Proposed NL 6-3: A Bill to Establish a CDS Radio Station

[michelmanen]

The proposed Bill below has been drafted and is sponsored by Draxtor Despres and Michel Manen

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[b:1onk0y8i]
NL 6-3: A Bill to Establish a CDS Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation [/b:1onk0y8i][/size:1onk0y8i]

[b:1onk0y8i]
1.0 CDS Representative Assembly declaration of policy [/b:1onk0y8i]

The CDS Representative Assembly hereby finds and declares that:
1.1 the democratic value of citizen journalism has to be an integral part of the growth of SL and its independence from is „corporate“ origins;
1.2 it is in the public interest to encourage and assist citizen journalists form all walks of life contribute to create another communicative platform and to further strengthen the connections between SL and RL;
1.3 it is in the public interest to encourage the growth and development of public radio broadcasting, including the use of such media for instructional, educational, and cultural purposes;
1.4 expansion and development of public radio broadcasting and of diversity of its programming depend on freedom, imagination, and initiative on both CDS Government and all CDS citizens;
1.5 the encouragement and support of public radio broadcasting, while matters of importance for private development, are also of appropriate and important concern to the CDS Government and all CDS citizens;
1.6 it furthers the general welfare to encourage public radio broadcasting services which will be responsive to the interests of people both in particular sims and throughout the CDS, which will constitute an expression of diversity and excellence, and which will constitute a source of telecommunications services for all the citizens of the CDS;
1.7 it is in the public interest to encourage the development of programming that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences, particularly minorities;
1.8 it is necessary and appropriate for the CDS Government to complement, assist, and support a CDS-wide policy that will most effectively make public radio broadcasting services available to all citizens of the CDS;
1.9 it is in the public interest for the CDS Government to ensure that all citizens of the CDS have access to public radio broadcasting services through all appropriate available telecommunications distribution technologies; and
1.10 a non-profit, non-governmental organization structured as a public-private partnership should be created to facilitate the development of public radio broadcasting services.

[b:1onk0y8i]2.0 Establishment of the Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation[/b:1onk0y8i]

2.1 The RA authorizes the establishment a non-profit, non-governmental organization, to be known as the “Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation” (“VPR”), which will not be an agency or establishment of the CDS Government. VPR shall be subject to the provisions of this Act.
2.2 VPR will be a “global“ radio network modeled after National Public Radio in the USA, whose mission will be to inform, educate and entertain by creating compelling and engaging news and entertainment programming for Second Life citizens in general and CDS citizens specifically.
2.3 VPR’s scheduled first on-air date is provisionally established as July 1st, 2007.

[b:1onk0y8i]3.0 Costs and Financing of VPR[/b:1onk0y8i]

3.1. VPR Set-up and operating costs will be of approximately $86.00 US per month, distributed as follows:
3.1.a) Stream hosting: The company Live365 offers a package of a possible 100 listeners for $24.95 per month.
3.1.b) Website hosting, internet connection: a website for the radio station is essential for program schedules; its cost would be $4.99 US per month. A static IP address, also required, is currently $15.00 US per month.
3.1.c) Webradio license fees: The only applicable fee (according to the GEMA performing rights society) is Euro 30.- ($ 41.00 US) per month.
3.1.d) Salary: 4 full-time employees will run the station: General Manager/Managing Editor, Chief Engineer, Program Director and Outreach/PR Manager. In the first phase these employees will work as volunteers; as the radio station will realize a profit, salaries will be paid out of that profit, as determined by the Board.
3.1.e) Hardware: the stream has to run on a dedicated computer, which has to be purchased and installed. Mr. Draxtor Despres will put up the money up-front (Apple Mac Mini $499).
3.2 VPR will be financed as a public-private partnership, as follows:
3.2.a) CDS citizens will be encouraged to become VPR members and make donations by means of pledge/membership drives. VPR Membership costs will be of $1.50 per month payable on a monthly basis, or $12.00 per year payable on a yearly basis. Such fees will be applied towards the operating costs of VPR. VPR Membership and donations will be purely voluntary. VPR Members will be entitled to submit ideas and content for VPR transmissions, subject to the approval of the VPR General Manager, at no cost.
3.2.b) the CDS Government will match all CDS citizens’ membership fees and donations, on a dollar-for dollar-basis, up to a maximum of $50.00 US per month. The CDS Government will be entitled to submit ideas and content for VPR transmissions, subject to the approval of the Board, at no cost.
3.2.c) VPR will make available 12 minutes of advertising space per hour of total programming, split up into 4 blocks of 3 minutes each. The cost of airing advertising segments will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the VPR General Manager.
3.2.d) Financing of VPR operations would eventually be fully covered by selling advertisements as well as regularly held pledge/membership drives, no longer requiring CDS Government matching funds.
3.2 e) Any VPR operating surplus, after payment in full of all items listed above, as determined by the Board, will revert to the CDS Treasury.

