Cutting the Public Access Cord

 Public Access Television wants the franchise fee, but the selfish executive directors at least in the Somerville, Malden, Winchester area are like a small cult.

They hurt the membership, there is anger and jealousy, and they think that they are running NBC rather than truly serve the public.

The Malden E.D. is "retiring" - yeah - like Brian Williams at MSNBC who allegedly couldn't get re-hired.

15 years as E.D. of a station is a station with no term limits. Malden has become every bit as bad as Medford Community Cablevision, Inc.

One of my sources telling me how very toxic the board of directors has become, and that people should stay home and do their access TV on the computer.

The Malden E.D. just sent me a typical angry note.

When people get in to positions of power - and abuse those positions - while viewers are "cutting the cord," they have no vision and are not looking at the future. One of my many lawyers dubbed me "The Avenging Angel of Access TV." OR as ex solicitor Mark Rumley said "You do this for the people; no one would work this hard for themselves" (paraphrased.) I do care about access TV; my passion for it is obvious, and it IS about helping the public that has been cheated out of their First Amendment Rights and their ability to create and document history. Shame on ANY Executive Director putting their own show above those programs the public would like to create.

The jealousy factor from these far from benevolent people is sad. Look how the elections got hurt this past year in Medford when a Malden exile ran to Everett and left the candidates high and dry.

Were I running the station it would be all about you, not me. JV

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If you’re one of many people in the United States who has decided to do away with cable in the last few years — or never had it to begin with — you’re not alone.

But the exodus is cutting into the revenue that makes certain services possible. Specifically, Public, Education and Government channels, or PEG channels.

What are PEG channels?

Parents who have tuned in to school committee meetings to scope out reopening plans or residents who’ve watched city council meetings for updates on construction projects— or done so after the fact — likely have PEG channels to thank.

“If you put on your local government channel, and you watch it, I call it the best reality on television,” said Scott Mercer, executive director of the nonprofit that runs Access Framingham. “We are the ones who maintain and produce and support the citizens of Framingham to have a television station.”

Westborough TV General Manager Karen Henderson and Studio Manager Aidan Horrigan in the studio, Oct. 28, 2021. https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/2021/11/01/cutting-cord-cable-tv-has-bigger-implications-than-you-may-think/8539447002/