|Patti Mikkelsen, NGTV volunteer|
Richard Erwin and Mark Bowie of NGTV record a town meeting. Photo: J. Cole
From time-to-time, a question arises about permitted parameters as related to the type of programming New Gloucester TV produces.
The question arose at the Oct. 16, 2023 Select Board meeting when a board member conveyed a concern about NGTV volunteers recording a presentation that was not sponsored or approved by the town. An out-of-town nonprofit organization was the subject of a presentation recorded at the New Gloucester Public Library on Oct. 3, 2023.
Essentially, the select board member was talking about governmental access programming (coverage of town board and committee meetings only) under which the station operated from its inception in 1998 to 2010 when public access programming took effect. At New Gloucester’s Annual Town Meeting on May 3, 2010, the town voted to designate the town’s cable Channel 3 as a public access channel.
NGTV’s Policy and Procedures Manual contains a list of definitions. The pertinent one reads, “Public Access Programming is programming of community interest that may be produced by or sponsored by a Town of New Gloucester resident or nonprofit organization.” This greatly expands programming beyond town board and committee meetings.
Community members can watch many meetings live on NGTV3, via live streaming on the Town’s website: https://www.newgloucester.com/meeting-stream. Previously recorded videos are also available to view online anytime.
Do you have ideas, or suggestions about community programming? Interested in helping out? Get in touch at cabletv@newgloucester.com.
