This document summarizes the rules and procedures for producers at MATA, a non-profit public access media organization. Key points include: producers must have a membership to use equipment and submit programs; programs have content restrictions and technical standards; infractions of the rules can result in suspensions; and there are training requirements to use equipment like cameras and editing suites. Producers are responsible for following these rules when producing and submitting content for MATA's public access TV channels and website.

1. Producer Rules & Procedures
This presentation gives a brief overview
of MATA’s operating rules & procedures.
It is important that producers retain
this information since it is critical to the
successful completion of their production.

2. Producer Rules & Procedures
About MATA
• MATA operates 2 TV channels.
- Channel 96 Public Access
- Channel 14 Scheduled by MCM
• MATA programming is on:
- Time Warner channels 14 & 96
- AT& T U-verse channel 99
- MATA’s Website (matamedia.org)
• MATA is a 501c3 non-profit organization
• MATA is governed by a board of directors, not Time Warner or the City
• Programming on MATA is noncommercial
• Equipment & facilities can be used free of charge only for producing
programs for the channel.

3. Producer Rules & Procedures
Membership
• Cost of an Individual Membership:
- $60/year if a City of Milwaukee or North Shore resident
- $80/year if a resident outside of Milwaukee or North Shore
• A membership is required to submit programs or use MATA’s equipment
• A membership is good for one year from the date of activation
• Youth memberships are available at reduced costs for anyone
12-17 years old, but an adult sponsor must also have a membership
• Memberships for organizations are also available
• A membership includes; use of equipment, channel time and programming
uploaded to MATA’s website.
• Proof of residency is required when taking out a membership

4. Producer Rules & Procedures
Programs &
Content
Programs May Not:
1. Contain MATA’s office phone number without permission.
2. Contain material which solicits or promotes unlawful conduct.
3. Constitute or promote a lottery information or gaming enterprise.
4. Contain Adult or Potentially Offensive Programming before 10pm.
5. Contain libel, slander, invasion of privacy or obscene/indecent conduct.
6. Contain violation of trademark or copyright.
7. Contain political endorsements or advertising by, or on behalf of
candidates for public office.

5. Producer Rules & Procedures
Programs &
Content
Programs May Not:
8. Contain solicitation or appeal for funds or other things of value.
9. Contain contact information during the body of a program that’s
locally produced using MATA’s equipment and facilities. Such contact
information can only appear in the ending credits of the program and
must be of a noncommercial nature.
10. Contain production company or business names on locally produced
programs using MATA’s equipment and facilities.
11. Contain material designed to promote or advertise any product,
business, or service.

6. Producer Rules & Procedures
Programs &
Content
The producer has sole responsibility for the content
of their programs. This includes obtaining all
approvals, clearances, licenses, etc. for programs.

7. Producer Rules & Procedures
Programs &
Content
Program Requirements:
• Programs must be 60 minutes or less
• The name of the producer MUST be listed in the credits or shown
on the program.
• The last 10 seconds of the program MUST show the following tag:
- ”The preceding program was made by a volunteer producer
using the equipment and facilities of MATA Community Media.”
• Programs must meet the technical standards as listed on the
public access playback request form.
• Producers may not charge other producers for production assistance.

8. Producer Rules & Procedures
Infractions
of the Rules
There are three types of infractions:
1. Minor Infraction
• First infraction results in a verbal warning
• Second infraction results in a written warning
• Third infraction results in a 60-day suspension of the membership
2. Major Infraction
• First infraction results in a 90-day suspension of the membership
• Second infraction results in a 6-month suspension
• Third infraction results in a permanent suspension
3. Permanent Suspension
• A permanent suspension of the MATA membership

9. Producer Rules & Procedures
Infractions
of the Rules
If a producer is suspended, that producer can not
have any contact with MATA. This includes entering
the facility, using the equipment or facilities,
cablecast programs, duplication of programs,
and assisting other producers as crew.

