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<br /> <br />This is the big one. A lot of very important decisions need to be made very soon <br />regarding substantial portions of our future development. The choices that are made <br />during this budgeting process will detennine the path we take over the next fifteen years. <br />They include: <br /> <br />>The Media Center Facility <br /> <br />We must make a decision regarding our facility now. If we want to build something new <br />or purchase and renovate our current facility we will only be able to obtain financing for <br />the length of our new franchise. With only fifteen years to payoff a loan, we will need to <br />begin in 2003. Other factors will play into our decision as well, such as AT&T <br />Broadband's system upgrade design and schedule, and the cost that would be involved <br />for possibly moving our playback facility. The choices include: <br /> <br />"Continue renting our current facility <br />'" Build a new facility <br />'" Purchase present facility and renovate and expand <br /> <br />:>Funding <br /> <br />The things we need to do in order to survive long tenn are very expensive. They will <br />require a good deal of investment on the part of the cities. What that means, basically, <br />is that in order to improve our facility we will need a significant increase in the franchise <br />fees dedicated to the. Media Center. The Cities need to be behind the survival of the <br />Media Center 100%. The new fifteen-year franchise represents our best opportunity to <br />pay for a new facility. The funding support for community television, in any new <br />franchise tenn, will not be the same. <br /> <br />In looking at the long-tenn survival of the Media Center, owning a building outright at the <br />end of the new franchise tenn will result in significant operational savings moving <br />forward. While it isn't crucial at this juncture, we will also wantto establish alternative <br />funding sources throughout the next fifteen years as well. We need to begin to think <br />differently about how to fund community television. Funding sources include: <br /> <br />.. PEG Fees <br />Ii Increased franchise fee contribution <br />'"Alternative revenue sources <br />"Selling sponsorship spots <br />.. Memberships <br />" Providing expanded dubbing services <br />" Web site auction link for equipment <br />