About Us

The purpose of public access television is to allow community members the opportunity to cablecast their noncommercial programming and bulletins. Public access channels also often provide training classes, studio space, video equipment loans, community reporting, and local event coverage
depending on resources.

In 2006, the City entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the 509J School District to operate the local cable public access channel as outlined in the City’s franchise agreement with Comcast. The School District benefits from synergies gained by sharing some of CCAT29's cablecasting equipment and staff expertise for the development of their Education Channel (ch.28).
Since the agreement was executed, the City and 509J have been working diligently to enhance the channel with the resources available.

The School District provides a physical location and staffing for CCAT29 at Corvallis High School (CHS). The City provides capital funding support from fees on the cable subscriber’s monthly bill and operations support from a settlement fund established with Comcast during the 2003 franchise
renewal.

CCAT29 has undergone a transformation and a radical improvement since Station Manager, AmyHunter was hired in mid-2007. The improvements were and continue to be driven by Ms. Hunter and CCAT29 Technical Support, Sean Brown.
CCAT29 staff along with the City’s Franchise Utility Specialist utilize feedback provided by public surveys to set goals for the channel. As objectives are met, the team collaborates and reviews the next step, be it another public survey for additional input, or the plan, purchase, and execution of the next goal item.

Examples of goals achieved since 2007 include:

• Purchased new easy-to-use program scheduling equipment for uploading programing to Comcast.
• Relocated CCAT29 from small office in main CHS building to a larger space.
• Purchased three video production packages, which include an HD video camera, lighting,
audio equipment, and a laptop computer with editing software, to loan out to the public to produce videos for programming for CCAT29.
• Developed a basic video training curriculum for community members to learn how to produce programming.
• Began holding regular training classes for community members.
• Developed an advanced training class for basic class graduates.
• Purchased studio equipment to enhance CCAT29’s current location into a studio training and production facility including professional studio cameras, lights, backdrops and a high-end video switcher utilizing live set, green screen technology.

CCAT29 has come from nearly nothing to a fully operational, service-oriented, video training station where community members can significantly increase their knowledge of videography and
cablecasting.