2001 Annual Report

Plymouth Community Channel 3
2001 Annual Report

Plymouth Community Channel 3 (PCC3) is the public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access channel for Adelphia Communications' cable TV subscribers in Plymouth and parts of 9 other towns. PCC3's Cablecasting Center is located in Pease Public Library. In 2001, the channel had no operating budget from the Town, nor regrettably received any funding from cable TV subscribers. However, thanks to the Plymouth Board of Selectmen, the cost of some equipment repairs, a video, and an annual membership were covered. PCC3 depends totally on volunteers to create and transmit the community's programming. By stipulation of the franchise agreement with Adelphia, PCC3 is non-commercial.

Bulletin Board
In the year ending on November 30, 2001, 205 new messages were run on PCC3's bulletin board. Hundreds more announcements were received from the community, but no volunteer hours were available to enter them into the PCC3's Amiga computer. See how 2001 compares with the past 4 years.

Video Programming
Over the same period, prerecorded video cablecasts totaled 240 shows. The number of program contributions from each of the 3 categories of access users were as follows: Public - 111, Educational - 126, and Governmental - 3. See how that compares with shows cablecast in previous years:

The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce produced two consecutive evenings of live programming. These shows were the Chamber's TV/Radio auction, their major annual fundraiser.

Future Development
2001 marked the 9th year of the channel's operations. Throughout 2001, a Cable Consortium appointed by the boards of selectmen of Plymouth, Ashland, and Holderness negotiated with Adelphia on a new franchise agreement. While the new agreement has not been signed, the main provisions have been settled. Concerning PEG access, none of Consortium's vision and few of its goals for PEG access will appear in the new franchise document. In their corporate wisdom, Adelphia declined to allow franchise language concerning PEG access that deviated significantly from obligations mandated by law. Following this approach, Adelphia was unable to grant to Plymouth funding for capital equipment or facilities for PEG. While this is disappointing, the new agreement will likely permit Plymouth to continue and develop PEG access services. If asked, Adelphia will implement a franchise fee that would be added to and itemized on monthly cable bills. Any franchise fee revenue would be returned to and appropriated by the Town to fund development and maintenance of PEG access operations. Quite probably, a regional non-profit corporation would be formed to oversee development and operation of PEG access for participating towns. Plymouth Regional High School is looking at how PEG access might fit into their curriculum and school building. PSC ITS Department would welcome future discussions about PEG access relative to the community's interest and the mission of the college. Jim Puglisi is the very able chair of the Cable Consortium. Other Plymouth members of the Consortium are Ken Bergstrom, Steve Burrell, and Wally Stuart.

PCC3 volunteers who deserve many thanks are Matthew Perloff, Karen Stark, George Morrill, John B. Bowen, Jr., and students in Professor Eric Hoffman's meteorology class. The trustees, staff, and volunteers of Pease Public Library deserve special praise for all time and resources they contributed to Channel 3. The folks at Plymouth Selectmen's Office staff and Adelphia Cable were always most helpful. 

Submitted by,
Wallace Stuart
Access Manager