Plymouth officials are warning of a looming financial shortfall for local community media as a steady decline in cable television subscribers threatens the funding model for public access programming. During a meeting on April 29, committee members highlighted a growing gap in the budget that supports government broadcasts and educational content, prompting a town-wide outreach effort to gauge resident priorities before the current cable license expires in 2029.

Chair Paul cautioned that the shift toward streaming services is directly impacting the 5% franchise fees that fund PAC TV and other local services. There is a cloud forming over the availability of funds to support programming, Paul stated, adding that while the town’s license is secure for several years, the committee must act as watchdogs to ensure community activities remain protected. We can't control people dropping cable, but we have an obligation to make sure the operation is protected.

To address the uncertainty, the town will launch a comprehensive community survey on June 30. The questionnaire will be included as an insert in real estate and personal property tax bills, utilizing a QR code to direct residents to a digital form. Consultant Sean explained that the survey has been streamlined to focus on local news consumption, even going as far as to label the Plymouth Independent as an online news source rather than a traditional newspaper. When we print it, it will be front and back and very tightly jammed in, Sean said, noting that the results will eventually be compiled into a report for the Select Board.

The committee is making a concerted effort to reach residents beyond the standard tax bill mailing. Lynn reported outreach efforts to the Pine Hills Landowners Association and developments like Redbrook and White Cliffs. I've been in touch with the Pine Hills Landowners Association. They will put it in their weekly newsletter, Lynn noted, emphasizing the need for broad community participation. The survey is scheduled to remain active for 60 days, closing on Labor Day.

The discussion turned contentious when the committee weighed how to involve town leadership in long-term financial planning. Paul expressed a desire to meet privately with the Town Manager and Finance Director to discuss potential future subsidies from the town’s general fund if cable fees continue to evaporate. However, Christine strongly opposed any non-public discussions. Any and all decisions and discussions should remain in an open meeting within this committee, Christine argued. I don't like negotiations where you feel you can't negotiate. We need to think outside the box.

Financial sustainability may also depend on how Plymouth compares to its neighbors. Mary informed the committee that she has begun researching funding levels in similarly sized municipalities. If we can show what the top five or ten towns are getting, that might be a way to get additional funding, Mary said, suggesting that the town could push for larger capital grants during future negotiations with providers like Verizon.

Regionalization was also floated as a survival strategy. Lynn pointed out that because PAC TV serves Plymouth alongside Kingston, Pembroke, and Duxbury, the town benefits from a shared cost model. If we give them $1.5 million and three other towns contribute, we get a $3 million operation for our $1.5 million, Lynn explained, though she cautioned that the town would likely be unwilling to fund a private system from scratch.

During public comment, resident Everett reminded the committee that the financial stakes extend deep into the local education system. The $1.5 million talked about is split between PAC TV and the school system. It's not 100% to PAC TV, Everett said. He urged the committee to include the school superintendent in any high-level funding talks with the Town Manager, noting that the schools represent one-third of the total funding interest.