One other difference is You may be more likely to be seen on public access (in Worcester that would be WCCA TV 13) than on any other commercial TV channel.

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Enjoy !

In today’s Telegram we read the following:

Speedy Internet on its way
Mass. Broadband Institute on mission

By Lynne Klaft CORRESPONDENT

FITCHBURG — If the Massachusetts Broadband Institute fulfills its mission, high-speed, high-volume Internet service will be in every corner of northern Central and Western Massachusetts in the next few years.

Gov. Deval Patrick created the agency in 2008 to bring low-cost high-speed Internet access to all homes, businesses and public buildings in the region. The groundwork for a north-to-south underground conduit from the Connecticut state line to Vermont is now complete.

MBI Director Judith Dumont said at a Fitchburg State University forum last week that her agency worked with the state Department of Transportation to lay miles of fiber-optic cable along Interstate 91. The network, MassBroadband 123, is being tested now and is expected to be “lit” in December.

That network will eventually bring high-speed Internet service to more than 120 cities and towns in Western and northern Central Massachusetts.

“The cable that was laid has 576 strands of fiber. One fiber is enough to support all the voice traffic in Massachusetts, so you can see we are overbuilding, building for the future,” said Ms. Dumont.

Once the network is up and running, Internet providers can sign contracts with MBI to lease space on the network with the goal of providing service to areas that lack Internet access or are underserved. Eight providers have already signed letters of intent.

The agency also plans to connect 1,300 community “anchor institutions” — schools, town halls, police and fire stations, hospitals, libraries, colleges and state government offices. The anchor institutions are being reviewed, building by building.

The fiber cable will be strung to the pole in front of the building and a connection made to the building. However, the anchor institution must pay service fees and for internal network computer equipment.

MBI has also completed a survey of 35,000 utility poles on which fiber-optic cables will be placed.

“Many of these are jointly owned telephone and electric company poles, and agreements will be signed with all of the owners. Considering that we have had two tornadoes, one hurricane and a record-breaking snowstorm in October since we started, work has slowed a bit,” said Ms. Dumont.

Steps to put the network infrastructure in place include the permitting process at state and local levels, securing access approvals and the scheduling with pole owners to complete work necessary to string fiber optic cables.

“We’ve had storms and strikes. What’s next? Locusts? Cost estimates are coming in higher than expected, but we are looking into other funding resources,” said Ms. Dumont.

The agency expects to complete stringing cable in 2012.

The MBI was awarded $45.4 million in federal stimulus funding, and the state is providing $26.2 million in matching money for the MassBroadband 123 network.

Completion of the network is scheduled for 2013. The network will use 1,338 miles of cable and serve 333,500 households and 44,000 businesses in an area populated with about 1 million people.

Fitchburg State University’s Regional Economic Development Institute has been mapping northern Central Massachusetts using a geographic information system.

The database that the college has compiled for MBI includes estimated cable services, estimated DSL services, and business sites by address, including specific business Internet needs. Teams of students drove through northern Central Massachusetts with smartphones to collect the data, measuring broadband availability; then confirming it with the communities that they were in.

MBI is mapping broadband availability across the state. The information will be incorporated into the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map.

The institute was awarded $1 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help local small businesses with technical plans, digital learning and training.

Another $1 million grant will be used to develop a “veterans’ portal,” to connect veterans to the resources they need and to create an online veterans services site that is streamlined and accessible.

Mayor Lisa A. Wong of Fitchburg sees broadband as the future.

“I needed a translator at first to understand what MBI was doing, but I have seen what it can do

“Broadband is the future of the city and the future of our nation. We have to close that digital divide, connect the unconnected,” said the mayor.

Cable and fiber providers have a mission to make a profit. That bottom line has little to do with community inclusion, open access, citizen participation or social wealth value.

Cities and towns should not be excluding such companies who offer video from local franchise licensing. To do so would be exasperating an already unjust situation.

The event was held at Maironis Park and about 185 people joined in the celebration. The event was in part a fund raiser in support of WCCA’s renovation capital campaign.

Father Mike’s family and friends presented testimony to his remarkable achievements. WCCA is especially grateful for his work to elevate this institution. His life’s is exemplary and the perfect model for all to aspire to. WCCA TV’s mission is one centered upon community participation, inclusion, empowering people through electronic media including education, tools and resources along with a free flow of news, information , individual perspective, and a diversity of views and opinions.This is a mission and organization that is and will always be relevant in a democratic process.