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4.0 VPR Charter[/b:1onk0y8i]

4.1 The VPR Charter is attached to this bill as Appendix “A”. Any substantial revision to this charter must be approved by the Representative Assembly.
4.2 The VPR Charter shall take effect form the date of the ratification of this bill, for a period of two years.
4.3 At the end of the period above, the RA shall review the activities of the VPR and may renew its Charter for another two-year term.
4.4 As stated in the charter the VPR’s Charter below, the VPR Board of Directors and its Chairperson represent VPR in all dealings with the CDS.

[b:1onk0y8i]
Appendix “A”: Charter of the “Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation”[/b:1onk0y8i]

[b:1onk0y8i]1.0 Incorporation and Membership[/b:1onk0y8i]

1.1 The VPR shall be a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established as a public / private partnership, to be known as the “Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation”.
1.2 The Members of the VPR Board of Directors as well as the VPR Officers shall be members of VPR, but membership of VPR shall not enable any individual to act otherwise than through the Board to which he belongs or as authorized by the present Charter.
1.3 Any CDS citizen may become a Member of the VPR upon paying VPR’s Membership Fees
1.4 Any individual not a citizen of the CDS may become an Associate Member of the VPR upon paying VPR’s Associate Membership Fees, which shall not differ from VPR’s Membership Fees
1.5 Any corporate body may become a VPR sponsor, subject to the approval of the Board and upon payment of VPR’s Sponsorship Fees as established by the Board.
1.6 Any individual or corporate body may become a VPR donor, subject to the approval of the Board, upon making a donation to the VPR.

[b:1onk0y8i]2.0 Mission [/b:1onk0y8i]

2.1 VPR exists to serve the public interest.
2.2 VPR’s mission is to inform, educate and entertain.
2.3 VPR’s main object is the promotion of its Public Purposes.
2.4 VPR’s Public Purposes are as follows:
2.4.a) sustaining citizenship and civil society;
2.4.b) promoting education and learning;
2.4.c) stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;
2.4.d) representing the CDS, its citizens, regions and communities;
2.4.e) bringing the CDS to the world and the world to CDS;
2.4.f ) in promoting its other purposes, helping to deliver to the public the
benefit of emerging communications technologies and services.

[b:1onk0y8i]3. The independence of the VPR [/b:1onk0y8i]

3.1 VPR shall be independent in all matters concerning the content of its
output, the times and manner in which this is supplied, and in the management of its affairs.
3.2 Paragraph 3.1 is subject to any provision made by or under this Charter

[b:1onk0y8i]
4.0 Activities [/b:1onk0y8i]

