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WHAT IS PUBLIC ACCESS?
With public access television, Hopkinton residents can create
television programs and have them cablecast on our community
access channels. Public access is a logical extension of first
amendment rights to the most widely used electronic medium of our
day. The value of access programming lies not in its mass appeal,
but in its opening of the television medium to divergent views and
experimentation, and in its capacity to serve the community.
Public access grew from an awareness that television could and
should be more than a spectator activity. In many cities across
the country, citizens are producing programs that reflect the
personality of their communities as no form of television has
before.
It takes more than money and equipment to make access programming.
You, the residents and volunteer producers, are what make this
vital community resource work.
WHO CAN PUT PROGRAMS ON THE PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL?
Residents or non-profit organizations are welcome to provide
programs for the access channel. HCAM-TV resources are available
on a first-come, first-served, non-discriminatory basis.
WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS CAN I MAKE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS?
There are a wide variety of programs that can appear on HCAM-TV.
They include arts, music, cultural events, public affairs,
governmental issues and meetings, public service announcements for
non-profit groups, children's programs, religious and educational
programs, documentaries, talk shows, etc. The list of
possibilities is endless.
WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A TV PROGRAM?
No problem. The equipment available is designed to be as easy to
operate as possible. We also provide free
training in basic television production techniques, and offer
ongoing technical assistance to producers as they develop ideas
into finished productions.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE?
HCAM-TV has portable production capabilities (including single and
multi-camera packages), a television studio, and an editing
system. We have lighting equipment, sound equipment, and computer
graphics capabilities. All of these are available at no charge to
the access producer.
NO CHARGE? YOU MEAN IT'S ALL FREE?
Yes. The training, use of the equipment, facilities and channel
time are all free.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
The first step for most access producers is to complete one or
more workshops in the use of video production equipment. HCAM
offers workshops in several areas, and
will be happy to help you in registering for them.
WHAT ACCESS RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN HOPKINTON?
PUBLIC ACCESS - HCAM-TV (Comcast channel 8, Verizon channel 30)
-Provides first-come, first-served portable production units.
-Provides first-come, first-served television studio access.
-Provides first-come, first-served editing systems.
-Provides technical assistance to producers.
-Maintains the community bulletin board.
-Trains producers on access equipment.
-Airs programming on channel 8.
EDUCATIONAL ACCESS - (Comcast channel 10, Verizon
channel 31)
-Provides technical assistance and facilities to students and
school staff.
-Maintains the educational bulletin board.
-Airs programming on channel 10.
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