Access Humboldt Faces Major Challenge as Nonprofit Prepares to Leave Building

Humboldt County's public-access media nonprofit is losing its building, and Executive Director Christina Jeffers is warning the disruption will ripple well beyond the organization itself.

Access Humboldt operates the county's PEG television channels and KZZH 96.7, a low-power FM community radio station. Beyond broadcasting, it records city council and tribal government meetings, runs digital training and media-literacy workshops, and opens its studio to residents who want to produce television or radio work. Jeffers described the organization's identity plainly: "Who we are at Access Humboldt is your local public access, educational access and government access channels on cable and on the web."

The nonprofit's noncommercial model sits at the core of its pitch to the community. "We do not cash in on your audience. We don't sell ads...what you're getting is your true voice, unfettered by commercialism and commodification," Jeffers said.

That model, and the infrastructure supporting it, now faces a relocation with no clear destination. Jeffers called the loss of the building an "unexpected challenge for a nonprofit" without the budget to easily absorb moving and setup costs. In rural and mid-sized counties, PEG organizations frequently function as the only consistent outlet broadcasting public meetings. A gap in service would leave residents without a reliable window into local government proceedings, a transparency concern that extends well beyond inconvenience.

Access Humboldt arrived at this crossroads carrying recent recognition: the organization received the Illuminate! 2026 Sunshine Week award and WAVE awards, marking its standing as a civic institution across the region. Now it is asking the community to match that recognition with action, encouraging residents to attend events, participate in training, and contribute financial or in-kind support toward securing a new space.

The transition is developing. Whether Access Humboldt lands in a new home before operations are disrupted will shape the future of local government transparency and community media production in Humboldt County.