4.1 In order to achieve its Public Purposes and to carry out the purposes of this subpart, as set out in subsection (1.0) of the “Bill to Establish a CDS Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation”, VPR is authorized to:
4.1.a) facilitate the full development of public radio broadcasting in which programs of high quality, diversity, creativity, excellence, and innovation, which are obtained from diverse sources, will be made available to public telecommunications entities, with strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature, as determined by the Board;
4.1.b) carry out its purposes and functions and engage in its activities in ways that will most effectively assure the maximum freedom of the public radio broadcasting and systems from interference with, or control of, program content or other activities.
4.2 In order to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (1.0) of the “Bill to Establish a CDS Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation”, VPR is authorized to:
4.2.a) obtain grants from and make contracts with individuals and with private and public organizations, and institutions;
4.2.b) hire or accept the voluntary services of consultants, experts, advisory boards, and panels to aid VPR in carrying out the purposes of this subpart;
4.2.c) conduct (directly or through grants or contracts) research, demonstrations, or training in matters related to public radio broadcasting and the use of non-broadcast communications technologies for the dissemination of noncommercial educational and cultural radio programs; and
4.2.d) take such other actions as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in subsection (1.0) of the “Bill to Establish a CDS Virtual Public Radio Broadcasting Corporation”,.
4.3 To carry out the foregoing purposes and engage in the foregoing activities, VPR is authorized to:
4.3.a) own and or operate a radio broadcast station, system, or network, interconnection system or facility, program production facility, or any public telecommunications entity, system, or network; and
4.3.b) produce programs, schedule programs for dissemination, or disseminate programs to the public.
4.4 All meetings of the Board of Directors of VPR, including any committee of the Board, shall be open to the public;
4.5 VPR, in consultation with interested parties, shall create a 2-year plan for the development of public telecommunications services. Such plan shall be updated annually by the VPR.

[b:1onk0y8i]5.0 Programming; [/b:1onk0y8i]

5.1 Programming on VPR will consist of rebroadcasts of quality NPR/PRI shows (http://www.npr.org, http://www.pri.org ) and original content produced by VPR staff and “citizen” journalists under VPR supervision.
5.2 VPR will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
5.3 CDS citizens will receive training via regularly held production workshops and individualized editorial guidance.
5.4 In the initial phase, until the end of 2007, programming will be swapped out every week. The daily run-down will repeat every 12 hours: 6 hours talk, 6 hours music (classical mainly) with hosting. By early 2008 daily news updates will complement the programming.
5.5 A list of possible original programs/program types and their description is provided in Appendix “I” thereto.

[b:1onk0y8i]6.0 Board of Directors; functions, duties, etc.[/b:1onk0y8i]

6.1 VPR shall have a Board of Directors (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Board”), consisting of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 members appointed by the Representative Assembly.
6.2 The members of the Board appointed by the Representative Assembly
6.2.a) shall be selected from among citizens of the CDS who are eminent in such fields as education, cultural and civic affairs, or the arts, including radio and television; and
6.2.b) shall be selected so as to provide as nearly as practicable a broad representation of various regions of the CDS, various professions and occupations, and various kinds of talent and experience appropriate to the functions and responsibilities of VPR.
6.2.c) The members of the initial Board of Directors shall serve as incorporators and shall take whatever actions are necessary to establish VPR under the laws of the CDS.
6.2.d) The term of office of each member of the Board appointed by the Representative Assembly shall be 2 years. Any member whose term has expired may serve until such member’s successor has taken office, or until the end of the calendar year in which such member’s term has expired, whichever is earlier. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which such member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. No member of the Board shall be eligible to serve in excess of 2 consecutive full terms.
6.2.e) Any vacancy in the Board shall not affect its power, but shall be filled in the manner consistent with this chapter.
6.2.f) Members of the Board shall attend not less than 50 percent of all duly convened meetings of the Board in any calendar year. A member who fails to meet the requirement of the preceding sentence shall forfeit membership and the Representative Assembly shall appoint a new member to fill such vacancy not later than 30 days after such vacancy is determined by the Chairperson of the Board.
6.2.g) The VPR’s Board of Directors and its Chairperson represent VPR in all dealings with the CDS.
6.3 The Members of the Board shall approve the Budget of VPR as drafted by VPR officers and monitor all VPR financial transactions and expenses.
6.4 The Members of the Board shall develop a Code of Ethics for VPR and approve VPR programming, as well as content and advertising policies.
6.5 The Members of the Board shall report to the Representative Assembly on a half-yearly basis on the progress of the CPR, including but not limited to its budget, financial transactions, programming, educational, and community activities.

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7.0 Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson; compensation [/b:1onk0y8i]

7.1 Members of the Board shall annually elect one of their members to be Chairperson and elect one or more of their members as a Vice Chairperson or Vice Chairs.
7.2 The members of the Board shall not, by reason of such membership, be deemed to be officers or employees of the CDS. No Board member shall receive compensation for their services.

