|
|
|
|
|
|
"Cable television (also called CATV or community antenna television) was developed in the late 1940's for
communities unable to receive TV signals because of
terrain or distance from TV stations. Cable television
system operators located antennas in areas with good
reception, picked up broadcast station signals and then
distributed them by coaxial cable to subscribers for a fee…
...In October 1984, the U.S. Congress amended the
Communications Act of 1934 by adopting the Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984. The 1984 Cable Act
established policies in the areas of ownership, channel usage, franchise provisions and renewals, subscriber rates and privacy, obscenity and lockboxes, unauthorized reception of services, equal employment opportunity, and pole attachments. The new law also defined jurisdictional boundaries among federal, state and local authorities for regulating cable television systems…
Some cable operators also create their own local programming and provide access channels for public and institutional uses. "*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PEG Access, as we will refer to it, is this local programming for Public (P),
Educational (E), and Government (G) usage, much like we now have in Chester.
PEG Access was introduced to Chester, NH in April of 1988 when the Town adopted a Cable Television Franchise Agreement with Harron Communications (the Cable Operator until September 1999, when the company was transferred to Adelphia Communications). The Franchise Agreement provided for the
installation of cable television reception throughout the Town, and the set up, and outfitting of the local television studio (now known at CTV-21) that would
allow the Town to cablecast live events such as meetings of Town Government, and local activities. Harron Communications provided the basic equipment needed to enable the live cablecast, as well as basic cameras and editing
equipment. The Town of Chester has annually supported PEG by
authorizing a budget at Town Meeting each year to be able to continue
programming, live cablecasts, and upgrade of equipment. To date, the cable
operator has paid no fees to Chester, simply because it was not drafted in the original agreement, which remains in effect until April of 2003. So important has PEG become to the Town, that it has continued to support CTV-21 in all
endeavors to maintain quality local programming, enabling CTV-21 to bring all levels of Town Government into your home for you to view weekly. With the completion of Chester Academy, live cablecast have been expanded to Boy's and Girl's Basketball events, as the new school has been outfitted with a system that allows a camera to be plugged in, power turned on, and a live signal
generated out on CTV-21, sort of a "plug in and play" system for
Chester Academy!
Perhaps the most important fact for all to know is that throughout the past
14 years, all programming whether Public, Education, or Government in nature, and whether live or taped, has been a result of all volunteers ! Chester has no "Cable Board," as other communities have, and all efforts on behalf of the Town and CTV-21 has been as a result of a handful of volunteers who keep CTV-21 on the air and running for your enjoyment, and will continue to do so as long as the Town and YOU, the viewing public wish to see PEG access continue in Chester.
CTV-21 is YOUR PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION STATION!
* FCC Fact Sheet, the Evolution of Cable Television
|
|
|
|
|
|
