The Financial Services Department oversees the City’s Public Access Television channel through a contract held by the 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.

AFS was awarded a $857,000 a year three-year term (2022-2024) contract to operate the access center and training program. The contract allows for two one-year extension options.

Since 1973, public access in Austin has been providing and protecting free-speech “soapboxes” for our electronic age. Channel 10, at 50 years young, is the longest continuously operating public access channel in the nation.