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Commissioner Brown - Communications - Resolution for Closing of Government Access Channel, to be Effective December 31, 2025
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STAFF CONTACT
Adam Gaub, Communications Director - 520-405-9541
BUDGET IMPACT
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This resolution will save the County approximately $4,000 in annual operating expenditures and $40,000 in future equipment replacement expenditures.
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BACKGROUND
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners and the Gastonia City Council signed an interlocal agreement for the operation of the Government Access Channel in 1999. With the decline in cable subscriptions among the general public, the Communications Office conducted community-wide surveys in 2024 and 2025 to gauge the utility of the channel. Those surveys (which showed usage at 1 percent), combined with the cord-cutting trend indicate continued use of the channel is no longer cost-effective.
The Resolution would end the production of the Cable Access Channel on December 31, 2025, and shift broadcast of City Council and Board of Commissioners meetings to free streaming over YouTube, social media channels and the City and County’s websites.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution and 2025 & 2024 Community Survey Data