Via Community News Service, a VTSU-Castleton internship, for the Rutland Herald
As cable television viewership declines in an age of streaming and social media, Vermont’s public access television stations and media centers are turning to the legislature amid shrinking revenues and plans for long-term solutions.
Vermont Access Network has teamed up with Vermont Community Radio Network to support the Secretary of State’s request for $1.89 million to be included in the state’s fiscal year 2027 general budget.
Currently, Gov. Phil Scott’s proposed budget would allots the VAN $1.35 million, but the network is asking for an additional $540,000. Those funds would include regeneration for decreased cable revenue and support for the nine community radio stations.
The funding ask is a part of a three-year model in collaboration with the Secretary of State. For FY26, VAN requested $1.35 million, and FY28 will be an approximately $2 million request.
Angelike Contis, executive director of Mount Mansfield Community Television in Richmond and head of the VAN advocacy committee, said when she started with the network, it relied solely on cable revenue.
“We were all set up and funded through the cable lines, because it was a way for the cable companies to use the space of land that belongs to the public, for commercial profit. It’s a way for the government to decide they’re going to give back,” she said. “We were funded almost entirely through the bills. I have cable at home, there’s a little line, and a small percentage of the cable company’s profit goes to my TV station.”
But as more and more people give up their cable subscriptions, local stations are suffering.
“We’re kind of all different moments in the decline in revenue. Some were reporting that the most recent quarter was the most significant drop that they’ve experienced yet,” said Kurt Broderson, executive director of Middlebury Community Television and president of the VAN. “Personally speaking, for MCTV, we are at a funding level that I have never seen at this low.”
While the decline is not sudden, it is proving to be a difficult situation for the 24 access stations across the state.
Contis said MMCTV has already been looking for additional revenue by working with towns for a small portion of their budget, and working with nonprofits or camps for children.
Larger stations like Rutland Region Community Television, known as PEGTV, serves 18 towns.
“We are seeing a little less of an impact than some of the smaller (stations), but it’s definitely there,” PEGTV executive director Tom Leypoldt said. “We’ve also added a donate button to our website. I would like to continue providing our services for free to the community. It’s also an option to go to the municipalities. That has to be put on the ballot, because right now, we don’t charge to cover select board meetings, we don’t charge to cover games.”
Leypoldt said that he aims to keep the station’s services free and without a paywall to access content, regardless of how funding pans out later this year. “I don’t want to make it any harder to see,” he said. “I actually want to make it easier.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature deemed community media an “essential service,” which propelled the VAN to begin talks with lawmakers in order to continue funding that service.
On Feb. 10, Paul Snyder, executive director of Northwest Access Television in St. Albans who serves as VAN’s vice president, and Llu Mulvaney-Stanak, director of Central Vermont Community Radio, testified for the House Committee on Appropriations on their budget request.
“The immediate feedback we received was very positive. We’re encouraged that our request could potentially make it to the next steps throughout the state house,” Snyder said.
Broderson is hopeful their additional funding request for the budget will pass.
“It’s a difficult year. There are lots of competing priorities. I’m a taxpayer and father, a worker, and I get people’s concerns. I think we do provide an essential service, and that is recognized by the legislature, and just needs to follow through with that funding,” he said.
“We’re all aware, there’s a need everywhere, and especially in Rutland County, which is very nonprofit-heavy,” Leypoldt said. “When the governor looks at his budget, and the budget goes to get voted on, there’s so many things in need for the state. I don’t feel personally that the burden should fall on the state, but I’m glad they’re helping. We do need to find an alternative way for Comcast and continue funding us where we can stay viable.”
As the three-year funding model comes to an end next financial year, VAN hopes to determine longer-term solutions moving forward.
Contis said streaming taxes are one fix, with other states proposing a fee on cell phones due to many people accessing their media in that form.
Snyder said in past years, a fee on utility poles for communication companies to help supplement revenue was proposed but did not gain traction.
“I think this summer is when we’re going to come together as a group and figure out is there a long-term plan that we can help create, or is something going on across the country that we can duplicate?” he said.
Broderson said in the event that their full budget request does not take effect, stations will be forced to solve the problem.
“It’ll be kind of all of the above sort of search for solutions. We’ve been working for years; it’s not like we haven’t seen the decline coming. Some have substantial reserves, some just have more revenue coming in because they have a larger population in their geography. There’s only so much that can be done for alternative fundraisers,” he said.
VAN will watch to hear an update on its request as it passes through the legislature before the start of the fiscal year on July 1.
“The technology’s changing, and the funding model needs to be updated to accommodate,” Leypoldt said.