[b:1onk0y8i]
8.0 Officers [/b:1onk0y8i]

8.1 VPR shall have a General Manager/Managing Editor, Chief Engineer, Program Director and Outreach/PR Manager, and such other officers as may be named and appointed by the Board.
8.2 VPR’s Officers shall be responsible for the day-to-day management, operations and expenses of VPR, subject to the supervision of the Board.

[b:1onk0y8i]
9.0 Nonprofit nature of VPR [/b:1onk0y8i]

9.1 VPR shall have no power to issue any shares of stock, or to declare or pay any dividends.
9.2 No part of the income or assets of VPR shall inure to the benefit of any director, officer, employee, or any other individual except as salary or reasonable compensation for services, as established by the Board.

[b:1onk0y8i]
APPENDIX “I”
Possible VPR original programs/program types and their description[/b:1onk0y8i]

VPR SHOW NAME (preliminary) DESCRIPTION
Good Morning SL
6am -9am SLT mix of hard news and culture, talk and gossip mixed with music, at first pre-produced, then later live broadcast with call-in
Our World, our business
(once a week) A weekly magazine show focusing on business in SL, two hosts, guests, reports
Just Me Talking (weekly)
A provocative, opinionated 2-host talk show with opposite sides, dealing with SL issues like Linden vs. local government etc.
CN Public Affairs (daily) A weekly roundtable with residents discussing local issues
Live from the Rathaus The RA meeting, either live or edited down to a one-hour “highlight” summary
The Future Talk show (maybe call-in?) focusing on various aspects of SL’s future, discussing the impact for the residents.
Sounds Good!
9pm-12pm A pure music show for late night, very eclectic, mixing classical, electronic and world music among other styles ala KCRW’s Morning becomes eclectic
Reporter’s Roundtable A 5 piece group of seasoned SL reporters (print, radio, TV) discussing SL issues
Sound Sculptures An art show trying to bridge the gap of artistic expression (painting, sculpture, etc.) in SL and RL.

The above suggestions will be augmented by various other preexisting content, permission to rebroadcast granted by the producers, branded for VPR:

1. Le Show with Harry Shearer (http://www.kcrw.org)
2. On The Media (originates: http://www.wnyc.org)
3. This American Life (http://thisamericanlife.org/)
4. Studio 360 (http://www.studio360.org)
5. OnPoint (http://www.onpointradio.org)
6. Open Source (http://www.opensource.org)

[Beathan]

While I like the idea of a CDS public radio station, I cannot support this bill as written. I do not think that such a project should have mandated funding at the outset. Rather, the project should be funded on a monthly or bimonthly basis by RA action -- rather than committing the CDS to funding for the indefinite future.

In fact, the RA should probably change the way we do funding to follow more closely the way public budgets are done. Perhaps each RA should pass, in its first or second session, an omnibus funding bill running for its term -- or staggered such that it runs from two months into the term until two months into the last term. There is wisdom in the way these things are done iRL -- and we should follow that.

I am generally concerned with the idea of unfunded mandates in the CDS. CDS financial commitments should be incurred only with specific knowledge of how the commitment will be funded. This proposal has no such back-check. Therefore, I believe that this bill, as proposed, is fiscally irresponsible.

Beathan

[michelmanen]

There is no mandated funding for the indefinite future from the CDS.

Firstly, membership and contributions of CDS citizens are entirely voluntary. In the spirit of a public / private partnership, the CDS would match such donations dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $50.oo US per month maximum. As private contributions and income increase, CDS contributions would decrease, until VPR will become self-financing.

Secondly, all profits made in the future by VPR will revert to the CDS Treasury, thus adding income to CDS funds.

Thirdly, the duration of the Charter is of 2 years, after which the RA will review VPR's progression and may (or may not) renew its Charter.

The VPR Board will report to the RA on a bi-yearly basis regarding its operations, including budget and budget expenses.

The total maximum possible commitment of the RA to this project is therefore 2 years X 12 months X $US 50 = $US 1,200.

It is very likely that the actual contribution of the CDS will be much lower and any contributions will be recouped once VPR has enough members and advertisers.

