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Programming
Policy
Channel
Administration
The Programming Director is responsible
for all programming activities and program schedules, which are
established based on direction from the Office of the Mayor and
in accordance with guidelines recommended by OCT. The costs associated
with managing OCT TV-13 and 16 shall be paid for from franchise
fees received from cable franchises as provided for in the franchise
and telecommunications agreements, and from the general funds of
the City, according to District of Columbia policy. 
Programming
Statement
OCT TV-13 and TV-16 provide information
to residents of the District of Columbia concerning the functions,
activities, programs, and issues of the City. The channels shall
not be used as a political forum by any individual group, nor are
they to be used as a mechanism for building exclusive support for
a particular person, program, or issue. Use of the channels shall
be governed by the operating procedures as set forth herein, and
by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as they
may apply to operations of OCT TV-13 and 16. The views and opinions
expressed on the channel may not necessarily reflect those of the
DC Council, the Mayor, OCT, or any employees of the District of
Columbia.
The Director of Programming reserves
the right to review all programs, proposed and/or completed, to
determine compliance with technical quality, programming regulations
and channel objectives. Any program under consideration by OCT may
be accepted as presented, may be rejected completely, or may be
given conditional approval. In the case of conditional approval,
a program may be deemed appropriate and worthy, except for stated
objectionable or offensive program portions, which will be listed
as needing revision or deletion from the program. The presenter
of the program will then have the option of making all specified
changes or withdrawing the program from consideration altogether.
Program
Restrictions
The District of Columbia recognizes
the programming content restrictions imposed on OCT TV-13 and 16
by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), by prevailing
community standards, and by applicable Federal state and local laws.
In particular, OCT TV-13 and 16 will not cablecast, or allow to
be cable-cast, any programming containing the following:
- information or advertising concerning
an illegal lottery;
- paid advertising material in which
commercial appeals for funds are made (Grants and underwriting
for programming purposes shall not be considered as advertising.
Paid advertising material includes, but is not limited to, advertising
by or on behalf of a candidate for public office or program material
made available without charge by persons, corporations, or institutions
which have a commercial interest in the subject matter. This provision
shall not prevent the identification of person or institutions
providing grants or contributions to underwrite the cost of programs
unrelated to the commercial interests of the donor or to programs,
which have a public interest overriding the private, commercial
interests.);
- copyrighted material, unless clearances
have been obtained and written proof of such clearance can be
presented;
- any material that constitutes libel,
slander, pornography or violation of trademark or copyright;
- any programming that advocates a
particular religious belief or beliefs; and
- programming which applicable Federal,
State or local laws prohibit.
In the case of programs deemed to be
worthy or of social or artistic value, but also containing some
program content or language that may be considered offensive to
some viewers, the following message may be run prior to the program,
and during any natural program break:
"The following program has
been deemed worthy of cable-cast on OCT TV-13 or 16, but contains
language or other program content that may be offensive to some
viewers. Viewer discretion and parental guidance are advised."
Political
Broadcasts
Declared candidates for any elective
public office and persons advocating any cause, viewpoint or policy,
proposed or otherwise, will not be eligible to appear on OCT TV-13
or 16, except in a program or series where the format allows for
all candidates or sides of an issue to be heard on an equal basis
and within the same format. Candidates for public office may appear
on a bona fide news program; a news documentary, if the appearance
of the candidate is incidental to presentation of the subject matter;
or in coverage of official City meetings such as City Council, Commissions,
or Committees. The Director of Programming shall make every effort
to ensure that any appearance, except as authorized in Section 1.,
by any qualified political candidate on City OCT TV-13 and 16 will
abide by these restrictions, and will tailor such appearances so
as to minimize the fact of their candidacy.
Equipment
and Facilities Usage Procedures
- OCT production equipment and facilities
are to be used strictly and exclusively for productions that 1)
clearly are in the interest of the DC Government and its agencies,
2) occur as a result of a request from the Executive Office of
the Mayor, 3) occur as a result of a request from DC Council members,
or 4) occur as a result of a request from a DC Government Agency
Director and with the approval of the OCT Director.
- Use of OCT production equipment
and facilities for projects that are unaffiliated with the government
of the District of Columbia is prohibited.
- Use of OCT production equipment
and facilities shall be restricted to OCT staff, work-study students,
volunteers, and interns under the supervision of the Director
of Programming.
- Loaning, renting, or use of the
equipment for personal or commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Editing
Policies for Programs and Information Messages
- All public meetings will be covered
gavel-to-gavel. No editing of any sort shall be performed. However,
alphanumeric or computer graphic information visual aids may be
inserted for clarity and for coverage lost due to technical considerations.
- Any programming prepared by or provided
by a government agency may be modified or edited as appropriate
to adhere to the policies governing channel use, or as dictated
by scheduling and personnel resource requirements.
Program
Priorities and Scheduling
Scheduling the use of OCT TV-13 and
16 shall be the sole responsibility of the Director of Programming.
Scheduling will be in accordance with the mission statement set
forth by the Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications and
the availability of equipment and staff resources.
Videotape
Duplication Procedure
- VHS videotapes or recorded DVDs
may be obtained, whether by private parties or by government agencies,
of any program that has aired on either OCTT TV-13 or 16 according
to the procedures set forth below.
- Parties may telephone the Office
of Cable Televisionfrom 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
at 202-671-0047 to make a duplication (or dub) request.
- Videotape or DVD duplications can
be requested and paid for online at our website: http://octt.dc.gov.
- Individuals and agencies may also
submit duplication (or dub) requests by way of e-mail to: dubrequest@dc.gov.
- Duplication fees are based on the
length of the program requested. Each increment of up to two hours
requires a payment of $35.00. Thus, the fee for a one or two hour
program would be $35.00. The fee for a three or four hour City
Council hearing would be $70.00…and so on.
- Payment must be received in advance,
in the form of a money order, certified bank check or a business
check made out to "DC Treasurer", before any tape duplication
can be scheduled. DC government agencies may pay for videotapes
via the Intra-District payment process.
- Dub requests will usually be completed
within seven to ten business days after the Office of Cable Television
and Telecommunications has received payment in full.
- Upon completion of the dub request,
the purchaser will be notified via telephone that his or her dub
request has been completed and is ready for pick-up at the Office
of Cable Television, 3007 Tilden St., N.W., Pod-P, Washington,
DC, 20008, during regular business hours.
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