Franklin Matters: Franklin TV: Renewal

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Franklin TV: Renewal – Everywhere!

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/24/2022

Through all of last week Primavera, that first hint of greening has been living up to expectations. Trees and bushes have been waking and doing their Spring thing. Another week or two, and Winter will be a memory.

Other forms of renewal have taken place. Our radio station, wfpr●fm filed for and received its FCC broadcast license renewal for 8 years. While we expected no less, it’s a nice nod to know that we are in good standing. Radio station license renewal actually requires about 5 months of FCC filings and posted legal notifications.

We (Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc., dba Franklin●TV, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) also renewed our agreement with the Town of Franklin to provide local television services on Franklin’s three P, E, G cable channels. Comcast and Verizon provide the channels under their own agreements and we provide the local programming for citizens, civic and school events and government meetings.
For us, these renewals mean business as usual. All good.

All of these renewals – Spring greening, our licensing and so on, are underscored with optimism as we slowly, cautiously begin to regard covid19 in the past tense. 19! Now 4 months into 22, was it really that long ago?

During all this Spring greening we should all undertake some Spring cleaning. Not just the usual tidying up of homes and workplaces, but a renewal of our personal outlook on life. The lingering after-effects of COVID on the supply chain and our economy are an ongoing inconvenience, and maintaining a positive outlook takes a bit of mental discipline. All in all, life is pretty good across our fair zip code.

That said, considering the renewed horrors of war in Ukraine, we need a renewed commitment to peace – through strength and some necessary sacrifice. The cost of war will touch us all, but not so deeply and dearly as it does the people of Ukraine. Moving beyond our lingering local fatigue over COVID, masking, our economy, we can renew our resolve to make a better world by asking the simplest question.

“What can I do, great or small, to help?”

Freedom is not free. There is a renewal cost – to enjoy business as usual.