[Beathan]

Michel -- a 2 year funding commitment is far far too long within the context of SL. A six month funding commitment -- which is the most I could support based on a RA-by-RA budget -- is already a long, long time within SL.

Further, this is an unfunded mandate. Where is the money coming from? Is there some benefit to the CDS to compensate the CDS for this expense? (I think there probably is, especially if the link is made clear so that the medium is used to promote the CDS or, at least, advertise our existence -- but the analysis needs to be done and the case needs to be made. However, as described -- as a "global" radio station -- I see this proposal as possibly providing a benefit to the SL community at large financed on the back of the CDS without any particular benefit to the CDS. This would not be good CDS policy.)

Beathan

[Dnate Mars]

I cannot support a bill of this nature. I do like the idea of a public radio station for the CDS, but it should not be funded by the government. Besides my fundamental belief that the government should only do the bear minimum in the way of public funding, but this seems like it is a very expensive operation for a group of 70 people, most of whom would hardly use this service.

I like the idea, but the 2 year funding and $50 a month for those 2 years in almost enough for us to buy another sim. Maybe there are people in this world that would be willing to support this project out of their own pockets. I just really don't think this is something that the CDS can or should do at this point in time.

[michelmanen]

[quote:mzjee7w7]Michel -- a 2 year funding commitment is far far too long within the context of SL. A six month funding commitment -- which is the most I could support based on a RA-by-RA budget -- is already a long, long time within SL.[/quote:mzjee7w7]

Beathan,

If you read the proposal carefully, you will notice that there is no absolute funding commitment of the part of the CDS. Given the public / private parternship nature of this proposal, the CDS would do nothing more than match funds donated by citizens to the station, up to a maximum of $US 50 per month. In other words, CDS would contribute to funding only to the extent that CDS citizens themselves would manifest an interest in it -and the more citizens would participate financially, the less would the CDS have to contribute.

The VPR Board would submit detailed reports, including financial, every six months, at which time the RA may evaluate its involvement in the project depending on the progress of the project. The VPR charter is granted for a period of 2 years, but clearly nothing binds a new RA to modify its terms or its own financial commitment to the project after examining the VPR Board report.

In short, the Bill carefully avoids any fixed long-term commitment to the project, includes detailed institutional structures propmoting openness, accountbility, and fisval responsibility, and creates a framework of cooperation between CDS citizens, CDS government, and the private sector.

[quote:mzjee7w7]Further, this is an unfunded mandate. Where is the money coming from?
[/quote:mzjee7w7]

If you examine the CDS budget figures, you will note that our budget situation is healty; we have even significantly increased our advertising budget over the next three months. What better way to advertise the CDS and attract new people that providing a leading-edge radio service virtually unique in SL?

[quote:mzjee7w7]Is there some benefit to the CDS to compensate the CDS for this expense? (I think there probably is, especially if the link is made clear so that the medium is used to promote the CDS or, at least, advertise our existence -- but the analysis needs to be done and the case needs to be made.[/quote:mzjee7w7]

The benefits to the CDS have been clearly spelled out in the first sections of both the bill and the charter; CDS citizens could participate in creating their own radio productions; VPR professionals would conduct trining sessions for CDS citizens; CDS as a whole, on the basis of its cooperation; would be entitled to a certain amount of airtime to publicize its activities, broadcast meetings, debates, etc. Finally, as VPR income would grow from membership fees, donatons, and advertising income, given the non-profit nature of VPR, such profits would revert to the CDS treasurym thus constituting an additional source of income for CDS as a whole.

[quote:mzjee7w7] However, as described -- as a "global" radio station -- I see this proposal as possibly providing a benefit to the SL community at large financed on the back of the CDS without any particular benefit to the CDS. This would not be good CDS policy.)[/quote:mzjee7w7]

If you read the bill csarefully, you will see that the bills defines the meaning of "global very specifically, as follows:

VPR's mission and aims would be to to inform, educate and entertain, by:

-sustaining citizenship and civil society;
-promoting education and learning;
-stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;
-representing the CDS, its citizens, regions and communities;
-bringing the CDS to the world and the world to CDS.

