WHITMAN – Whitman would not have been able to survive as a town government, as a town educational system, as a faith-based community without WHCA, officials and residents said of Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television’s service during the pandemic during a hearing on the decennial license renewal Tuesday, Oct. 3.
“Because of WHCA, we were able to get through COVID, as a government, as a community and we owe you a lot,” Select Board Chair Dr. Carl Kowalski said, noting that not only was he able to hold board meetings, but WHCA also allowed him to attend weekly Mass. “I couldn’t have gone otherwise because I just couldn’t be in a situation where there were COVID possibilities.”
The hearing was part of the process toward Whitman’s future cable needs and interests and to review the performance of Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television during the tenure of its current cable license.
WHCA representatives were before the Select Board for a public ascertainment hearing (47USC, Section 546, Section 626 of the Cable Act) regarding renewal of its cable television license of Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC in the community. The meeting was recorded for rebroadcast on WHCA-TV and streaming on its YouTube page.
The current WHCA license was issued June 3, 2014 and expires June 2, 2024.
Select Board member Justin Evans recused himself from the hearing to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest – as he is assistant director of pipeline safety for the commonwealth, and Comcast has a separate proceeding before him in that capacity.
Executive Director Eric Dresser, Comcast Senior Director of Government and Regulatory affairs Michael Galla, who attended as an observer, and attorney William Solomon. Dresser, too, spoke of the changes COVID brought to the service’s operations.
“Something that is still very top of mind, is COVID-19 and how WHCA sort of changed into a whole different thing during that time,” Dresser said during his remarks on recent and key contributions of WHCA in the community. “[It] kind of came into the forefront for a lot of people who, maybe, knew about us in the background, watched us from time to time and all of a sudden they were weekly users.”
During the pandemic, WHCA deployed a “fleet” of staff-guided virtual meeting options and developed best practices for their use; created a scheduling system for using the resources and trained people unfamiliar with Zoom in its use; managed timely playback of meetings; provided a platform in addition to and in lieu of their studio that could be used easily and safely; while monitoring and aggregating information from federal, state and local officials on COVID to provide an easy central location for vital information access.
Solomon said cable licensing is done under the 1984 Cable Act, empowering the community to decide what its interests and needs are going forward, which are done through the ascertaining process.
“This is a continuing part of that process … so the parties get to something that works for each party,” he said. “It encourages working together. What people have to say here is of great importance.”
Based on that, both during the hearing and provided in writing, as well as capital plans and other documents, Galla can conclude what sort of license meets those needs and how Comcast can do that, while representing its interests.
“He makes the case to the other folks at Comcast, so we have to make that case to him, and he cares what you say,” Solomon said, noting repetition of points was the best way of underscoring the importance of something they want to see. “This is your chance to make a difference from funding for the next 10 years on something that matters more than it ever has – community television – never has it been more important in the COVID and post-COVID world, and never have there been greater challenges to making sure that it works for both the town and for the cable company.”
Community television in general has changed because of the pandemic, Dresser agreed.
“As chaotic as it was, it was really rewarding,” he said in thanking the community for the opportunity to serve. “We’re proud of that work we did and we look forward to continuing as a valuable community resource.”
The W-H Community Access Board, with three representatives from each town includes President Arlene Dias, Vice President Dave Beauvais and Treasurer Marcus Linn, all of Hanson, and Clerk Gerald Eaton and members Marcus Casey and John Galvin, all of Whitman.
Dresser outlined the highpoints of the organization’s work since receiving its initial license in 2005. There are now 43 departments and entities in Whitman and Hanson served by WHCA, including 23 town departments and 19 town committees through 441 total government programs since 2018. They have also covered 707 unique educational events in the same period. More than 2,500 unique programs aired on the channel including 52 series as well as one-off programming produced by and for the public.
Dresser said they work to keep the pulse of the communities, especially for important COVID information since March 2020. WHCA continues to work with faith-based organizations as well.
Some community members also attended the meeting to expound on the benefits of WHCA to the community.
“We’ve had a great partnership with WHCA over the years,” Fire Chief Timothy Clancy said, speaking for both him and Police Chief Timothy Hanlon who could not attend because of another commitment. “We’ve been able to push our message out.” The public safety departments have done a lot of shows over the years, ranging from Chief Talk, to meeting coverage and filming of open houses, but their assistance during COVID.
“We needed a media to get the information out,” he said. “We used social media platforms, the local newspaper, even regional newspapers, but the one recurring area people always went to was cable.”
Oakwood Avenue resident David Forth, recalled moving to town in 2008 and watching friends from school on a cable access cooking show.
“I’ll never forget the sense of astonishment in seeing my friends I went to school with on TV talking about our community and how inspiring I found that to be,” he said. “Through the lens of the WHCA media platform, I began to lay the foundation of what it means to be a member of this community and developed a lasting endearment for the culture within it.”
When he was 19 in 2020 and decided to run for School Committee, he said he saw how a pandemic changed the nature of a grassroots political campaign as residents, especially those older or immuno-compromised were hesitant to engage with candidates face-to-face.
“WHCA was at the forefront of leading this positive change for our community, providing a vital asset that is needed now more than ever,” he said.
“I can’t say enough about WHCA and how it has grown since 2005,” Vice Chair Dan Salvucci said.
DPW Commissioner Kevin Cleary spoke of WHCA’s coverage of school events as well as its work during the pandemic.
“During COVID-19, I don’t know what the town would have done without them,” he said. “We needed to do town business, we needed to keep things running and, with Eric and his staff allowing and enabling us to continue to meet and do our business was huge.”
The professional videography of conditions at the DPW building was also vital in getting out the message of why a new building is needed, he said.
Town Clerk Dawn Varley also lauded WHCA for getting out election results and voter information. June O’Leary also recalled the early days of cable access, saying it has grown because it is useful and needed.
“Cable has always been there to help project what things this town does produce,” she said, noting people’s reluctance to socialize and volunteer today. “It’s not just streets and houses, it’s people and if you’re not communicating with them, then you’re not doing it justice.”
Kowalski said WHCA means “a ton” to Whitman and he looks forward to their next 10 years of serving the town.