Originally started as a closed curcuit program of the local high school, PCT's roots go back to the early sixties. Long
before "Cable TV" became a fact of life, local residents used what was then known as "Studio 70" became local TV for many.
The Reason?
Pacifica is situated between many rolling hills along the Pacific Coast where the combonation of topography and fog made bay
area "Over-the-air" frequencies difficult to recieve. Out of this necessity, Pacifica Television was born.
Radio?
Truth is there the first broadcasts were more like radio shows with a very simple bulletin board serving as the only
video. PCT radio personalities filled the air-waves with talk, news and top-40 radio!
An Emmy!
In the early 70s, the move was made to actual Television when PCT (Then at channel 8) aquired the equipment and
know-how to begin broadcasting actual TV signals...In 1972, the station won an EMMY for some of those early broadcasts!
PCT is born!
In 1977 Pacifica Community Television was chartered as a California non-profit (501c3) corporation. The new station
became the Public, Education and Government (PEG) station serving those three audiences and later serving on the newly established
Cable system at channel 8 on the dial. We believe everyone deserves their own home-town media. PCT is your station because
YOU create the programming! Over the years we have taken our hosts and guests on many journeys and explored many cultural,
artistic and news worthy elements of our town. This DIY approach has served as a national model for 30 years.
Due to the 1984 Cable Franchise Policy and Communications Act, US cable companies are required to fund local organizations to provide training and access to media
technology and cable distribution on the local cable systems. This legislation was intended to enrich communities with the
opportunity to produce community-initiated programming and address local issues and concerns on the electronic medium. In
its conception, Public access television pertained only to the cable television technology of the times, but many Public access
organizations now include television, radio and the internet within the spectrum of communications.
Public access television is one type of PEG access, short for Public, Educational, and Governmental, the three traditional structures of access within a
municpality.
