What is Public Access?

For many in the United States, television has become the number one source of information about the world. Every day, people take in news, editorials, opinions, entertainment and many other types of programming, all paid for by large companies that can afford network and cable advertising rates. The opportunity for other voices to be heard on “the soapbox” of our times has become very limited. In order to address the problem, Congress adopted the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, which provided for public access to the airwaves. Most local authorities have used this provision to require cable franchisers to dedicate channels on the cable system to public, educational and governmental programming (PEG access).

A Look Back

In 1976 the town of Brattleboro created an advisory board to establish a public access entity. That board eventually became the Board of Directors of Brattleboro Community Television, the non-profit organization created to administer public access in Brattleboro. BCTV was granted channel 8 on the cable system, and became the first PEG access channel in Vermont. At its height, BCTV aired more locally produced shows than any other public access channel in the state. In 1990 Warner Cable took over responsibility for providing public access in Brattleboro rather than giving financial and technical support to BCTV. After a lengthy review, Vermont’s Public Service Board determined that Brattleboro public access should be returned to an independent organization.

How Public Access Works

BCTV’s mandate is to give members of the community a voice. We provide the equipment and training; You make the television programs. Any individual or organization can register to be trained on our equipment. The equipment is then available on a first-come, first-served basis to all trained volunteers to create programming for Channel 8. Organizations can form their own video team; individuals can work together. We encourage a wide range of subjects and styles -- music, drama, comedy, public affairs, and any other program YOU are interested in making as a BCTV volunteer.

What can Brattleboro Public Access Do?

The programs that you produce for Channel 8 can: provide a forum for debate on local issues; inform residents about services available in the community; allow limited-run productions (plays or other events) a life on video; expand the audience for a local band, poet or craftsperson; allow people who can’t attend an event the opportunity to see it anyway; give people a fresh perspective on aspects of our community; follow a subject or issue on a regular basis; present a documentary view of a neighbor, friend or organization in town that’s doing something interesting; teach skills ranging from gardening to origami; change people’s stereotypes; change your life. There’s a whole new generation of programming to come on the new BCTV. And it’s up to you to make it!

But Remember...

What all this means is that when you see a program on BCTV, you may not actually be seeing a BCTV production. You might be seeing a program made by a local person or organization who took a class, used our equipment and took advantage of our expertise to put forth their perspective, beliefs, ideas, talents, or silliness. If what you see annoys or disturbs you, don’t get mad; get producing, and counter with a response of your own. BCTV will air any tape made or submitted by a Windham County resident that has an acceptable signal, is not libelous or obscene and does not make illegal use of copyrighted material.