashington Adventist Hospital expansion, War & TheEconomy Teach-in, the City’s Nominating Caucus,Candidates Forum, Pedestrian Safety Walk with DanBurden, and several Takoma Park Maryland library events.

Takoma Park City TV has received awards over the last fewyears from the Alliance for Community Media and NATOAfor overall excellence in government programming and forPerforming Arts entries.

Next year will bring many physical updates in conjunctionwith the construction of the Takoma Park CommunityCenter. City TV is now part of the Office of Communications,the City department responsible for the City's newsletter,web site and public information functions. The City will beconducting a survey of all residents this year and a majorgoal of this effort is to identify best communication tools.

Contact: Ms. Lonni Moffet, Director, Office of CommunicationsVoice: 301-891-7118Fax: 301-270-8794Email: cabletv@takomagov.orgWeb: cityoftakomapark.org/cable

Channel 13

Government

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The Rockville Channel

For the ninth consecutive year, TheRockville Channel (TRC) receivednational recognition for the quality of theprogramming it produces to informresidents and businesses about their city government. Inthe annual NATOA Government Programming competition,TRC was honored for its live public meeting coverage,public service announcements, and public affairsprogramming. TRC was named a national finalist for its live election program and program on cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity in Rockville in the City-CountyCommunications and Marketing Association’s annualaward competition. The TRC programs on the RockvilleTown Center redevelopment project contributed to aMaryland Smart Growth Award.

FY04 also was a year of firsts for TRC, including telecastsof three forums for candidates in the city elections, plusSpanish language public service announcements providinginformation about voting and other election-related matters.

TRC produced and aired a three-part series called Diversityin the City which focused on the opportunities and challengesthat increasing cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity presentsfor the community and its city government. In an attempt tofoster increased understanding, the series examined thethree largest minority groups in Rockville: African American,Asian, and Hispanic.

TRC continued to produce live coverage of all Mayor andCouncil meetings and Planning Commission meetings. Otherprograms produced on a continuing basis included City HallReport, Cityline, On Patrol, and Mayor and Council Review.

In FY05, TRC will begin producing a new series calledMayor and Council Preview, which will highlight andexplain items on upcoming agendas. TRC also plans toprovide video on demand on the City’s web site, in additionto the live streaming of TRC that is now provided.

Contact: Mr. Doug Breisch, Television andTelecommunications ManagerVoice: 240-314-8189Fax: 240-314-8179Email: dbreisch@rockvillemd.govWeb: rockvillemd.gov/trc11

Channel 11

“ The City of Rockville ’ s ‘Election

Night Live ’ steps in where the media

steps out. This election program i s

one of the best I have seen; it ’ s fa ir

without any b ias . Rockville has done

a great job tackling this touchy

subject. Keeping the c it izen involved

is what 3CMA stands for, and that ’ s

what this ‘Election Night Live ’ does .”

—3CMA Judges

Joint Promotional Communications to Constituent andCommunity Groups

The PEG Network produced and distributed the2003 Annual Report, a Pocket Folder Media Kit, and aPEG Network Fact Sheet and participated at theGermantown Oktoberfest.

Joint Procurement Cost-Savings

The PEG Network’s continued joint procurement of likeor compatible equipment has enabled volume discountson members’ purchases as well as the ability to negotiatefavorable contract terms for equipment procurement,maintenance, and training.

In fact, not only have we increased operation efficiency andimproved service and product quality but we have wonnational and local awards, and developed new programming,new and continuing partnerships, and the ability to providesupport to special communities. In FY04, members of the PEGNetwork collectively produced over 3,200 hours of originalprogramming; collectively aired over 50 foreign languageprograms in 14 languages, and; were honored for programquality by the National Association of TelecommunicationsOfficers and Advisors, the City-County Communications andMarketing Association, the Alliance for Community Media,the National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Chapter of theNational Television Academy, the Society of ProfessionalJournalists, the Communicator Awards, Aurora Awards,Crystal Vision Awards, Government Star Awards and theNational Council of Marketing and Public Relations.

We envision, throughout the coming years, that we willcontinue to build community in Montgomery County byenhancing and increasing public dialogue and interactionson important issues; by supporting workforce developmentand economic growth; by providing an independent localvoice and accessible media venues for sharing our ever-increasing diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives,and; by continuing to be the convenient source for communitynews, events, and other useful information that will enhanceour community’s quality of life.

Contact: Ms. Amy Wilson, Program ManagerVoice: 240-777-3684Fax: 240-777-3770Email: amy.wilson@montgomerycountymd.govWeb: pegs.montgomerycountymd.gov

Network

About the

PEG Network

In a world of 24-hour informationand entertainment access, onlythe PEG Network is dedicated to bringing MontgomeryCounty’s residents the latest in local public, educationaland governmental programming. Our members provide theCounty’s residents with a uniquely powerful and influentialtool – the media – to educate and enrich our community.

Here’s a sampling of the types of activities that wechampioned in FY04 to increase our operational efficiencyand improve our service and product quality:

Enhanced Programming Services

Many of our members now stream their programmingover the internet. Several PEG operators have begun toprovide on-demand programming capabilities via theinternet.

Joint Training Opportunities

Sixty-one staff and managers attended training providedby the PEG Network this year on scriptwriting, DVDauthoring, copyright law, and field audio techniques.

Shared Resource Use Among PEG Network Members

Montgomery Community Television, MontgomeryCounty Public Schools, and County Cable Montgomerycooperatively produced live coverage of the Joint CountyGang Task Force Town Hall Meeting at MontgomeryBlair High School.

Ten half-hour episodes of Coming Attractions, thecable series that highlights the wealth of arts andentertainment venues in Montgomery County, werejointly produced by County Cable Montgomery andMontgomery Community Television.

PEG Network members utilized Montgomery CountyPublic Schools and Montgomery College’s mobileproduction vehicles to produce 47 productions overthe course of the year.

County Cable Montgomery’s coverage of the CountyExecutive’s annual State of the County Address wascablecast live from the AFI Silver Theatre andsimulcast on County Cable Montgomery Channel 6,Montgomery County Public Schools Channel 34,Montgomery College Television Channel 10, andMontgomery Community Television Channel 21.

12

“I hope this can continue indefinitely.”

— Jack CurlingMontgomery County Resident

PEG Network

Office of Cable and Communications Services

100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 250

Rockville, MD 20850

(240) 773-CATV (2288)

(240) 777-3770 fax

http://pegs.montgomerycountymd.gov