Our Mission

Our Mission

Speak Up Tampa Bay is a 501c-3 non-profit organization devoted to empowering citizens through media access. Speak Up manages Tampa Bay Community Network, a public access cable television station that provides local residents with video production training, facilities and equipment so that they can get their messages out on cable television. The facility, which is located on the grounds of the University of Tampa, is also used to train UT communications students and to provide viewers with coverage of local community events, sports, arts, political happenings and the services available to them through non-profit agencies and governmental agencies.

Mission

The mission of Speak Up Tampa Bay Public Access Television, Inc. is to: (1) serve as a catalyst for citizen participation in identifying and solving Bay area issues; and (2) to provide the community a means to disseminate information through the use of community-based media.

The mission is carried out through the development of new programming and the increased usage of the public access cable television channels in Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County as well as the performance of such other related activities as shall be reasonably necessary and consistent with this mission.

This mission shall be achieved by:

* Functioning as a catalyst for community discourse.

* Providing access to television and communications technology for the people of Hillsborough County.

* Fostering a greater awareness of our community's diversity.

* Promoting and coordinating full utilization of the public access channels via overseeing access and equitable scheduling.

* Extending support and guidance to the public and non-profit organizations seeking to use public access television.

* Developing continued cooperation and communication with City and County franchise owners to maximize benefits of the public access resources and activities in the area.