In the SWOCC Franchise communities of Farmington, Farmington Hills and Novi, Access television is non-profit, non-commercial programming:

 GOVERNMENT ACCESS

The local government (city) produces programming and has sole responsibility for content.  Programming may be executed by government employees, SWOCC staff, volunteers, or outside sources.  Programming is cablecast on the government channel but may also show on public or education channels. 

COMMUNITY ACCESS

SWOCC Studios produces programming and has sole responsibility for content.  Programming may be executed by SWOCC staff with volunteers.  Programming may be cablecast on the public, government and/or education channels.   

PUBLIC ACCESS

Groups or individuals produce programming and have sole responsibility for content without censorship or editorial override by the government, SWOCC or the cable operator. Programming may be executed by volunteers or produced elsewhere and submitted by residents.  SWOCC staff will provide training and technical assistance on equipment available for public access use.  Programming is cablecast on the public access channel, but may also show on government or education channels.

EDUCATION ACCESS

The public educational institutions produce programming and have sole responsibility for content without editorial override by the government, SWOCC or the cable operator.  Programming may be completed by school staff, students, those designated by the schools, or outside sources.  Programming is cablecast on the education access channel, but may run on the government or public channels. 

FUNDING

The cities receive franchise fees from the cable operator in exchange for the company’s use of the municipal rights-of-way.  This five percent (of gross revenue) franchise fee is distributed as follows: three (3) percent to the city for right-of-way management and other video/communication efforts, and two (2) percent to SWOCC for regulation and access production.  The 2000 franchise agreement also calls for the operator to provide a one (1) percent grant for access television, and six (6) access channels on its basic cable tier: three (3) government, two (2) education and one (1) public.