10. Producer Rules & Procedures
General Rules
1. Producers are responsible for their own conduct as well as their guests
2. Producers & guests must be conducting MATA related business at MATA
3. Producers & guests must not interfere with other productions
4. Solicitation is not permitted at MATA
5. MATA’s name or logo can not be used without permission
6. No weapons are allowed on MATA property
See MATA’s Rules & Procedures for a full list of rules.

11. Producer Rules & Procedures
A variance is an authorized exemption to a rule.
Variance are not automatically guaranteed and needs
to be approved by MATA’s Operations Manager at least
two days in advance.
• Producers receive six variances per calendar year. No exceptions.
• A separate variance is required for each additional exemption.
• Variances are not transferable.
Variances

12. Producer Rules & Procedures
Common Reasons for using a variance
• Keeping the equipment for a longer period of time
• Using portable equipment on site at MATA
• Having your program play sooner
Variances

13. Producer Rules & Procedures
Trainings
• Training is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Equipment training is scheduled one-on-one with a staff member
after the roster appointment.
• You must pay for the training at least one business day before the class.
• You must pass the class before you can check out equipment.
• Trainings feature both a hands-on and written test.
• To keep your certification active, you must use the equipment at least
once a year, or attend a refresher class.
• If lacking proficiency, then the producer is required to retake the class.
• Main Studio training requires a minimum of four people for the class.

14. Producer Rules & Procedures
Trainings
1) Orientation
Introduction/Tour
Cost: Free
Length: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
2) Producer’s
Review of MATA rules and
the role of the producer.
Cost: Incl. in membership
Length: 3 hours
Prerequisite: Orientation
3) Roster Appt
One-on-One Q & A about
PPO, Classes, etc.
Cost: Free
Length: about 20 minutes
Prerequisite: Producer’s
4) Equipment
Trainings
Portable Cameras
NLE Classes
Studio Classes
Prerequisite: Roster Appt.
Steps 1 – 3 Are Required Trainings for Every Producer
See Training Flowchart for more information.

15. Producer Rules & Procedures
PPOs &
Pre-Production
• Pre-production is all the planning prior to the actual production such as;
writing a script/outline, scouting for locations, getting permissions,
coordinating crew and talent, creating a shot list, and other activities.
• A Project Planning Outline (PPO) needs to be filled out and submitted
at least two business days before the first reservation.
• A PPO is required at the start of each new project/program and a
producer is only allowed to work on one program at a time.
• Once a program is turned in, the producer can start their next program.

16. Producer Rules & Procedures
Equipment &
Facilities
• Equipment is available to active & certified producers working on a PPO.
• MATA staff can not serve as crew or produce your program.
• Only the producer filling out the PPO can reserve the equipment.
• Producers must cancel their reservation at least one day in advance.
• You will receive a Late/No Show warning if you are more than 30-minutes
late or don’t arrive for your reservation without notifying MATA.
• The producer is financially responsible for the equipment.
• Only the producer can check the equipment in or out of MATA.
• Anyone using MATA equipment MUST have an active membership and
certified to use the equipment.

17. Producer Rules & Procedures
Equipment &
Facilities
Procedure for Reserving Equipment
1. Submit a PPO at least 2 days before you want to make a reservation.
2. Call or stop in MATA during business hours to make a reservation
with a staff member. You can not reserve equipment by email or
voice mail. You must make the reservation with a staff member.
3. Arrive on time for your reservation. If you will be more than
30-minutes late, or unable to make your reservation, call MATA to
change your appointment. Reservations are nontransferable.
Producers can only make one reservation at a time.

