On the River’s Edge: Building Bridges Through Community Media

Conference Announcements

Rebecca Smith is a powerhouse in the media landscape. As a filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur, she brings over two decades of experience to the stage. She is the founder of BFRESH Productions and the CEO of SPEAK MPLS. In her session, "Meeting the Moment: Community Media on the Frontlines," Rebecca Smith will take us through the remarkable journey of SPEAK MPLS. Launched in 2020—a year defined by a global pandemic and a profound call for social justice—SPEAK MPLS had to find its footing during a period of collective grief and urgent local need. Rebecca will share how her team mobilized to provide real-time information, opened their studios for vital community conversations, and amplified messages of resilience.

Rebecca’s insights into navigating uncertainty and community recovery are more relevant than ever. This is a chance to see how public access can evolve from a traditional broadcast model into a dynamic, frontline community resource.

Each year, WCM recognizes and inducts one community media professional who has shown great leadership and devotion to the mission of public, education, and government access television -- empowering people to create media for human purposes. 

The story of Brian Utter’s career is the story of community media in Wisconsin—defined by grassroots grit, technical mentorship, and unwavering advocacy. Brian’s journey began in the early 1990s as a high school volunteer, a role that quickly evolved into a position as a cable assistant. By 1996, while still attending college, he was appointed Cable Director for WMCF McFarland (Cable 12).

 In those early days, the McFarland Channel operated under the Village Government’s cable commission as a segregated fund, with its headquarters located—humbly but effectively—in the basement of the old Village Hall. From that basement, Brian’s influence began to reach across the state. In the late 90s, as communities renegotiated franchise agreements, Brian was at the forefront of the networking movement, collaborating with experts like Barry Orton and Mary Cardona to share vital information between stations.

 In 1998, Brian was a key participant in the original WAPC (now Wisconsin Community Media) meetings, eventually serving on the WAPC Board. Throughout his tenure, he became a fierce advocate for PEG access, famously fighting for channel visibility when providers like Bresnan, Charter, and TCI attempted to move stations from the lower tiers to the far reaches of the dial.

Brian’s impact extended far beyond the borders of McFarland. Known as a technical mentor to other stations like WYOU CH 4, Stoughton, Fitchburg. He guided Sun Prairie during their transition into a new library facility.

In 2011, Brian transitioned his passion for the community into public service. After resigning from the McFarland Channel, he was elected to the McFarland Village Board, where he served two terms and continued to champion the essential principles of community media from the dais.

This year, Wisconsin Community Media is honored to posthumously present the Friend of Access award to Denise Rolfe, who passed away on March 7, 2026.

As the National Sales Director for Community Broadcasting at TelVue Corporation, Denise was far more than a vendor; she was a tireless collaborator and a cherished friend to the PEG community. A career broadcasting professional, Denise brought a wealth of experience to our industry, having held key roles at Richland Towers, Pegasus Communications, Warner Bros. Domestic Television, and Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV and WTXF-TV.

Denise’s technical expertise was matched only by her dedication to the people she served. She possessed a rare ability to bridge the gap between complex broadcast solutions and the human element of community media. Denise was a cornerstone of our professional family. Her presence, her expertise, and her unwavering support for local access will be deeply missed by all of us at WCM. We are privileged to celebrate her life and her lasting impact on our community this year.