Urban Unrest

25 October 2006 | Pacifica | Ernesto Aguilar

Dear Pacificans,

In order to move forward on the Pacifica National Board’s recent decision to develop new licensing and distribution initiatives, a task force in being convened by PNB member Rob Robinson, in consultation with Board chair Dave Adelson, Executive Director Greg Guma, and corporate counsel Dan Siegel.

The Board motion that began this process, passed unanimously on Oct. 1, 2006, resolved:

That the PNB form a task force on program licensing and distribution policies to consist of the ED or his representative, the general counsel, the FCC counsel, any Directors who volunteer; any LSB staff members who volunteer, and a representative of any station’s union or association of paid or unpaid staff that chooses to participate. The task force may invite experts to participate. The task force shall report back to the PNB with recommendations.

If additional people should receive this message, please let Greg know ASAP and provide e-mail addresses, or forward to members of collective bargaining units and unpaid staff organizations for whom we do not currently have complete contact information. General Managers and/or Program Directors are asked to distribute this message throughout local stations.

The plan is to convene a broad group that promotes constructive discussion by the individuals and the constituencies mentioned above, and others who have an interest or stake in the issue.

Those who want to be involved in the first teleconference should e-mail Rob Robinson at robrobin@erols.com, or call him at 202-387-5956 by November 3, 2006. Those who respond will be contacted about the date, time, and call-in number for the first meeting, slated for November.

At the first meeting, we hope to accomplish the following:

– set a schedule for future meetings and define both the process and goals

– discussion of copyright, authorship, and licensing issues facing Pacifica, along with an initial attempt to define areas of agreement

–consider the basic elements of a model open source non-commercial license

This is not an attempt to usurp the rights of those who create programming for Pacifica. Rather, it is an attempt to reach accord on our mutual rights and interests. We are dependent upon your participation to begin a frank discussion that is long overdue and, in the process, dispel some of the fears and concerns that have emerged.

In recent years, big media companies have distorted the copyright system to advance their own interests by limiting access to content. As a result, people who should benefit from a system that makes ideas available are being excluded, or threatened if they share digital material.

Our long-term goal is to expand the audience for Pacifica programs and increase revenue to enable producers throughout the network to continue developing programming. We must, however, resolve outstanding issues of rights and interests, internally, before we can access distribution and licensing strategies based upon shared rights and reciprocal relationships disseminated via internet and digital media.

We encourage anyone interested in the potential of such new strategies to become involved.

Dave Adelson, PNB Chair
Rob Robinson, Chair, Programming Committee
Greg Guma, Executive Director

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