MCCAM GOVERNMENT ACCESS

Middleborough Access

MCCAM INFO

Middleborough Community Cable Access Media (MCCAM) On May 1, 2011 the Town of Middleborough took responsibility through the Permanent Cable Committee (hereafter referred to as PCC) of producing the local Government Access channel, which is Channel 9 from Comcast; Channel 34 from Verizon. During the negotiation with Comcast, which started in July 2008, Comcast informed the PCC that it was not going to be providing Public, Education, Government (hereafter referred to as PEG) Access programming and the Town or its designee would need to take over Channel 9 broadcasting otherwise the channel would go black and revert back to Comcast. Channel 9 will show a broader selection of Town committees, commissions and department public meetings; such as the Selectmen, MG&E, Finance Committee, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Assessors, Park Commissioners and Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Town utilizes Channel 9 for public service announcements and other Access items. Channel 9 will be cablecast to Middleborough residents who have Comcast or Verizon cable service. The Franchise Fee negotiated by the PCC will be increasing from 1% to 2.5% in order to support PEG Access Programming operations. The Franchise Fee costs are allowed under Federal Communication Commission (hereafter referred to as FCC) regulations up to a maximum of 5% off adjusted gross revenue to be passed thru to the subscriber. The PCC adjusted the rate to 2.5% to cover only needed operation cost.

The PCC negotiated with Comcast a capital payment plan to be used for the purchase or replacement of PEG Access equipment and related cost to the Town. This is not an additional pass thru cost. The Board of Selectmen signed the license in September 27, 2010 and designated the PCC to oversee the Public access operations. The new channel is called Middleborough Cable Committee Access Media (hereafter referred to as MCCAM).

PLEASE NOTE: On August 21, 2014, MCCAM took control of one of the Education channels to be used for PUBLIC ACCESS programming. Now the channels are configured as follows: GOVERNMENT ACCESS - channel 9 (Comcast, channel 34 (Verizon) PUBLIC ACCESS - channel 95 (Comcast), channel 35 (Verizon) EDUCATION ACCESS - channel 20 (Comcast), channel 33 (Verizon)

Information about Middleborough Educational Television programs can be found at their website: www.MiddleboroughTV.com.

MCCAM is run by the PCC of the Town of Middleborough under the authority of the Issuing Authority. This committee was formed in 1985. The PCC consists of nine regular members appointed by the Board of Selectmen and one non-voting member (the current channel coordinator/programmer). Karen Foye is the Cable Access Administrator for the Town of Middleborough. The MCCAM office is located in the Middleborough Town Hall. Karen is working with volunteers, producers and show sponsors in the community. New technologies have eliminated the need for an expensive on location studio with a set like the former Comcast studio. New portable equipment is available to residents of Middleborough to do on-location shoots. Visit www.MCCAM02346.com for information, programming schedules, downloadable forms, information on how to become a volunteer and community bulletin board information.

If you have any questions on how to volunteer, post a bulletin board message or submit programming to be seen on MCCAM, contact Karen Foye by calling 774-766-6350 or email KFoye@MCCAM02346.com

Middleborough Permanent Cable Committee