The Cable Access Committee is charged with (a) advising the Selectmen regarding public, educational and government (PEG) cable access policies, procedures and programming (b) monitoring the cable licensee’s PEG access performance under the license Agreement and (c) serving as an advocate for the effective use of PEG cable access in the Town of Belmont.
The Committee has been in existence since 1991 and meets on the third Tuesday of the month in the BCTV (Belmont Community Television) Channel 8 Studio (617-484-2443) at Belmont High School and more frequently if necessary. The Town has license rights to five (5) channels: currently Channel 8 is being used for PEG access, and Channel 9 is being used by the public schools.
The Access Committee is designed to reflect the diverse interest groups in the Town, including School, Town Government and the many Access Producers who have access to the BCTV Channel 8 Studio. It welcomes and regularly solicits input from the community at large through Access activities.
The BCTV Studio is supported by funds allocated by Comcast, which took over the license from AT&T Broadband, as specified in its license agreement with the Town of Belmont.
Changes in Membership
In 2004, three new Committee members were appointed: Joseph Tovares, Jeffrey Bairstow, and Edward Yee. One committee member, Todd Bloniarz, declined to be reappointed to another term. Two other committee members resigned for personal reasons: Deborah Danzig and Frederick Skoler. Thanks to all for their service.
John Verrilli continues as Chair.
Comcast employees Mark Ventola and Abiodun Shobowale continued to provide support and management as studio coordinators. Mark Apostolon, Regional Access Supervisor, took another position and was succeeded by Dina O’Brien.
Summary of Volunteers/Programs/Awards
In 2004, ten (10) new Access Producers were trained and certified in the Belmont Television Studio, in two (2) production workshops. Once trained, Access Producers are free to use the studio, its resources, and equipment to produce their own cable television shows to be cablecast on Belmont’s Cable Access channels. In addition, four (4) high-schools students participated in a special crash course. Graduates of these programs also serve as volunteers for taping productions and community events.
Belmont-produced programs continue to be widely diversified, including the Board of Selectmen meetings, School Committee meetings, other Town committee and board meetings, sports events, concerts, interfaith services, graduation, call-in talk shows, and other community events, such as the Martin Luther King Breakfast. Regularly produced programs include Time Out for SportsTalk, Talk of the Town, Through the Lens, the Pat Lawrence Show, productions by the Belmont Historical Society, and a new show, Music in Belmont.
Through Abiodun Shobowale’s efforts, BCTV again ran a summer program attended by five (5) elementary and middle-school students. Abiodun continues to lead an after-school “Belmont Children’s TV Club,” which currently includes six (6) participants. Mark Ventola leads a similar after-school program for middle-school students (Chenex), currently numbering nine (9) students. Participants have been enthusiastic about learning technical skills, producing their own programs, and developing a team spirit.
Future Developments
The Committee continues to monitor the studio’s budget to assure that funds are correctly allocated and accounted for.
The Committee continued to work with the Media Center Task Force, which was charged with gathering community needs for cable service, including access, in preparation for the upcoming license renewal process with Comcast. The current plan, under a new license, is the replacement of the Comcast-managed studio with a Community Media Center, managed by a non-profit corporation that is licensed by the Town. A Community Media Center would extend the opportunities currently provided by cable access through new technology and expanded services.
Respectfully submitted,
John Verrilli, Chairman
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