Franklin TV: Our Tech To-Do List

It’s alive. It never ends. It just evolves.’

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 05/03/2026

The technology that keeps Franklin.TV and wfpr.fm perking along has grown over the years. It continues to grow. It will never-ever-ever stop growing. (Help!) There’s always something to fix, software to update, new widgets to install.

This week we began installing two teleprompter systems in our small studio. This project will wrap up when the additional parts arrive over the weekend. Once done, we begin preparing for graduations at Franklin High and Tri-County High. Next week we return to the Franklin High field and pressbox to restore HD video fiber line service from there back to our studio. How techno-geeky does it get?

Trace/test video fiber from the field via the school TV studio and from there to the MDF room and back to our studio.

Add an MD-HX HD video TSG (Test Signal Generator) in the Pressbox. Add/pre-configure a streaming video encoder in the Pressbox.

Validate digital router settings and fiber lines in the Panther TV studio.; Validate return video test feed from our studio to Panther TV and Pressbox.

We move on to Town Hall Chambers for updates.

Add an MD-HX HD video TSG (Test Signal Generator) in the control room. Add a mechanical A/B program backup switch.

Recalibrate all microphone and line audio levels. 

Install 2 NIST internet clocks.

In the Town Hall 3rd Floor Training Room video system

Add 2 small video displays next to ceiling cameras 2 and 4.

Add an MD-HX HD video TSG (Test Signal Generator) in the control system. Recalibrate all microphone and line audio levels. Add SDI audio embedder. Fix 3 stand mics w/ XLR adapters.

July: Town Hall Chambers - install new 100-inch HDTV display behind the dais..

Run 3 HDMI fiber lines from all desks.

Then we install new digital signage systems in 4-5 locations.

And – other tech stuff will emerge before all of the above is completed. And – by now you’re probably asleep reading my our techy To-Do li-zzzzzz.

Just read it again when it’s time to retire for the night. (No need to thank me.)

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thanks for listening to wfpr●fm, 

and staying informed at Franklin●news

 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, May 2, 2026 ???

Saturday, May 2

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Horace Mann Birthday Party - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am    Windphone Pebble Paint (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am    Weekend Wiggles!    (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am Jane Jacobs Walk (Franklin TV and Radio 102.9 FM)

12:00pm Post Walk Gathering (Franklin TV and Radio 102.9 FM)

7:00pm Rob Bellamy (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm Electric Youth & The Bost Show Band (THE BLACK BOX)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, May 1, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

8:30 am Frank Presents: Djuna Perkins

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Anne Bergen

11:00 am Senior Connection: Disabilities Commission

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Italian Sausage

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Pt 1

4:30 pm Franklin Art Association: Anna P. Wert

6:00 pm SAFE Coalition Gala 2026

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026

8:30 am Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

9:30 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

11:00 am FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

2:00 pm FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26

3:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Catholic Memorial 04-21-26

8:30 pm Franklin Footlighters: Footloose

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Town Council hears from NatinalGrid, Fire Dept, and Police Dept and completes session within 4 hours - April 15 (audio)

FM #1734 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1734 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 8 members participated, 7 in Chambers, 1 remotely, hence all votes were recorded via roll call. 

The meeting recording runs 3 hours and 50 minutes

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1734-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-04-15-26/

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Franklin Matters recap - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-hears-from-natinalgrid.html

Franklin TV video for replay  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7xJHgZ4lI 

The agenda - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04152026-2251  

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w2q_cMoAOiQs0picPbtkZonCRTXqxI63/view?usp=drive_link

Photos of the NationGrid presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XPcwTx5vSXnDjQdy8 

Link to Fire presentation

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vWcLc710A9CkTSgpJ0Tg3jcHcbR3zaY/view?usp=drive_link 

Link to Police presentation

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yF7LNhdfHfpOL_sq8gIaWpW2eQCgT8MG/view?usp=drive_link 

page from Police presentation on recent budget history

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

BEN's Bulletin: Downtown Walk & Talk on Saturday, May 2

Join our Jane's Walk THIS Saturday (5/2)! ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

BEN's Bulletin (04/28/26)   The sun's coming out and so are we! This bulletin focuses on this Saturday's Jane's Walk, in partnership with Congress for a New Urbanism New England.  As always, join our monthly meeting every third Thursday at 7pm at Franklin TV or virtually at the following link: meet.ben4franklin.org. Jane's Walk - Saturday, May 2 Join our fourth annual walking discussion of downtown Franklin! The free event is part of an international series in memory of social activist and placemaker Jane Jacobs. The ~1.5-hour tour will explore how land use decisions impact the look and feel of streets and neighborhoods, celebrate culture, highlight history, and promote economic development.  The walk will start at Franklin TV (23 Hutchinson Street) at 10:30am. Parking is available on site. All are welcome, including paws and wheels! This year, we will be joined by regional planning professionals from Congress for a New Urbanism (CNU) New England! Stick around after the walk for pizza, refreshments, and further reflections! For further information and to RSVP, visit ben4franklin.org/janes-walk-2026. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was a writer, urbanist, and activist who championed a community-based approach to city-building. Despite no formal training as a planner, her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve, and fail that have become conceptual pillars for today’s architects, planners, policymakers, activists, and other city builders. Jacobs lived in Greenwich Village until 1968, where she helped push back on car-centered urban planning and invigorated neighborhood activism. Jane's Walk was founded in 2006 by a group of Jacobs’ friends and colleagues as a way to honor her life and activate her ideas. Over the next decade, the movement saw rapid global uptake by urban activists around the world. The movement continues to grow every year and has now reached over 500 cities! CNU New England is the regional chapter of CNU, the nation's leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities, and healthier living conditions. CNU have met nationally since 1993, with the New England chapter starting in 2004. Its members include public and private sector leaders, community activists, and multidisciplinary professionals.  What We're Consuming OPINION: Market Rate Housing for $100,00 Per Unit? (Franklin Observer) Aging into uncertainty: Baby boomers feeling crushed by housing crunch (Boston Globe) Penciling Out: Navigating the Boston/Massachusetts Climate & Affordable Housing Context (Boston Society For Architecture) The Return of the Townhouse (City Journal) Reach out with any comments or questions. Thanks! The BEN Brigade Know someone else who may be interested in this content? Please share! Newsletter Sign Up Ben 4 Franklin, 23 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA Send free email today

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = THURSDAY

9:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Stephen Puleo

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:35 pm Cooking with Linda: Italian Sausage

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Anne Bergen

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke

5:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Djuna Perkins

8:00 pm Jon Mitchell & Randy LaRosa: 12-Tone Music

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

9:30 am Rec Basketball:7th & 8th Grade Boys 03-07-26

12:00 pm FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26

2:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Pt 1

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball v North Attleboro 04-08-26

9:00 pm Franklin Footlighters: Footloose

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Conservation Commission 04-23-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 04-23-26

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA