TARA oversees the City’s Public Access Television channel through a contract held by Austin Film Society (AFS). AFS uses the City’s public access television and community media center to provide media production training, access to media production technology and facilities, and a distribution channel for community media content created by Austin residents.
On October 1, 2015, AFS began its two-year contract for $475,000 annually to operate the access center and training program. The contract allows for two, two-year extensions
Since 1973, public access in Austin has been about providing and protecting free-speech “soapboxes” for our electronic age. Channel 10, at 42 years young, is the longest continually-operating public access channel in the nation.