RULES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO HUDSON CABLE TV

* download rules Program Outline & Contract and Contact info page HERE

These rules have been adopted by Hudson City Council to provide Hudson residents with fair and equal access to the air time, facilities or equipment of Hudson Cable Television. They must be followed by anyone wishing to:

1. gain access to air time on this station; or
2. make use of its facilities and/or equipment.

I. INTRODUCTION HUDSON CABLE TELEVISION (hereinafter referred to as HCTV) is a cable television station governed by, and operated under the authority of, the City of Hudson. Any resident, group or organization which operates within and/or serves the City of Hudson may qualify for access to HCTV, assuming the qualifications are approved by the Station Manager and the "ACCESS USER AGREEMENT" that accompanies these Rules is properly signed.

II. PROGRAMMING CONTENT All material submitted for programming on HCTV is controlled by federal, state, and local law, and otherwise as may be necessary to preserve the not-for-profit status of HCTV.

Programs cablecast on HCTV may not endorse commercial products and/or services. This restriction includes a restriction on prominent or persistent displays of commercial products, logos or promotional material. Identifying any product, service, trademark or brand name in a manner which is related to a commercial use of such a product or service is prohibited.

No direct or indirect solicitations for money are permitted.

No program may contain advertising or promotion of any lottery, game of chance, gift, enterprise or similar scheme offering prizes dependent in whole or part upon lot or chance. These types of programs are all prohibited by federal regulations.

By signing the ACCESS USER AGREEMENT, the signatory acknowledges that all necessary rights and/or clearances have been obtained to cablecast the program material on HCTV, and that the user accepts full legal responsibility for what is cablecast.

The user must understand that not all programming is protected speech under the First Amendment. Criminal prosecution and/or civil lawsuits can result from illegal and/or tortuous uses of public access television. Neither the City of Hudson nor HCTV is authorized or qualified to advise users about the legality of material submitted for programming. Without limiting this statement in any way, users should be aware that the following uses, among others, are unlawful:

1. Any solicitation of funds or advertising of material designed to promote the sale of commercial products or services.
2. Any material that is obscene, indecent, or an invasion of privacy.
3. Any material concerning lottery information, gift enterprise or similar scheme.
4. Any material requiring union residual or other payment including, but not limited to, talent/crew unless those payments have been executed or waived.
5. Any material that is slanderous, libelous or made unlawful by a law instituted by a governmental body.
6. Any material that is copyrighted or subject to ownership or royalty rights without necessary releases, licenses or other permission.
7. Any material soliciting or promoting unlawful conduct.

The user should understand that by signing the ACCESS USER AGREEMENT they assumes responsibility for programming submitted, and agrees to indemnify, defend and otherwise hold the City of Hudson and HCTV harmless from any claims, demands or other liability associated with the user's programming. HCTV reserves the right to edit (or request that the user edit) 30 seconds of standardized credit/disclaimer audio and video onto the end of any tape before it is cablecast.

III. HOW TO GET A PROGRAM CABLECAST ON HCTV An application must be submitted in writing in order to request cablecasting on HCTV. The application should be submitted at least three weeks prior to any requested Air Time.

Application forms may be obtained from the Station Manager or at City Hall. Completed applications can either be mailed, to:
Station Manager, HCTV, 27 East Main Street Hudson, OH 44236

Or they can be sent by FAX to 330-653-1489.

Hudson residents under the may use HCTV facilities and/or equipment if an adult resident assumes legal responsibility by signing all necessary applications.

Air Time on HCTV is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no guarantee that the date or time requested will be available. Date and time slots that have been designated for one application are not transferable. At least fourteen (14) days before the date of a cablecast, the Station Manager must have a properly signed program (or a script of the program if it is to cablecast live). Programs should not exceed 90 minutes in length. The applicant may also be required to provide proof of appropriate rights and clearances for the use of any copyrighted material.

HCTV reserves the right to refuse to cablecast any program or presentation which in the opinion of the Station Manager and at his sole and absolute discretion does not comply completely with these RULES and with the ACCESS USER AGREEMENT. However, the fact that a program or presentation has been cablecast on HCTV does not in any way suggest that all necessary rights and clearances have been obtained, or that the program is lawful, or that HCTV assumes any responsibility for all or any part of the content of the program or presentation.

