Watertown Cable Access Corp (WCA-TV), in collaboration with the City of Watertown, will hold a Public Ascertainment Hearing on Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:00 PM. The event will be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, serving as a platform for community engagement before formal negotiations with Comcast regarding the renewal of the city’s 10-year cable license.
The current cable license is set to expire in October 2025, and this hearing aims to gather public feedback on several critical areas, including Comcast’s compliance with its existing cable license, the future needs of the city concerning cable access, and the significance of local television and community media.
WCA-TV is dedicated to ensuring that the voices of Watertown residents are amplified through local programming. A cable license is not just a legal formality; it plays a vital role in delivering programming to local cable subscribers, provides free cable connections to city facilities, schools, and community locations, and offers essential funding support to community media projects.
Approximately 98% of WCA-TV’s annual revenue comes from cable funding, a common situation for many community media stations throughout the United States. The financial impact of a loss or reduction in cable license support would threaten the existence of these valuable community resources.
Currently, WCA-TV receives the legally permissible maximum of 5% of Comcast’s gross annual revenue, but one of the primary goals for the upcoming renewal negotiations is to secure increased capital funding. As cable subscriber numbers have reportedly seen a 6-8% annual decline in recent years, the station finds itself without alternative revenue sources. As such, additional funding is crucial for their sustainability and ability to continue offering services such as local event coverage, multimedia training, and upgrading aging equipment.
The Public Hearing encourages community members to voice their opinions and suggestions. Attendees are asked to consider several topics, including which public locations could benefit from live broadcasting capabilities and how additional equipment could improve coverage of local events.
Furthermore, the hearing will address accessibility needs not currently met, potential expansions of resources provided by WCA-TV, and comments regarding Comcast’s existing services, such as cable availability and customer service.
Each speaker will have three minutes to express their views, allowing a diverse range of voices to be heard and considered in the decision-making process. In addition to the public discussion, WCA-TV will showcase a series of short video presentations during the event.
For community members unable to attend the hearing in person, remote participation will be facilitated via the following link: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/84156955733.
Questions, written testimonies, or requests for further information can be directed to Andrea Santopietro, Executive Director of WCA-TV, via email at [email protected].
WCA-TV serves as a public access media center focused on empowering the diverse communities of Watertown. Their mission includes providing opportunities for residents to share their stories and gain valuable multimedia skills through affordable education and access to broadcast-quality equipment. The organization’s programming aims to inform residents on important local issues and foster a sense of community through public, educational, and governmental programming.
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