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COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD EXTENDS DEADLINE TO RECEIVE PROPOSALS ON KOCE-TV LICENSE
The Coast Community College District has expanded its effort to find new, creative ways to operate Orange County's only public television station - KOCE-TV - into the digital future. The CCCD Board of Trustees voted last week to extend to October 1 its deadline to accept proposals from institutions interested in acquiring or partnering with the District to operate KOCE-TV in a more expensive, digital broadcast environment.
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CONTACT:
Erin Cohn
District Director,
Public Affairs
(714) 438-4605
July 24, 2002
NEWS
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The Board originally issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in May seeking institutions interested in either purchasing the KOCE operating license, which the District currently owns, or forming a new partnership entity with the District that would jointly own the license. The Board is seeking proposals that would help ensure that resources are available to help KOCE reach its full, digital potential and ensure the college district can continue to use its resources to fulfill its educational mission.
The District received two proposals from interested institutions by the original July 16 deadline. However, several institutions requested more time to prepare their proposals. At their meeting July 17, Trustees voted to extend the deadline to allow institutions the time needed to prepare creative, thorough proposals that may help shape the future of educational television in Orange County.
"What we want is the best possible future for educational, community service digital television in Orange County and beyond," said Board President Walter G. Howald. "KOCE has grown tremendously in recent years, and the digital technology now required by the FCC to maintain the license will take it even further. This RFP process ultimately benefits the station and the communities we serve. It's important that we take our time now and provide an opportunity for every interested group to give us their best proposal."
KOCE President Mel Rogers said the RFP process is moving forward while another process vital to his station's success is underway - a capital campaign to fund the station's mandatory conversion to digital TV.
"Now more than ever, we need the public's support of our capital campaign as we move toward our digital conversion deadline in May of next year," Rogers said. "No matter who owns or operates our license, KOCE's mission as an educational, non-commercial station in Orange County will remain the same. The Board's RFP process is underway to enable our growth and long-term strength."
"It's about enabling KOCE to truly become our communities' portal to education, information and culture," Rogers said. "This RFP process is intended to help make that possible into the future."
The Coast Community College District is the seventh largest community college district in the nation in credit enrollment, serving nearly 60,000 students each semester. The district is comprised of Coastline Community College headquartered in Fountain Valley, Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, and KOCE-TV, the district's public broadcasting station.
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