Cleary such public purposes would reinforce the sense of community and identity of the CDS as a whole, mark the CDS aas being at the leading edge of innovation and creativity in SL, allow citizens, government, and private sector to cooperate in a common venture, utilise to the full the special skills of CDS citizens, and further promote democracy and diversity in the CDS, as well as the "CDS Brand" both in SL and beyond, in RL. This is the meaning of a global radio station, as fully detailed in the Bill.

[michelmanen]

Dnate,

[quote:10hlkb93]I cannot support a bill of this nature. I do like the idea of a public radio station for the CDS, but it should not be funded by the government. Besides my fundamental belief that the government should only do the bear minimum in the way of public funding, but this seems like it is a very expensive operation for a group of 70 people, most of whom would hardly use this service.[/quote:10hlkb93]

If you read this bill carefully, you will note that the proposal is structured as a public / private partnership - a cooperative service delivery method used by most progessive and fiscally responsible administrations in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia - to mention just the most obvious. In total accord with your belief that "the government should only do the bear minimum in the way of public funding", this proposal commits the CDS government to contribute to the project only to the extent to which CDS citizens themselves would - and even then, up to a maximum of US$50 per month. In addition, the more the CDS citizens would participate financially, and advertisment revenue would be raised, the less the CDS government would contribute. In fact, it is expected that, as the VPR income stream would grow, and all production expenditures would be met, the VPR, as a non-profit organizaton, would become a net source of revenue for CDS as a whole, in that all VPR profits would revert to the CDS Treasury.

All CDS citizens who would contribute financially to the VPR would be entitled to free training provided by VPR professionals, as well as the right to submit production ideas and even airing their own productions. To the extent that the CDS goverment would take part in this project, it would also be entitled to a certain amount of air time to advertise the CDS, air its meetings, debates, major events, and so on. The public benefit of this porposal to CDS citizens and CDS as a whole is thus clearly spelled out both in the bill and charter.

[quote:10hlkb93]
I like the idea, but the 2 year funding and $50 a month for those 2 years in almost enough for us to buy another sim. Maybe there are people in this world that would be willing to support this project out of their own pockets. I just really don't think this is something that the CDS can or should do at this point in time.[/quote:10hlkb93]

Please note that wha t you call "the 2 year funding and $50 a month for those 2 years" is a maximum possible figure of the greatest posible commitment of the CDS to this project. This does not mean that the entire amount would be required. Two points are critical here:

-first, CDS would contribute $US50 per month only if citizens themselves would contribute that amount during that month. If citizens contribute less, the CDS would also contribute less by exactly the same amount, the private sector picking up the slack. If citizens would contribute more (including associate membership fees from non-citizens and advertisin revenue), CDS contributions would also diminish. It is expected that overe time, as membership fees, donations and advertising revenue increase, CDS contributions would diminish, then cease, and finally the CDS Treasury would benefit from a net inflow of money as VPR is a non-profit organisation and any surplus cash would revert to CDS.

-secondly, although the VPR Charter is granted for a period of 2 years, the VPR Board will report every six months to the RA regarding the progress of VPR, including financial details; clearly nothing stops successive RAs to vary their level of involvement in the project, based on their assessment of the Board report and the success of the VPR project. The 2-year timeline for the VPR charter is important in order to provide the opportunity for short-, medium-, and long-term planning vital for the success of a project of this type, as well as for the stability and predictablity critical to convince future VPR members, donors and advertisers that this is indeed a serious and well-thought out project, as opposed to a fledgling operation that might be shut down in six months.

[Beathan]

Michel --

However you cut it, a commitment to match is a financial commitment. Therefore, a commitment to match for two years is a two year financial commitment.

I agree that the CDS is financially healthy. It is healthy due to the sound financial policies of the CDS government -- which is a specific commitment of both the Simplicity Party and the DPU. This commitment requires that all expenditures show a return such that we do not bleed away our financial health. I want to see such an analysis before I support your proposal.

Beathan

[michelmanen]

Beathan,

I entirely agree. Draxtor Dexpres, who has a 15 year experience in the radio boradcasting field iRL, will be present at the next RA meeting to present this bill and answer any questions.

I look forward to working with you so as to make sure this bill is improved and can meet with your (rightly) high fiscal standards.

