At Access Humboldt, we believe that local content, trusted local news, and local communications are key to a thriving community. Our work centers around public access to cable distribution, government transparency, educational content, and authentic storytelling made by the community producer. Each day, we provide platforms that help Humboldt County stay informed, connected, and creative.
We operate WAVE cable channel 7, Optimum/Altice 8,10,11, & 12 and KZZH 96.7 LP-FM radio. We broadcast original, local programming, from movies to public service announcements and everything in between. Town halls, creative stories, raucous city meetings, educational modules and more appear on our cable channels, YouTube channel, and streaming at AccessHumboldt.net.
We provide unedited, full-length meeting coverage of city councils, county boards, and community commissions. Our mission is to make civil servants accessible to the people they serve. When you need to know what decisions are being made and who is making them, Access Humboldt is there.
We support local voices that might otherwise go unheard on commercial stations. This includes partnerships with artists, nonprofits, Indigenous communities, youth creators, and underrepresented groups through projects like the Redwoods Listening Post. We DO NOT discriminate against community producers who cannot afford expensive productions. If we receive content in a format we can air, it will air regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, or any other status/identity that might be discriminated against.
We broadcast local sports events like Humboldt Roller Derby, amplify civic conversations, and share cultural celebrations that reflect the unique character of our region.
We train new content creators. Through our workshops, internships, and member programs, people of all ages can learn video production, radio hosting, editing, and storytelling. You can also access studios, equipment, and airtime to share your work!
We host BOLDtFEST, a community-centered short film incubator that brings together writers, directors, and producers to create locally made movies — “Humboldt made, Humboldt displayed” — at the Eureka Theater.
We do this because communities like ours deserve independent, accountable, community-based stories — something built with care, created by the people who live in Humboldt, and distributed on cable TV and beyond.
We would love to hear how you have used Access Humboldt! Let us know what tools, spaces, and programs are important to you. Contact us at info@accesshumboldt.net.
This article appears in My Humboldt Life November 2025.