Vermont

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Floor - Discussion of VAN FY25 Request 03/28/2024

Discussion of VAN FY25 Request onthe House Floor.

The FY25 Budget passed the House Thursday and it includes a one-time appropriation for VAN through the Secretary of State’s office of $1 million.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont Senate Floor - Discussion of S. 181 Community Media Public Benefit Bill 03/28/2024

Discussion of the Community Media Public Benefit Bill S.181 on the Senate Floor.

On Thursday, Sen. Chittenden presented S.181 on the Senate Floor for 2nd reading, the next-to-last step in passing the bill. Senate Finance and Senate Appropriations both urged the Senate to pass the bill. Senators asked questions about how much money would go to VAN; why it was going through the Secretary of State’s Office, since currently no General Fund dollars go there; how many people in Vermont are accessing public television; and what the shortfall is in AMO revenue. Senate President Pro Temp Baruth spoke about his deep appreciation for community access television and asked for the body’s support, and Sen. Kitchel spoke about the rationale for VAN’s funding flowing through the Secretary of State’s office as part of a broader effort around civic education and electoral participation. The Senate then ordered a 3rd reading of the bill on a unanimous voice vote.

S.181 Senate Finance version of the bill:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/Senate%20Appropriations/Bills/S.181/S.181~Kirby%20Keeton~As%20Recommended%20By%20the%20Senate%20Committee%20on%20Finance~3-20-2024.pdf

2024 Vermont Francophonie Celebration 03/28/2024

From the organizers:

Vermont celebrates international Francophonie on March 28 with a flag-raising at the Winooski School District Performing Arts Center. Hear from dignitaries and celebrate Francophone and Francophonie in Vermont during le mois Francophone (March).

The event is hosted by Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. Representatives from Vermont, Quebec, Canada, and France will be in attendance. Guests include:

Lise Veronneau
Kristine Lott, Mayor of Winooski
Mount Abraham Union High School class
Anson Tebbets, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston
Marie-Claude Francoeur, Québec Delegate to New England

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - Affordability and the Challenges Facing Everyday Vermonters 03/27/2024

From the Office of Governor Scott:

Governor Phil Scott and Administration officials hold their weekly press conference.

Human Artist Colossal Sanders 03/27/2024

Meghan O'Rourke, CCTV, hosts a conversation with David Holub, also known as Colossal Sanders, about his work.

Learn more at: https://www.colossalsanders.com/

All Things LGBTQ - Interview Show: Samn Stockwell & Kim Ward 03/26/2024

Provided by ORCA Media:

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Questioning Community presents local and national news. Recorded on March 26, 2024.

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Ways and Means - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/26/2024

Discussion of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Ways and Means.

On Tuesday, Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins presented an amendment from the House Energy & Environment Committee to H.657, the telecommunications modernization bill that originated in House Ways & Means. The amendment would make changes to the Right of Way fees that are assessed to communication service providers (CSPs) who make use of poles and pole attachments in the State Right of Way. Utility companies and VELCO would be exempt. CSPs would be required to submit an inventory of poles, pole attachments, and linear footage of lines they use, annually, and pay fees associated for the same that would go into the Transportation Fund. HWM voted favorably on the amendment 10-0-2.

H.657 Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Bills/H.657/H.657~Gabrielle%20Stebbins~Stebbins%20Amendment~3-26-2024.pdf

No New Prisons - Reimagining Communities Through Collective Organizing 03/26/2024

From the Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series:

In the US there are approximately 250,000 women in jails or prisons on any given day. Join us for a special panel discussion of what it would look like to shift investment away from incarceration and into true public safety, transformation, and healing.

Speakers include Andrea James, Sashi James, Mallory Hanora, and Jayna Ahsaf.

For more information visit: https://www.willmiller.org/

Community Media Public Benefit Bill: H.575 and S.181: Vermont House Committee on Appropriations - Discussion of H.657 Modernize Vermont’s Communications Taxes and Fees 03/22/2024

Walkthrough of H.657 a bill meant to modernize Vermont's communications taxes and fees at the House Committee on Appropriations.

On Friday, the House Appropriations committee voted H.657 out of committee with an amendment that fully funds the $150k ask - both the amendment and the bill were voted favorably 12-0-0. Links to the amendment and the vote are below.

H.657: HAC Amendment:
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/WorkGroups/House%20Appropriations/Bills/H.657/H.657~Maria%20Royle~HAC%20Amendment~3-22-2024.pdf

Governor Phil Scott: Press Conference - Introduce Vermont’s Next Secretary of Education 03/22/2024

From the Office of Governor Scott:

Governor Phil Scott introduces his appointment for secretary of the Agency of Education.

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!