Michel

[Dnate Mars]

It seems like what you are saying is that right now the radio station you would like to set up is in need of a little more help then what can currently be done in privately. At some point in the near future it is hoped to be run on just the donations and ad sales income. When it reaches that point, the project will no longer need any money from CDS?

Also, is it possible that this is something the New Guild may want to look into?

[michelmanen]

[quote:cmgtv0on]It seems like what you are saying is that right now the radio station you would like to set up is in need of a little more help then what can currently be done in privately. At some point in the near future it is hoped to be run on just the donations and ad sales income. When it reaches that point, the project will no longer need any money from CDS?[/quote:cmgtv0on]

Indeed. To the extent that VPR can interest and mobilise CDS citizens to contribute, the CDS government would provide matching funds to pay for monthly fees. Any shortfalls will be picked up by the private sector. As membership fees, donatons, and advertising income increases, CDS contributions will diminish and, eventually, cease. As VPR is a non-profit organisation, any proft generated by VPR after payment of its operating costs would revert to the CDS Treasury, thus making VPR a net source of income for CDS.

The importance of CDS contributing to the initial funding of VPR, which is stuctured as a public / private partnership, is two-fold:

First, by contributing from the beginning to the extent CDS citizens themselves decide to contribute, VPR will truly be a a public radio station, with CDS entitled to provide a number of hours of air content directly related to CDS government activities (news, RA meetings, election debates, important announcements etc) at no extra cost. At the same time, the RA will have the right to monitor VPR's activities and receive bi-yearly reports from the VPR Board of Directors.

Secondly, by agreeing to be a key partner and contributor in this project and imparting on it the "CDS Brand" from the very start, both citizens, investors, advertisers and the private sectors would have a greater trust and confidence that VPR is a serious, well-thought out, long-term undertaking worth contributing time and resources (financial or otherwise) to it, as opposed to a fledgling initiative that might well fold at any time.

[quote:cmgtv0on]Also, is it possible that this is something the New Guild may want to look into?[/quote:cmgtv0on]

Actually, the New Guild served as one of the models in setting up VPR's manamgement structure. VPR is structured as follows:

-four officers repsonsible for the day-to-day running of the VPR, who initially ill volunteer their services; and
-a Board of Directors (3 to 9 members) appointed by the RA, who would supervise the activities of VPR officers, including all budgetary expenses, develop a Code of Ethics for VPR and report on a bi-yearly basis to the RA as to the activities, expenses, and overall progress of VPR. This Board of Directors, chosen by the RA, will therefore perform the primary monitoring function I think you would want the New Guild to have, and the RA, because of its decision to contribute from the beginning to this project, would retain for itself the ultimate monitoring and chart-extending function which make VPR a [b:cmgtv0on]Public[/b:cmgtv0on] Radio Station.

So, althugh the New Guild's field of action and expertise does not cover radio broadcasting, VPR itself is set up in a manner similar to the new guild, with a Charter of its own, an independent, RA-appointed Board of Directors as primary supervising agent and with the RA itself as ultimate supervisor or VPR's activities, finances, and overall development.

[Claude Desmoulins]

Let me be quite clear that I like public broadcasting. The two things I wonder about here are:

Direct subsidy of a chartered organization is unprecedented in the CDS. What makes VPR different from all the other chartered entities that don't get a subvention?

Let me then play cynic and ask, especially if there is a subsidy, what does the CDS get for its investment? ($50USD/mo is not insignificant in terms of the total operating budget). It strikes me that despite its associations, as compared to the Guild or the MoCA, VPR will have comparatively little to do with the grid. Its content will likely be produced outside of SL and streamed from non SL servers. In what way is this really an SL project.

I readily acknowledge that there is good PR here, but it's also expensive PR. Is that what the CDS gets out of this arrangement besides a sense of having done a good deed?

[michelmanen]

Let me be quite clear that I like public broadcasting. The two things I wonder about here are:
[quote:2f3a1kt9]
Direct subsidy of a chartered organization is unprecedented in the CDS. What makes VPR different from all the other chartered entities that don't get a subvention?