Thank you to all who helped make the evening and the entire event a huge success. Thank you especially to Father Mike’s family, and closest friends. Thanks to the Board and Staff of WCCA TV for their contribution and to all who attended. Service to humanity is worth recognizing, encouraging and celebrating.

If you are interested in helping us plan next’s years event contact me at WCCA TV at 508-755-1880 ext 11.

WCCA TV 13 : Learn Create Connect

I hope people are weathering the storm. Today, many people have been calling to find out what is happening with efforts to restore power, so I wanted to share a quick update. We had a storm briefing this afternoon with members of the press, utility officials, elected leaders and with our emergency management team. As of 1:00 PM about a quarter of the city did not have power, but we are expecting a large number of homes to have it restored latter today. National Grid is working to re-start a number of power substations after checking to make sure that doing so will be safe and they are working to bring many of the areas of the city near these stations back on line. Unfortunately, some homes that have polls and wires in backyards that are damaged might not have power restored for several more days. I know this is difficult for many people. Please be assured that our City Manager, City
Council and State Elected officials are working to make sure we have the needed resources to get power restored as soon as possible.

For power issues that are non-lifethreatening, please call National Grid 1-800-462-9852. Emergency calls should be called into 911. Calls for City response (snow clearing, downed trees and limbs without wires, etc.) should go to the Customer Service at (508) 929-1300. At this number you can also get information on shelters and warming centers that have been set up. The city has opened a Red Cross Shelter at Forest Grove School, 495 Grove Street. Citizens seeking shelter services should get there on their own. They should bring medications, blankets and pillows. Citizens that need shelter services, but have special circumstances, should contact the Worcester Police Non-Emergency number at 508-799-8606.

I want to thank our Police, Fire, DPW, EMS and Inspectional Service teams that are working around the clock to keep our community safe. I also want to thank the utility crews from National Grid, Verizon and Charter who have been working diligently in tough conditions to restore service for our community. Finally, we want to remind people that Halloween has been re-scheduled for Thursday night. Please be careful and take time to check in on elderly and disabled neighbors who might need assistance. Thank you.

This message was sent to mauro@wccatv.org from:
Mayor Joe O’Brien

The funding we receive from the city’s cable franchise is not nearly enough to sustain the current level of operational capacity let alone to meet the ever increasing community need for affordable television outreach or to empower themselves by accessing state of the art television and digital media tools and facilities. For a city as large as Worcester, public access should be a much larger operation and even more inclusive. Both the non-profit world, local governments and the business community can benefit greatly, at so many levels, by underwriting and participating in the public access television process as well.

In addition to cable funding WCCA also relies upon Community volunteers, interns, community producers, and community and foundation underwriting and support. The amazing activities mentioned in our recent newsletter for example is only a small sample of what goes on in this studio every day. Community television production, youth media activities, learning workshops, internships, covering local events, promoting dozens of events, sharing news information and the personal stories of all who are a part and fiber of our city. The experience has had a profound effect on many and, in some cases, even life changing and life saving. Looking at the programming along with consideration to the regular programming that includes workshops, and volunteer opportunities WCCA is much more than simply providing access to a state of the art TV studio or channels of distribution, it is a vital part in building and sharing community gifts. WCCA TV is empowerment, it’s the voice and face of Worcester, it’s marketing Worcester, it’s a window into Worcester and it’s the place in Worcester to learn, create and connect.

I still feel WCCA can do better. I a working to improve our facility, renovate our studios, to make policy changes with my Board to increase community participation, to elevate the tools, technology and educational programming at WCCA TV. To do this requires advocacy, materials, staff support,community interaction, and capital. The station may be thriving right now, but there is so much more potential ahead of us. We consistently inundated with request to cover or promote events. Not everyone has the time to produce their own TV show. People request staff assistance, or for WCCA to cover events, in spite of the various treatments for programing we offer for do it yourself television. We want to be able to meet those needs and it will be important the City Manager along with the rest of our community work with us to help make that possible.

We want to see stronger business and non-profit particiaption as well as more student activity, local government leaders an agencies, continued to be welcomed to participate as well. The strategic benefits community public access television include affordability, visibility not limited to a a single cable provider for another, and to contribute and work side by side with a broad based and diverse local network of participants and viewers. Face to face, hand to hand, experiential learning, working together to build community community through electronic media. That is what public access TV is all about.

So, I am appealing to you. If you have ideas about how we can work together to make improvements, or if you are interested in underwriting the station to help continue the fine programming, or if you would like to share your talent with us, I want to hear from you. Enjoy the remaining summer and as always, I look forward to seeing you on WCCA TV 13, The People’s Channel”.

