The Reading Post accepts Letters to the Editor. All letters must be signed. The Reading Post reserves the right to edit or not publish any letters received. Letters do not represent the views or opinions of the Post. editor@thereadingpost.com
Letter to the Editor:
Reading neighbors, state legislators and town leadership, RCTV needs your support to maintain the current level of services to the town.
Why does RCTV need your support?
Since fiscal year 2018, the Comcast and Verizon grants to Reading in support of RCTV have been steadily decreasing while the related operations costs have been increasing. As a result, each year deficits have grown, and operating cash, capital funds, and reserves have decreased.
Why have the Comcast and Verizon grants been declining?
The declining revenue is primarily the result of residents canceling cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services. The 5% fee paid by Comcast and Verizon to Reading is only applied to the cable TV revenues, not to their internet revenues.
How can the lost revenue be replaced?
To address the declining revenue, the Massachusetts Legislature is proposing an “Act to Modernize Funding for Community Media Programming ” which proposes a 5% fee on digital streaming providers’ gross revenue in Massachusetts. The bills (H.74 and S.34) would provide additional funds, with 20% going to the Massachusetts general fund to cover admin costs, 40% going to Massachusetts cities and municipalities (prorated on population levels), and the final 40% to go to the Massachusetts Community Access Stations (also prorated on population levels).
(As an aside, in my opinion, the 40% designated for the Town of Reading by the legislation should, if necessary, be passed on to RCTV to the extent that the designated 40% share to community media proves to be insufficient).
How can you be of help?
First of all please support this legislation by expressing your support to our Massachusetts legislators. Presently, over 70 Massachusetts legislators have signed the petition in support of the bills (the bills are identical). I understand the legislation is supported by Representatives Brad Jones and Richard Haggerty, and Senator Jason Lewis supports the legislation and sponsored the Senate version of the bill. Please call or write our legislators to encourage the timely passage of this important legislation to stabilize the funding for community media.
What else can you do to help?
- If you happen to be among those Reading residents who cut cable in favor of streaming, consider donating to RCTV at least 5% of what you used to paid for cable TV each year (or at least until the streaming services revenue is in place, originally targeted for January 2024, but currently stalled in committee).
- Consider joining RCTV, either as a “friend” to help fund operations or as an active member. Membership is very inexpensive. As a member, if interested in producing content for the public access channel, you will be trained on equipment use and the editing software. Public access is very important and you may find producing content very rewarding.
- If you own or operate a business in Reading, consider providing sponsorship funding for the programs broadcast on the public, education, and government channels. RCTV currently contracts with the Town of Reading to provide coverage of “core meetings” (Town Meeting, Select Board, School Committee, RMLD, and Finance Committee) and “non-core meetings” (Board of Health, Community Planning and Development Commission, Conversation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals). Your business sponsorship of these meetings would provide exposure to your business while providing funds necessary for the coverage.
- In addition to the contracted meetings, RCTV provides coverage of as many events as possible of interest to town residents (elections, debates, candidate profiles, graduation ceremonies, town celebrations, Council on Aging meetings, subcommittee meetings, community center planning meetings, Porchfest performances, holiday events, and so forth). The resulting broadcasts of these coverages also present businesses with sponsorship opportunities.
- RCTV also resources television classes at the high school (although not required to provide these classes by the contract). If your children have benefited from these classes, you might consider a donation to support the costs for the teacher (paid by RCTV) and the equipment (provided by RCTV).
- In the interest of those residents who do not subscribe to the Comcast and Verizon cable television, RCTV facilitates Zoom coverage of meetings that provides public access. RCTV resources devoted to the Zoom meeting coverage were especially critical during the pandemic, and continue for many ongoing meetings.
- RCTV also resources a YouTube channel for all the broadcast content, including many live broadcasts, providing access to residents who do not have cable television subscriptions. Any sponsorship associated with a meeting would also be part of the content on the YouTube channel.
What happens if RCTV does not receive additional funding?
Without additional funding, the RCTV Board will need to make budget cuts related to the non-contracted coverages and other resources currently provided to the Town. In addition, it is likely that RCTV will need to move to a smaller space at the end of the current lease (September 2024). Eventually there likely will be a need to reset the contracted coverage agreements as well (unless the Town provides the necessary supplemental funds). Also, RCTV will likely be unable to continue sourcing a television teacher at the high school (unless the School Committee provides the funding for the position).
Please support the legislation and consider the other revenue-generating suggestions to maintain funding for community access and programming in our town.
Thank you.
Bruce Cooper
Covey Hill Road
