NEWBURYPORT — The City of Newburyport encourages all community members to attend a public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 10 to share their views on the City’s cable contract renewal with Comcast Corporation.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Senior Community Center.
This public ascertainment hearing is an opportunity to identify future cable-related community needs and interests, and review the performance of the cable operator, Comcast, under its current license.
The current 10-year license generates more than $350,000 per year. Most of the revenue supports NCM Hub, which provides quality programming via TV, radio, and streaming media. NCM Hub delivers vital access to governmental meetings, news, and information, and locally produced shows that highlight the people, places, and events that make Newburyport unique.
Comcast also has funded $305,000 in capital improvements over the term of the contract.
The City hopes to upgrade its meeting rooms to include hybrid equipment to broadcast on Zoom and NCM Hub simultaneously. Current equipment does not reliably capture audio or video.
The hearing is being held pursuant to the Massachusetts Cable Law (M.G.L. c. 166A, sec. 13) and the regulations of the state Department of Telecommunications and Cable (207 C.M.R 3.05). This is a heavily proscriptive process dictated by state and federal law. The City has limited options for denying the license should it be applied for properly.
Community access has faced a number of challenges in recent years, as revenue declined due to a consumer shift from cable to streaming services. Public support for community access and the value it brings will place the City in a strong position as it negotiates terms of the license renewal.
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