GRTV History
Sr. Barbara Hansen, OP retires
2013 - DecemberAfter 13 years with the Community Media Center, Non-Profit Outreach Coordinator Sister Barbara Hansen, OP retires from GRTV. Sr. Barbara was the host of NPO Showcase and Focus on Issues, highlighting the amazing work that non-profit organizations are doing in the Greater Grand Rapids community and bringing community leaders together to discuss important issues affecting the lives of citizens every day.
2013 - DecemberRapidian and GRTV launch Story Matters
2013 - SeptemberStory Matters launches as part of The Rapidian's new Place Matters section.
2013 - SeptemberGRTV streams Transplant Games of America
2012 - JulyGRTV live streams the opening and closing ceremonies of the Transplant Games of America
2012 - JulySongs From The Second Floor begin
2012 - JanuaryThe Songs From The Second Floor page is launched on the Rapidian, archiving videos of live performances from musicians in the WYCE studio
2012 - JanuaryRapidian is launched
2008The CMC recieves funding to design and launch The Rapidian: a hyper local citizen journalism project.
2008CMC hires Laurie Cirivello as new ED
2006Laurie Cirivello joins the Community Media Center as its new Executive Director
2006CMC acquires WT
2005 - March 9The CMC, at the behest of the City of Grand Rapids, acquire the Wealthy Theatre, and launch the Wealthy Theatre Capital Campaign to restore it to its former glory.
2005 - March 9Dirk Koning passes away at age 48
2005The founding director of the Community Media Center and icon of the community media world passes away at age 48
2005NPO Showcase airs first episode
2002 - FebruaryHosted jointly by Joel VanKuiken and Sr. Barbara Hansen, OP, NPO Showcase airs its first episode, highlighting the services of non-profit organizations in the Grand Rapids community
2002 - FebruaryMOLLIE is launched
2002The CMC and GRTV launch their MObile Learning Lab for Information Education, bringing video cameras and editing equipment into Grand Rapids Public School classrooms.
2002City of Grand Rapids introduces AT&T to GR
2001AT&T Cable sings a 15-year franchise agreement with the City of Grand Rapids that includes GRTV and LiveWire
2001CMC dedicates new facility in the Westside Library
1997 1997CMC launches the Community Access Network (CAN)
1995CAN is launched as an ISP for nonprofits; later to become GrandNet
1995CMC acquires LiveWire
1994In addition to broadcasting the public access channel GRTV, the Community Media Center adds a second public service access channel.
1994GRCAC becomes the Community Media Center
1993GRCAC begins to do business as Community Media Center
1993GRCAC assumes ownership of WYCE
1989 1989Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act
1984The 1984 Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act written by Senator Barry Goldwater, said, "A franchising authority ... may require as part of a cable operator's proposal for a franchise renewal ... that channel capacity be designated for public, educational, or governmental use." -- 47 USC ยง 531(a)[12][13](emph. added) This appeared to be a law which creates new rights, allowing local communities to require PEG channels, however, it in fact had the opposite effect. while the intent may have been to correct the omission which led to the Midwest Video decision, and make PEG mandatory, the result was a law which allowed the municipality to opt-out of PEG requirements, and keep 100% of the Cable television franchise fees for their general fund, while providing no PEG facilities or television channel capacity. Since 1984, many Public-access television centers have closed around the country as more municipalities take the opt-out provision.
1984GRTV opens in the lower level of the Ryerson Library
1983 1983First live broadcast on GRTV
1982GRTV broadcasts it's first live show on Comcast channel 23/J
1982Grand Rapids Cable Access Center, Inc.
1980Grand Rapids established the GRCAC, later to become the Grand Rapids Community Media Center.
1980FCC regulations ruled unconstitutional
1979 - AprilThe Supreme Court explicitly rejected the notion that cable companies were "common carriers", meaning that all persons must be provided carriage. Instead, the Supreme Court took the stance that cable companies were private persons under the law with First Amendment to the United States Constitution rights, and that the requirement for Public-access television was in fact a burden on these free speech rights.
1979 - AprilPEG services greatly expanded
1976The 1972 Third Report and Order was amended in 1976 to require that cable systems in communities with 3,500 or more subscribers set aside up to 4 cable TV channels and provide access to equipment and studios for use by the public.
1976Supreme Court upholds FCC requirements
1972 - JuneIn United States v. Midwest Video Corp., 406 U.S. 649 (1972), the Supreme Court upheld the FCC's requirements for Local Origination facilities. It was determined that "In the light of the record in this case, there is substantial evidence that the rule, with its 3,500 standard and as it is applied under FCC guidelines for waiver on a showing of financial hardship, will promote the public interest within the meaning of the Communications Act of 1934"
1972 - JunePEG channels formally introduced
1972 - Febin 1972, which required all cable systems in the top 100 U.S. television markets to offer three access-channels, one each for public, educational, and local government use.
1972 - FebFCC creates a framework for PEG channels
1969In 1969, in the First Report and Order, the FCC stated, "no CATV system having 3,500 or more subscribers shall carry the signal of any television broadcast station unless the system also operates to a significant extent as a local outlet by cablecasting and has available facilities for local production and presentation of programs other than automated services."