I understand many people were happy to hear the shouts of city council members order to "file" the report.

The subject of WCCA TV funding and pending contract is a subject that matters to a great many. Jeff the Taxi Guy shares a very clear sentiment.

Thanks for your support and attention.

Here's the letter I sent to the powers-that-be regarding the outrageous proposed funding cuts for WCCA:

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To the Mayor, City Councilors, and City Manager:

You must refuse to accept Item 10a on tonight's City Council agenda: "Roberta R. Schaefer, Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to Cutting the Core: Rethinking Municipal Services in FY08 and Beyond.”

In January, over 120 citizens of Worcester packed a Public Service and Transportation committee meeting to support WCCA and to denounce the factually inaccurate report by the Research Bureau. Dozens of people, including members of the City Council, stood up and passionately expressed the need for continued, and expanded, support of public access television in the community.

Cable franchise fees allow WCCA to be a virtually self-supporting resource! Just because the city management can't seem to manage the budget, WCCA and all Worcester residents who benefit should not have our valued services taken away.

The City had already received recommendations in a very thorough and independent study by Reidel Communications, as well as the City’s own Cable Advisory Committee report. Perhaps the City could save money by elinimating redundant reports by a “research” bureau that can’t even get its facts straight.

Please be mindful that WCCA is an asset to our community, providing open access media for all citizens of Worcester. Please reject Item 10a to prevent a shortsighted, devastating loss of services for the City.

Shannon Senior
Worcester, MA

As the City of Worcester renegotiates its contract with Charter Communications for the local cable monopoly, WCCA TV13 is in jeopardy. The station's funding depends on the details of the negotiation, details which are currently not being discussed with the public.

On the down side, the Research Bureau released a report suggesting that WCCA's funding should be cut by 2/3. This report was riddled with errors, misreporting the budget of some public access centers by $1 million and claiming a Michigan station was "public access" when it wasn't (chart with correct numbers).

On the up side, Worcester Magazine and the Telegram & Gazette wrote editorials supporting WCCA. An assessment of WCCA showed that the station is strong, well-respected, serves a wide spectrum of the community, and provides services to local non-profits valued at one million dollars annually. Letters of support have been pouring in to local publications.

More than 120 people attended a January 31, 2007 meeting of a City Council committee to support WCCA.

If you care about WCCA, please write the City Manager and the T&G a letter of support.

Related articles on this website.

How can I help?
WCCA really needs YOUR support in a number of ways. Here are some ideas of thing you can do to help:

1. Make a tax deductable donation to WCCA TV (Checks payable to WCCA TV). You can also make a donation online using Google Checkout or Paypal. Visit the Donate to WCCA TV13 page.

2. .Donate new computers and software
3. .Volunteer to teach or apply your technical skills to help us design and build new digital platforms for distributing content.
4. Make Goodsearch your default search engine. Be sure to enter WCCA TV as the charity you want to support. (every time you search through Goodsearch, WCCA gets a penny.)
5. If you have grant writing experience call Mauro today at (508) 754-1880.
6. Participate in anyway you can (volunteer, help us fundraise, spread the word, etc.)

What will be lost if WCCA's funding is cut?

If funding for WCCA "The PEOPLE'S Channel" is reduced...

You'll no longer see WCCA TV "Easy Access Productions such as Soapbox hosted by Executive Director Mauro DePasquale interviewing members of our community such as including, Worcester Mayor and City Manager, asking them the questions the people of Worcester submit through this web site. You'll no longer see Worcester Mayor Konnie Lukes discuss city issues with a wide variety of guests. Award winning KidsNet/Youth Channel, Teen Central, Young Views Young News, Worcester teens will no longer have a place to learn about television production in a real professional environment. WCCA is the only place where Worcester teens can really do all of this without the thumb print of a supervising adult.

Worcester's only show for seniors by seniors featuring local talent would disappear.

You'll no longer be able to see Worcester City Councilor Mike Perotto discussing Worcester issues.

Videos showcasing local bands will disappear.

Local Talk shows such as those hosted by Tommy Colletta and Shannon Senior, Sybil Farson, Father Michael Bafaro, Ramona Marangos, Bros. Dennis Wyrzykowski, Lynne Simonds, and others will be lost.

Our training workshops and internship opportunities would be lost and so would all the economic, social, and cultural development that WCCA contributes to will be gone.

Many other great shows created by and for the people of Worcester at The People's Channel will no longer be produced without your support and help.

This website ( browse through the site and see for yourself) and our community computer lab will also be lost.

Imagine the hole it will leave in Worcester.