New Cable Access Era Begins in Marblehead

NEW CABLE ACCESS ERA BEGINS IN MARBLEHEAD

On July 18, 2009, Marblehead’s own MHTV-was converted from a Comcast local origination studio to a town-run, non-profit Access Corporation known as Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc. (MCAM). Both Comcast and the newly licensed Verizon will provide funding for the studio operation, and long-time MHTV staff members Jon Caswell and Bryan Nadeau will continue running the day-to-day operations of the studio as MCAM employees.

A five member Board of Directors has been created to oversee the operation of the new Marblehead Community Access and Media Corporation, three of which were appointed by the Marblehead Board of Selectmen, one appointed by the Superintendent of Schools and the fifth member appointed by the town’s Cable Television Oversight Committee. The initial members of the Board include:

President – Robert Peck

Treasurer – Patricia O’Hare-Williams

Clerk/Secretary – Ronald K. Olson

Member – Ed Bell

Member – Libby Moore

The Board of Directors will have the general power to establish policy and to control and manage the affairs and property of the Corporation. At least six regular directors meetings will occur during each fiscal year, though frequent meetings are expected during the initial start-up phase.

Standing Committees of the Board of Directors are expected to include Finance and Fundraising Committee and a Nominating Committee. Additional committees may include: Personnel, Membership and Training, Education and Programming, Community, School and Municipal Relations, Facilities and Equipment.

Executive Director, Jon Caswell, will have the authority and responsibility to manage and operate the Corporation’s business in accordance with the general policies and directions specified by the Board of Directors.  It will be Caswell’s responsibility to supervise the daily operations of  MCAM and its employees.

Board member Ron Olson has past experience with Access Corporations, as he was one of the founding members of nearby Salem Access Television.

“The establishment of an Access Corporation here in Marblehead presents us with an exciting opportunity,” states Olson. “The staff and volunteers of MHTV have always done an amazing job of producing informative, relevant programs for its viewers. With the establishment of an Access Corporation, we hope to get even more Marblehead citizens and organizations involved in producing programs.”

MCAM is expected to be a powerful resource for local expression through public access TV.