CABLE ACCESS COMMITTEE
The Cable Access Committee was 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 was officially dissolved in September 2005, after a new license agreement with Comcast went into effect.
The Committee had been in existence since 1991 and met on the third Tuesday of the month in the BCTV (Belmont Community Television) Channel 8 Studio (617-484-2443) at Belmont High School.
The Access Committee was designed to reflect the diverse interest groups in the Town, including School, Town Government and the Access Producers who have access to the BCTV Channel 8 Studio. It welcomed and regularly solicited input from the community at large through Access activities.
The BCTV Studio was supported by funds allocated by Comcast, as specified in its license agreement with the Town of Belmont.
Membership
In 2005, membership remained the same as in 2004. John Verrilli continued as Chair.
Comcast employees Mark Ventola and Abiodun Shobowale continued to provide support and management as studio coordinators. Dina O’Brien served as Regional Access Supervisor.
Summary of Volunteers/Programs/Awards
In 2005, eight (8) new Access Producers were trained in the Belmont Television Studio and received certification at a graduation ceremony on June 21, 2005. 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.
Belmont-produced programs continued 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, Music in Belmont, productions by the Belmont Historical Society, New shows for 2005 included A Veteran’s Story and Belmont High School Update.
Abiodun Shobowale led an after-school “Belmont Children’s TV Club,” which included six (6) participants. Mark Ventola led a similar after-school program for twelve (12) middle-school students (Chenex). Participants have been enthusiastic about learning technical skills, producing their own programs, and developing a team spirit.
Future Developments
During the first six months of 2005, the Committee continued to monitor the studio’s budget to assure that funds are correctly allocated and accounted for.
The Committee worked with the Media Center Task Force, which was charged with gathering community needs for cable service, including access, in preparation for the license renewal process with Comcast. The current plan has resulted in replacement of the Comcast-managed studio with a Community Media Center, as of July 1, 2005, managed by a non-profit corporation that was licensed by the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
John Verrilli, Chairman
Jeffrey Bairstow, Pam Curtis, Maryann Scali, Joseph Tovares, Edward Yee, Lee McCanne, Director of Technology – School Department liaison to the Committee
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