18. Producer Rules & Procedures
Portable
Equipment
Rules
• Portable equipment is intended for off-site use only
• Only one camera can be reserved at a time
• Producers are allowed up to four portable reservations per project
• Reservations MUST be made at least one business day in advance
• Equipment can be checked out for one day & returned the following
day with an exception for weekend reservations Saturday – Monday
• When you return equipment you are not allowed to check it out
again the same day unless you fill out a variance

19. Producer Rules & Procedures
Portable
Equipment
Procedure for Checking Equipment In/Out
• Equipment must be checked out or returned no later than
30-minutes before closing
• You will be required to set-up and test the equipment when you
check it out and return it
• The producer will sign the Equipment Checkout Form, agreeing to
take financial responsibility for the equipment and that it is in
good working order

20. Producer Rules & Procedures
Nonlinear
Editing Suites
Rules
• Reservations for the edit suites must be made 1 hour in advance
• If you want to keep your project materials, you will need to purchase
and store it on an external hard drive
• There is no eating or drinking in the edit suites
• Edit suites can only be used to edit an existing MATA project
MATA has two types of NLE suites
1. Cyberlink Power Director 10 on a Windows PC
2. Final Cut Pro X on a iMac

21. Producer Rules & Procedures
MPACT &
Main Studios
• The Main Studio is 30’ x 40’ and has multiple cameras,
lighting grid and a control room.
• The MPACT Studio is 16’ x 16’ and allows a producer to
present a talk-show style show with minimum set-up.
• Both studios can go live and take live call-ins .
• It only requires one person to operate the MPACT studio
and four people to operate the Main Studio.

22. Producer Rules & Procedures
MPACT &
Main Studio
Rules
• Reservations for the MPACT or Studio must be made 1 hour in advance
• Producers are only allowed one MPACT or Studio reservation per project
• There is no eating or drinking in the edit suites
• MPACT or Studio programs cannot have more than 50% of roll-ins
• MPACT or Studio cameras must remain in their space
• Personal sets & props cannot be stored at MATA without approval
• The MPACT can be reserved for 2 hours and the Main Studio for 4 hours

23. Producer Rules & Procedures
Cablecasting
Your Program
Rules
• A new PPO will not be approved until the current program is submitted
• Maximum length for a single program is 60 minutes
• A producer may only have a single program in playback at a time
• Programs will play in the block category it best matches
• Each program must feature new content
• Programs must meet MATA’s technical standards
• Programs play on Time Warner channel 96 and AT&T channel 99

24. Producer Rules & Procedures
Cablecasting
Your Program
Procedure for submitting a program
• Complete a playback request form
• The program will be cued and evaluated
• There is 30-days lead time between submission and start of playbacks
• Once the program is scheduled then the producer is notified of times
• Unless notified otherwise, the program will be scheduled
twice a week for one month
• There is a maximum of one primetime (6-10pm) playback per week

25. Producer Rules & Procedures
Live
Programming
Rules
• Live programs are either 28 or 58 minutes
• All live programs must also be recorded at time of cablecast
• A producer must complete 2 pre-recorded programs before going live
• The producer’s name and “made by a volunteer producer using the
equipment and facilities of MATA” must be at the end of the program
• Live programs must cablecast during the appropriate program block
• Must arrive at least 15-minutes before a live MPACT studio time

26. Producer Rules & Procedures
Cablecasting
Your Program
Procedure for live programming
• Submit a live request form with a PPO at least 30 days before
the date you request to go live
• The producer will be notified of the live time at least 2 weeks in advance
• The earliest live time available is 30 minutes after MATA opens, and
the live program must end at least 30 minutes before MATA closes
• The live time may be canceled if the producer is late or doesn’t have
the required number of crew members for the main studio

27. Producer Rules & Procedures
Dubs of
Your Program
Procedure for duplications
• Submit a Dub Request Form and pay the fee listed
• The dub can be made once the program has been received and
approved for cablecast
• Dubs cannot be used for any use, other than personal use, without
authorization from MATA
• Allow 3 business days for dubs to be completed

28. Producer Rules & Procedures
This concludes the presentation of
MATA’s operating rules & procedures.
It is the responsibility of producers to follow
MATA’s policies, so please refer to the
complete set of rules provided by MATA.