Let me then play cynic and ask, especially if there is a subsidy, what does the CDS get for its investment? ($50USD/mo is not insignificant in terms of the total operating budget). It strikes me that despite its associations, as compared to the Guild or the MoCA, VPR will have comparatively little to do with the grid. Its content will likely be produced outside of SL and streamed from non SL servers. In what way is this really an SL project.

I readily acknowledge that there is good PR here, but it's also expensive PR. Is that what the CDS gets out of this arrangement besides a sense of having done a good deed?[/quote:2f3a1kt9]

1. VPR will become the public voice of the CDS. With the advent of voice in SL, CDS will be able to air public interest reports, debates, hearings, RA or SC meetings, or any other relevant information about our community.

2. VPR will give all participating CDS citizens the training required to contribute to the life of the community by producing and / or airing their own materials for the benefit of CDS as a whole, thus helping to strengthen the bonds that ties us together as a community.

3. As detailed in the text of the draft bill, VPR will make a significant contribution to the development of the democratic and participative life of the CDS, and will give a voice to CDS interest groups and/or minorities who cannot properly express themselves, thus increasing the CDS commitment to diversity. For example, the CDS Experanto community could put on air a weekly or bi-weekly show in Esperanto that would be of interest not only to our Esperanto-speaking citizens, but to Esperanto-speakers thoughout Second Life and, indeed, beyond. Such creative and innovative productions, drawing on the specific skills and interests of our citizens, wil increase traffic to our sims, will make us better known thoughout the grid and beyond, and would attract new citizens -which would allow us to expand faster than we have been able to do so far.

4. As CDS will grow, and as more companies will establish a presence in SL, VPR membership and advertising revenues will increase. Since VPR is a non-profit organisation, all VPR surpluses will revert to the CDS Treasury. It is thus expected that, unlike any other current CDS chartered organisaton, VPR will become a net source of sustainable revenue for CDS, liable to increase with time.

5. As previously explained, $50 US per month is the maximum possible contribution CDS could make. If CDS citizens contribute less, so will the CDS, with the private sector making up the difference. If CDS citizens contribute more than $50 US per month, the CDS contribution will also decrease. As VPR membership and advertising revenues increase, it is expected that all CDS subsidy to VPR will cease and VPR will become a net and sustainable source of revenue for CDS.

6. CDS citizen Draxtor Despres, an individual with many years of experience in RL radio broadcasting, will be available at the next RA meeting to present this bill, including its specific benefits to the CDS, and answer any additional questions any RA members or citizens might have regarding this project.

[Dnate Mars]

[quote="michelmanen":63lbvukx]If CDS citizens contribute more than $50 US per month, the CDS contribution will also decrease.[/quote:63lbvukx]
This confuses me, could you please explain how this works?

[michelmanen]

[quote:36xformy]michelmanen wrote:
If CDS citizens contribute more than $50 US per month, the CDS contribution will also decrease.

This confuses me, could you please explain how this works?[/quote:36xformy]

Of course:

1. As the Bill states, VPR starting and operating costs will be $US 86.00 per month.

2. CDS will provide matching funds to CDS citizens donations or membership fees.

3. VPR is a non-profit organisation. No salary will be paid to VPR Board members, and VPR officers such as the General Manager will volunteer until such time as memership fees and advertisement revenue will justify the payment of some compensation (as recommended by the VPR Board and ratified by the RA).

In short, to err on the side of caution, it is estimated that the maximum monthly operating costs for VPR will be $US 100.00.:
-if CDS citizens contribute $US 30 in any given month, so will the CDS, with the private sector making up for the remaining $US40.00.
-if CDS citizrns controbute exactly $US50, so will the CDS, thus making up the required $US100.00per month amount.
-if CDS citizens (any any non-citizens vising to contribute or companies paying for advertisment airtime of making donation) conntribute $US 80.00 in any given month, then the shortfall to the required monthly amount of $100.00 is only $US 20.00. Therefore, the CDS would only contribute the required $US2o.00, so as to make uo the difference between the collected $US80.00 and the requred sum of $100.
if total CDS revenue will be $US 140.00 in any given month, the VPR will not only not require any CDS contributions for that month, but be able to make a net contribution of $US 40.00 to that month's CDS budget.