Nutmeg Television of Farmington is looking to take over seven public access studios in the Newtown area, including one in Newtown at 11 Commerce Road, that are currently run by Spectrum (formerly Charter Communications). As part of this takeover, it is looking to eliminate all seven public access studios and consolidate them at its own location in Farmington.

It should be noted that in Nutmeg TV's filing and State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and Martin Foncello's statements, Spectrum is frequently referred to as Charter. Charter presentative Lara Pritchard noted the company's name is officially Spectrum, and is no longer Charter Communications.

According to a filing with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Nutmeg TV stated: "Nutmeg TV became aware, via the June 7, 2023 Reply Brief1 submitted by the New England Connectivity and Telecommunications Association, Inc (“NECTA”), that under Connecticut state law, NECTA’s cable company members are required to assume responsibility for PEG facilities and programming in instances where no qualified nonprofit organization is both willing and able to do so."

Nutmeg TV, as a nonprofit, is looking to fill that gap.

The filing, under docket number 25-09-09, states that "Given Nutmeg TV’s strong qualifications under the statutory criteria and its proven track record delivering high-quality community television for over 35 years in CT, it respectfully requests that PURA open a timely proceeding ... to initiate the process for transferring operational management of community access in Area 19 from Charter to Nutmeg TV. As a long-time section 501(c)(3) organization, independent of the cable provider, Nutmeg TV is fully prepared to meet the requirements for operational management of community access in the affected service area."

The filing goes on to state: "Committed to enhancing programming, strengthening local representation, and deepening community engagement — areas where current operations fall short, we’ve got the governance, the grit, and the gear requirements to improve production values that enhance programming, boost local representation, and make sure every Connecticut resident has a voice. Nutmeg TV has long promoted a model of community television built on transparency, accountability, and the kind of Public, Education and Government access that makes democracy sparkle. Past performance is an important indicator of future achievement."

In a letter of opposition to the takeover to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Bolinsky and Foncello wrote, "We are deeply concerned and hereby in opposition to Nutmeg Television's proposed operating plan. The proposal would close the Newtown studio, along with elimination of six other existing local studios — seven, in all — throughout Connecticut, and replace them with a single regional facility. Such an approach represents a significant reduction in local access and would fundamentally change the manner in which community access services are delivered."

They continued, "The public good is not served by a proposal that takes away our users’ existing access to our reliable, established local resources without demonstrating how a single regional location can provide an equivalent level of service. Residents in our communities should not lose the accessibility and individualized support they currently receive through a local studio that has successfully served the franchise area for many years."

"Charter has demonstrated its commitment to community access by maintaining a fully functioning local studio that is open and readily accessible to the public," stated Bolinsky. "Beyond simply providing studio space, Charter actively conducts outreach to encourage participation in public access television and offers comprehensive training opportunities that enable residents of all experience levels to produce high-quality programming.”

Pritchard, representing Spectrum, released the following statement about the takeover: "Spectrum opposes Nutmeg Community Media’s proposal and has asked PURA to let us continue serving Newtown. Nutmeg’s operating plan would close Newtown’s public access studio immediately and send producers over forty miles away to Nutmeg’s existing Farmington facility, eventually replacing it with a regional branch at a location that has not yet even been identified. Our Newtown studio provides residents with local access to production equipment, training, technical support and staff who help bring community programming to life. Moving those services out of town would make participation more difficult and could reduce locally produced programming. Newtown residents should not lose a valuable local resource that is serving their community today."

Newtown residents who want to share their views can submit public comment through PURA’s public comment portal or e-mail PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov, referencing Docket No 25-09-09.

Spectrum currently operates designated community access channels within its video service areas that provide local residents with public access television opportunities. Channel 192 is the designated public access channel for Spectrum customers. Residents living in its designated service area have the opportunity to produce and cablecast non-commercial programming. Consult its Public Access Rules and Guidelines for complete details or contact the local studio to speak with one of Spectrum’s public access coordinators.

Spectrum's production facilities are available to residents living within the service area. A copy of proof of residency must accompany the application to be processed, as evidenced by a driver's license, state ID card, utility bill, land line phone bill, tax bill, and/or nonprofit tax-exempt document 501(c)(3). Post office box addresses will not qualify.

The Western Connecticut Community Access studio in Newtown is located at 11 Commerce Road, Newtown, CT 06470. It serves local residents with free video production training, editing suites, and a three-camera TV studio that airs community programming on Spectrum Channel 192 and Frontier Channel 6088.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.