About Us

Public Access Channels provide local programming created by the wide variety of individuals, groups and organizations within a community. They are noncommercial and the producer has full editorial control. Public Access channel's equipment and facilities are available for use on a first-come, first-served basis and the Cable operator may not exert any editorial control except over unprotected speech (e.g., obscenity, slander).

History

Staten Island Community Television (SICTV), now Community Media of Staten Island(CMSI) was founded in 1983 as a result of a franchise agreement between the city of New York and Staten Island Cable (now Spectrum). Permanently opened in 1988, CMSI is organized as a not-for-profit corporation under IRS Code 501C3 and currently has a board of directors appointed by the Borough President of Staten Island.

Funding

Funding is acquired via a quarterly payment on a per-subscriber basis by Spectrum and Verizon.

Facility

CMSI is broadcast on Spectrum Channels 34,  79, 1996, and 1997, and on Verizon FIOS Channels 34, 35, 36 and 37. The facility includes 2 Studios, 2 editing suites, and a portable camera division with camera kits to be borrowed for use in the community. 

Activities at CMSI

CMSI provides comprehensive television production training for eligible community members. Eligible members are defined as Staten Island Residents or individuals affiliated with Staten Island based Not-For-Profit Organizations. Volunteers, who assume all responsibility for materials submitted for cablecast, produce programming from start to finish. Access to channel space is on a First-Come, First-Served Basis. Equipment and channel usage is free of charge to eligible community members.