All Happening at WCCA TV

People from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds will always need access to a community television facility in order to freely and fully participate in our democratic process. While social web platforms such as YouTube may provide some technically-low-level video sharing, they don’t not provide the full scope of opportunities and benefits available at WCCA TV. For more on this story, read Mauro’s blog on the WCCA website: Mauro’s Staff Blog

Keep WCCA on air with your donation or program underwriting through our ‘Circle of Friends.’ We’re a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, so all donations are tax deductible. WCCA TV has a full schedule of news, youth, foreign language, music, religious, cooking, sports, educational and political programs. Support award-winning WCCA TV Programming: DONATE AND SUPPORT WCCA TV . Thank you!

This WCCA TV special offers a preview of what awaits visitors at the ‘Worcester’s 2011 Art in the Park’ at Elm Park. The artwork is on display now through October 2nd. ‘Preview Art in the Park 2011′ has been posted on the WCCA website: ART IN THE PARK

WCCA TV Programming

Go ‘Back to the Future’ with this episode of WCCA’s ’508′: 508 TV show

Senator Harriette Chandler, host of ‘BEACON HILL CHAT’, welcomes Tom Foley, the former Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police: Beacon Hill Chat

Featured stories on this episode of ‘NEWS 13: COMMUNITY FOCUS’ are: Erin O’Connell interviews three local authors (Jessie Olson, Cheryl Cory, and Liz Steele); Christina Andrianopoulos talks with John Giangregorio and Alan Fletcher about the 6th annual Worcester’s Canal Fest happening on September 10th: NEWS 13

In this new episode of ‘FLIPSIDE’ host Lynne Simonds introduces her audience with three members of YouthGROW: FLIPSIDE

Have a ‘COFFEE WITH KONNIE’ and meet host Konnie Luke’s guest, history buff Dan McAuliffe: COFFEEE with KONNIE

Whether you want to plan a family event or pursue a career in Event Planning, this new episode of ‘RAMONA INTERVIEWS’ should be of interest to you. Host Ramona Pokoly interviews Meredith Bond from the event planning company ‘Crave26 Events’: Ramona

Virginia Swain, host of ‘IMAGINE WORCESTER’ which is a WCCA show about peace and community relations, chats with Robert Bachelder from the ‘Worcester Area Mission Society’: Virginia

Blast from the Past! From the WCCA video vault comes ‘OFF THE HOOK’, a 90′s comedy and music production: OFF THE HOOK

‘DRUM OF THE PEOPLE’ hosted by Spiritwalker Woods, offers a platform for indigenous people to understand and share Native American culture, spirituality, and crafts: Drum of the People

From a deep corner in the WCCA video vault comes ‘STATIC FUSION’ #11, a creative cultural show featuring local music and arts created by Jim Racicot and Allen Levine: Static Fusion

‘SENIOR SPEAK’, a WCCA show for seniors and by seniors, is not your typical senior citizen show. Our seniors are full of energy and certainly know how to have a good time: Senior Speak

‘VIDEO JAM’ is your source for ecletic music videos featuring mainstream and indie rock. Host Tracy Foley has in store an exciting playlist for you: J Mascis, Najjah Calibur, Sally Anthony, David Guetta, Janes Addiction, and Coldplay debuting ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’: <a href="http://www.wccatv.com/video/video-jam/videojam660"Video JAM . Keep jammin’ with WCCA TV!

From the WCCA video vault comes ‘ELLIE SPEAKS’, a show hosted by our veteran host Ellie Grossman, who recently passed away. In this episode Ellie talks with her guest Ray Meola about vending machines: Ellie Grossman

Watch this episode of ‘COOKING WITH GEORGIA’ and learn how to make a special Greek Moussaka filled with filo dough: http://www.wccatv.com/video/cooking-with-georgia/cookingwithgeorgia275 . But wait. There’s also something fishy happening as Georgia and Dez prepare delicious fish stew, salmon kabobs and a potato salad: Cooking with Georgia Real Food. Real People. Real Simple.

Keep watching and supporting award-winning WCCA TV programming!

We also stream live on the web at: WCCA TV 13, the People’s Channel

LEARN, CREATE, CONNECT

WCCA TV13, channeling community since 1986

On cable channel 13 in Worcester or seen online, in real time at wccatv.com

Band Edge #29 Sandstorm Organ Trio has also been posted on the WCCA website at

at your favorite local community television station website

Band Edge is exclusivly seen on TV 13.