CIty Franchise

Thanks to all to have been writing letters, making phone calls and blogging concerning WCCA TV and the continuity of its future operations. Your help continues to make a difference.

This week the City Manager announced to the city council that he needs additional time for his Cable Advisory Committee and his Administration to conduct necessary due diligence, finalize funding allocation recommendations for the city's PEG channels which includes WCCA TV. Once that is completed, he said he will then be prepared to negotiate a new contract with WCCA TV.

In his communication to the city council, the Manager stated that his Cable Advisory Committee is in the process of researching best practices, determining the specific capital needs of each entity, recommending contract terms and length of contract, performance standards and strategies to ensure financial accountability. This analysis includes review of the contract with the public access television provider WCCA, Inc. which, he wrote, "will form the basis of the upcoming contract negotiations".

He stated that given the importance of the Cable Advisory committee's research and recommendation to the overall allocation process, and the reality that finalizing a new contract with WCCA prior to June 15th is unlikely, that he has decided to extend the contract with WCCA to provide continued funding through September 15, 2008.

Although WCCA appreciates the consideration and sensitivity given by the city to extend continuity of WCCA, the last extension did not address current capital needs or increased cost of meeting current community needs. Many WCCA supporters and community members are concerned with the possibility of the city expending excessive time and expense on this matter as it has already been throughly reviewed during the ascertainment process which began in late 2004.

WCCA agrees and respects a process for due consideration, and it has requested a full opportunity to brief and provide materials to the Cable Advisory Committee. However, whereas the City has conducted extensive ascertainment of need, that began in 2004 and ended in April of 2008, and has received numerous comprehensive assessment reports from a number of public and community sources, including both the Cable Advisory Committee and the Public Service Committee, WCCA and the stations staff and Board, will continue to respectfully request that the Cable Committee and City Manager give due weight to materials already submitted when considering the needs of WCCA and the formulation of a new contract with WCCA. During the recent franchise renewal ascertainment process, materials already submitted called for and demonstrated a need for increased support for WCCA. In addition, in light of this public record, the City Manager had conducted the renewal franchise process with sensitivity to WCCA's needs, and we are hopeful the newly constituted Cable Advisory Committee will act cognizant of this history.

With that said, WCCA is very grateful for the scores of encouraging letters, post cards, editorials, blogs, phone calls, of support. Your help and support in this way is working. Congratulations to YOU.
Our work is not finished with this respect. I look forward to seeing you Wednesday May 21 at WCCA Studio for our open meeting relative to our future.

Sincerely with thanks,
Mauro

WCCA TV
“The People's Channel”

Mission
To ensure people have access to the use of a public forum through various channels of communication including technology and media with education and training resources.

Benefits to the Community:
Citizen Produced programming: Behind every show and every electronic message there is a Worcester person, group or organization behind it.

Increased Communications within the city: WCCA is a voice for all a beacon to Worcester's diversity, fresh ideas, news and information, a home to all types of different languages and ethnic backgrounds. Inspires discussion and encourages community dialog.

Citizen Empowerment through Electronic media: Opened to all on a non-discriminatory basis, WCCA is participatory and democratic media. WCCA provides access to channels tools, education and resources to media which in turn, allows people to make a difference, impact their community through shared ideas, opinions, and action. People become franchised owners through such participatory use.

Shared diversity of Ideas, culture and information: WCCA is unmatched in the number of programs that aere Worceseter centric. WCCA presents locally produced News, in nearly every language, the vast spectrum of ideas, backgrounds ethnicity, technology , institutional offerings, individual opinions, together, contributes substantially to the creative and smart city model.

Promotion of sense of city pride: Watch WCCA programming or read letters we receive from around the world, WCCA is window into Worcester. Community media producers are more than proud of their accomplishments, WCCA is a model public access center, more importantly, the public access process , as a free speech platform, nurtures community spirit and pride.

Community outreach venue: Nearly every non-profit in Worcester has taken advantage of WCCA, as an affordable media tool it is unmatched and extremely valuable.

WHAT MAKES WCCA TV IMPORTANT FOR YOU?
Community Building block giving voice to the invisible in our community
Classes and Workshops on TV or media, from KidsNet/Youth Channel, Young Views Real News, Internships, Weekly production courses, web classes.
WCCA's Interactive website and streaming media,
WCCA's Community Computer Lab
Internships and volunteer opportunities
Producing MY OWN Community Media, your own TV show
Being a guest on any of the hundreds of locally originated WCCA shows.
Local news and information, programming you can not find anywhere else. TV BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE AND OF THE PEOPLE.
Outreach the station provides fro non-profits, cultural events, social service agencies, artist.
Other:

Thanks for your support.
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