IV. USE OF THE STATION'S EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES HCTV is located in the Hudson High School building. All users must observe the rules of Hudson Local Schools and Hudson High School and of HCTV with respect to conduct while on the premises. Users and their guests must remain in those areas designated as part of HCTV facilities except as needed to enter and exit the facilities. Users are ultimately responsible for the conduct of all persons involved in their use of HCTV facilities or equipment.

Subject to the RULES and the approval of the Station Manager, HCTV facilities and equipment will be available for use during normal City business hours or at other times by special arrangement with the Station Manager. Use of HCTV equipment and/or facilities is on a first-come first-served basis. HCTV cannot guarantee that the equipment and/or facilities will be available at the date and time requested by a user, but suggests that the best chance for obtaining desired date and time is by having applications submitted at least seven (7) days in advance.

Subject to availability, HCTV reserves the right to limit the amount of time a user may have access to the facility and/or equipment. HCTV seeks to provide fair and equal access to all qualified users, and may implement whatever rules it deems necessary to this end.

HCTV insists that each user of equipment is trained and qualified to operate it. The Station Manager has sole and absolute discretion of the qualification of a user. The Station Manager may require training through the station or otherwise for any user prior to allowing the use of HCTV equipment or facilities.

Due care is expected of each user in using the facilities or operating the equipment. Since equipment being checked out becomes the responsibility of the user, HCTV insists that the user go over the equipment prior to checking it out, and report to the Station Manager any problem or condition in connection with the equipment. By borrowing equipment and/or utilizing the facilities, each user agrees to be responsible for any damage that may occur.

HCTV does not permit the use of its facilities and/or equipment for the production of anything of a commercial nature. Neither the equipment nor the facilities are available for extensive rehearsal or for video experimentation of any kind. All equipment and facilities usage subject to these RULES, Users should be ready to start taping within thirty (30) minutes of their assigned starting time. HCTV makes no warranty as to the quality of anything produced on its equipment.

HCTV reserves the right to make additional rules and regulations concerning facilities and equipment use, conduct and demeanor while in the High School or on the station's premises, and any other rules to ensure the fair and efficient use by the Hudson community of the facilities and equipment of HCTV. HCTV reserves the right to refuse any user the privilege of using its facilities and/or equipment when, in the sole discretion of the Station Manager, that user has not lived up to the RULES.

V. CONCLUSION Before making an initial application for Air Time or for the use of equipment and/or facilities, HCTV insists that every user read a copy of these ACCESS RULES and sign the ACCESS USER AGREEMENT. Violation of these RULES by any user may subject that user to a loss of future privileges. The RULES are subject to change. The latest version of the RULES, including any additional RULES that may have been added, will be maintained at the Station Manager's office in the Hudson High School, and copies will be available.

As with any community service, HCTV welcomes your suggestions or comments regarding its RULES or the operation of the station, in general. Any such suggestions or comments can be sent to:
Hudson Cable TV Advisory Committee, ATT: Committee Chair
27 East Main Street Hudson, OH 44236

Or, if you prefer to submit your idea in person, the Committee meets monthly at dates and times published on the HCTV Community Bulletin Board.

HUDSON CABLE TV ACCESS USER AGREEMENT
I have read and am thoroughly familiar with the RULES for PUBLIC ACCESS TO HUDSON CABLE TV, and by signing this ACCESS USER AGREEMENT, I hereby agree to abide by all of these RULES.

Specifically, if I am submitting program material to be aired on HUDSON CABLE TV, I warrant and represent that this material does not contain any of the unlawful material enumerated in Section II of these RULES.

If my program includes any material that is copyrighted or subject to ownership or royalty rights, I agree to provide HUDSON CABLE TV, prior to the cablecast of my program, copies of the releases, licenses or other permission entitling me to use this material.

I accept full responsibility for program content submitted for cablecast on HUDSON CABLE TV. I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless HUDSON CABLE TV, the City of Hudson, and their employees, officials, and agents from liability or legal fees and expenses incurred as a result of cablecasting this program.

I shall not use HCTV channels, equipment, or facilities for any financial gain or other commercial purposes. I understand that programming produced with HCTV equipment or facilities must be cablecast on HCTV. Further, I agree to release HCTV, the City of Hudson, their employees, officials and agents from responsibility if my program(s) is damaged, lost, or stolen while in their custody.

Under acceptance by the Station Manager, this application is nontransferable.

Program outline & contract PDF file should be printed, filled in, signed and mailed to HCTV c/o Hudson Town Hall, 27 East Main Street, Hudson Ohio 44236.