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Channel 28 advocates urge city to reopen community access with new operator team
Summary
A group of Wilmington media producers, filmmakers and past station staff urged council during public comment to reestablish local public access (Channel 28) and asked for an opportunity to present a plan to run the station as a community TPO.
A coalition of former Channel 28 staffers, filmmakers and community media organizers asked Wilmington City Council on Thursday to help restore local public‑access television and give a new operator a chance to present a plan.
Tim Qualls, who described decades of local programming experience and said he “programmed 70% of channel 28,” urged the council to allow him and his team to present how a third‑party operator (TPO) could relaunch the station as a community broadcast service. Don Thomas, Antonio Byrd, Tai Parquet and others described documentary and production experience and said they could provide youth training, community storytelling and local programing.
Several speakers tied the station’s historical role to community recovery and outreach. Edwina Bell, who said she came to Channel 28 through a recovery‑oriented program led by the late Dr. Benjamin Mitchell, told council the channel helped people in recovery find new purpose and urged council to use community media to “give the community a voice.”
Why it matters: Local public‑access TV has historically provided low‑cost, locally produced programming and training for residents. Advocates said reviving Channel 28 could provide training, youth workforce development and a community media outlet after years of changes in cable carriage and station administration.
Council response: Council acknowledged the public comments and encouraged the proponents to present a formal plan. No formal ordinance or funding measure was introduced on the floor during the meeting.
Next steps: Participants requested a formal presentation to the council about governance, funding and a possible TPO model. Council members said staff will accept proposals and that proponents should coordinate with the mayor’s office and relevant city departments to schedule a briefing.
Ending note: Advocates asked for a short follow‑up briefing to show how a community‑based operator could resume training and locally produced programming on Channel 28.
