mauro's blog

WCCA staff member John Simakouskas writes to report that the episode of WCCA's hit show "SOAPBOX", featuring guest Mark Packard of Sterling Greenery, discussing rainwater harvesting, has gotten many more hits than others taped the end of February.

Also, an episode of "What It's Worth" featuring the 11th Worcester District State Representative Karyn Polito has also generated a lot of interest.

What are you watching? WCCA TV ha something for everybody.

WCCA TV 13 more than a TV a community resource. On channel 13 on Charter cable in Worcester or from anywhere around the world, streaming in real time with some shows available on demand at wccatv[dot]com.

Please remember to support WCCA TV a non-profit charitable community access center in any way you can.

WCCA is more than a TV station, WCCA TV is a community resource.

The other day, while discussing the important value of Public Access television with a friend, it occurred to me that one thing that seems to be overlooked when the subject of PEG TV or Pubic Access television comes up is the profound difference between Public Access/ community TV and commercial TV, a profound difference that federal, state and local legislators should be keenly aware of and take advantage of for the good of their communities.

I never understood why many cable and telecom companies have resisted franchise licencing or the mandate to fund and to support public access television. As an institution, Public Access is a community resources, building community in a way that can set the ground work needed for a sustainable commercial markets.

Our legislators have an opportunity through HR 3745, the
Community Access Preservation Act (CAP) to ensure support for Public Access as a good for their community and business constituencies.

The goal of commercial television, as it is with really any commercial enterprise, is to exploit a market. Although the commercial enterprise may wish to sustain it's ability to sell product, ultimately, it's role is to exhaust the market share.

On the other hand, the goal of Public Access/Community TV, as it is really with any non-profit community media, is to nurture, enrich and build community through media. A Sustainable public access mission, provides a rich community resource which inspires, invigorates and even encourages growth in related commercial markets in fields of cable services, television and video production and other creative economy initiatives.

Bunnie Riedel and John Rocco of American Community Television writes:

PEG channels are important to our communities.

The two were interviewed on an internet talk show, "My Technology Lawyer". You can listen to the interview here HERE .

Public Access stations, such as WCCA TV 13, across the country, play an important role in providing citizens with a voice in a public forum.

We continue to count on your support. Thank you

Let's do it again:
Penny Dreadful has been nominated for "Favorite Horror Host of 2009" in the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards! Penny won this prestigious award in 2007, the first year this category was introduced.

Just send an email to the address below if you want to vote for her
Send it to: taraco@aol.com
You must cast your vote before midnight, April 3, 2010.

Write in the Subject Nominate Favorite Horror Host
IN the Body write:
_*My Favorite Horror Host of 2009 is *_
PENNY DREADFUL (New England)

Put your name and contact information.

We wish Penny all the best. Good luck Penny looking forward to see more of you on WCCA TV 13, "The People's Channel"

Visit the 8th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards to see the entire ballot.
Check out the Shilling Shockers webpage, too.

Many feel the Comcast/NBC merger is a bad idea for public access to the free flow of information. For example the following has been extracted from The CAP Times on line. More on the Comcast merger here
Some key quotes taken from the article:

"We are writing to express our opposition to Comcast Corp.'s acquisition of NBC Universal. If this deal is approved, it would further consolidate a U.S. media industry that is already controlled by a handful of corporate conglomerates. Localism, diversity, and competition in today's media, all of which are severely weak, would be nearly lost. At a time when it is critically important for the public to be able to access independent sources of information, we believe this acquisition should not go forward and urge you to reject it."

The following is from our friends at the Media Access Project. I blogged about this the other day:

Media Access Project (MAP) has been a strong voice of opposition to Comcast's
attempt to acquire NBC Universal, and has been busy providing guidance to
organizations and policymakers on the complex legal ramifications of the
proposed deal.

This merger would be the most prominent example of vertical integration in the
broadband era - it would lead to the union of the nation's largest cable TV
operator and Internet service provider with a major content provider.

The acquisition would be a dangerous deal for all Americans. At the local level,
it would cause an unacceptable level of consolidation in media ownership and
advertising in 11 of the biggest media markets around the country - including
San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and other cities.

The deal would also:

Yes, that is exactly what is going on at WCCA TV.

Thanks to Tracy for the edit and Isabella for helping create the music.

Every year Americans spend $14 Billion on Valentine’s Day.

In one day, we will spend what slave traders worldwide will profit over 6 months.

WE THINK ONE DAY CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING...

Diana's Love Story:
At 12, Diana attempted suicide. She was a victim of child sex slavery and the nightmare of her life had become too much. Today she loves life. She has been reintegrated after living in our safehome. Diana has a roommate (another girl from the Round Home) they both work at the same job and share an apartment. Read her love story... an more Here at 146's website

In today Worcester Telegram announces a huge loss for the people of EAST BROOKFIELD .

The Board of Selectmen last night signed a five-year cable TV contract renewal with Charter Communications, but the town will remain one of a few in the area not to provide local cable TV programming.

“We’re camera shy,” quipped Selectman Lawrence S. Gordon and Selectman Joseph R. Fish would have too much trouble trying to find someone to run the equipment.

Link to Telegram article

My Monday Email is full of cable related news.

FIrst of all, let's not forget that is also not just about access to news and information it is about WHO is communicating that news and information. That is why PUBLIC ACCESS is important because you decide what news is and the programming on the p ubilc access reflects your interest not the interest of a Verizon or Cablevision or a Comcast or a Charter, etc.

This spit-taking quote is ludicrous. "What was once a cable monopoly, Cablevision conceded to the court, "has been replaced by vibrant competition." Rather than being an MVPD bottleneck, Cablevision suggested, the market has been reshaped into a wide-necked vase in which all flowers can bloom."

As a colleague of mine, Chuck Sherwood, suggested, be reminded Cablevision and the few corporations who own the networks and cable companies also own those flowers.