public access

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.

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

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:

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

According to an E-Blast PDF published from State Senator Scott Brown's office, January 2008

It seems that the newly elected US Senator Scott Brown was a PUBLIC ACCESS Producer. His daughter Ayla Brown has appeared on WCCA TV 13 numerous times on "Video Jam, Teen Central, and Community Vision News.

The Brown family are no strangers to public access.

Here is what was mentioned in the Massachusetts Senator's old E-Blast:

"BEACON HILL REPORT WITH SENATOR SCOTT BROWN

Senator Brown’s cable show airs on your local cable access network. The newest episode includes a discussion on Community Hospitals. Senator Brown's guests include Dr. Chessare, President of Caritas Norwood Hospital and Andrei Soran, CEO of Metro West Medical Center (Leonard Morse Hospital).

The attachment of this COMMON CAUSE article, written a few short years ago will tell you the story of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and its aftermath.

The political environment may have slightly changed since 2005, but if Republicans
were to gain a stronger footing, community media, public access, and the ownership of the rights of way that allow cable and phone companies to profit from along with our right to participate and control such ways will be lost. Adding republican seats may continue the devastating trends revealed in this report. Thanks to William Houston for passing it on to us and to Common Cause the source of the report.
regulatory control does not always translate to bigger government.In the case of telecommunications and maintaining local cable franchises and support for public access television/community media, it can mean empowerment to the people.

WCCA's John Simakauskas gives us the latest on what is happening at WCCA TV 13:
link here

Keep up with all of the latest at at WCCA TV dot com.

Thanks John

Happy New Year to all !

This Monday, WCCA will be in production for a number of Soapbox episodes. One of these episodes will include guest from the Worcester’s Division of Public Health, Dr. Morse and Mr. Brindisi.

If you have questions, thoughts or concerns regarding the vaccine or the flu itself, that you would like us to ask our guest please let us know before Monday. Leave it in the form of a comment.

Thanks