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Community media coalition seeks $1.35 million in base funding for Vermont Access Network
Summary
Representatives of Vermont Access Network and community media centers requested $1,350,000 in base funding to stabilize public‑meeting coverage and media services as cable revenues decline.
Lauren Glendavidian, public policy director at the CCTV Center for Media and Democracy, testified on behalf of the Vermont Access Network (VAN), a statewide network of 24 community media centers, and requested $1,350,000 in base funding to sustain services. "We produce collectively 18,000 hours of programming ... we had 1,300,000 views on YouTube last year," she said, arguing that declining cable revenue requires a glide path to base funding.
Kurt Brodersen, executive director of Middlebury Community Television and president of VAN, reiterated the $1.35 million request and noted the network had worked with the Secretary of State's office on a three‑year funding glide path. "Your support allows us to continue to record and maintain archives of public meetings, keeping Vermonters informed and engaged in the democratic process," Brodersen said.
Nut graf: Community media centers told the committee that stable base funding will allow them to continue recording public meetings, provide media literacy and preserve archives as cable franchise revenue declines.
Ending: Witnesses asked the Appropriations Committee to include the VAN request in the FY26 budget deliberations and offered to provide more information on program specifics.
