Board gets cable TV update; Ritter Library deemed desirable studio space.

Byline: Lynne Klaft

LUNENBURG - The newly created Public Access Cable Committee updated selectmen last night on the progress of plans for new equipment, programming and the possibility of a new state-of-the-art studio.

Kevin O'Hara, PACC member, reported that an engineering study on the locations of a proposed studio or control rooms should be done before any formal proposals are made by the committee.

"We have rough dimensions for a studio, control rooms, heights also, and when visiting Groton we were told that 11- to 12-foot-high ceilings were desirable," Mr. O'Hara said.

The committee thought that the old Ritter Library building would be desirable for studio space.

"We saw the front space, as you walk in through the main entrance, as a Dave Garroway-like space where you could shoot through that front window and see a parade going by or the snow falling. It's best to start out with a square box of a space with flat surfaces and it has that second egress," Mr. O'Hara said, adding that the committee acknowledged it would have to make a bid on the space along with other town departments.

Mr. O'Hara also described a remote studio that was portable and could be used anywhere.

"It's called a Studio B with a tower PC and mixing board that can go anywhere. You can tape an event, download it, edit it, add graphics, make a DVD and then play it out of a control room," Mr. O'Hara said.

"Space needs is the single largest obstacle that needs to be overcome," said Thomas A. Alonzo, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

"We don't have enough room at the high school, what about space at the old Primary School? You could dovetail it with the arts center as video arts," Mr. Alonzo added.

The board was also concerned about having live broadcasts of town meetings held in the high school auditorium and taping of other board and committee meetings.

The PACC members said many options were available, but the major issue was where the coaxial cabling would be installed.

Selectman Thomas M. Mason said it was vital to get programming onto the cable access channel first - including sporting events, school plays, town meetings - to get onto the space needs priority list next, and then decide which building the studio will end up in.

High school students could also learn the use of the equipment as internships and be a resource for the community programming.

PACC will consult with the town's technical director, Derek Dufresne, about various equipment cost and cabling options, survey other towns' existing public access programming and consult with engineers before making another report to the board.

NAME: LUNENBURG PUBLIC ACCESS CABLE COMMITTEE; LUNENBURG SELECTMEN