Lowell Telecommunications Corporation

LTC is making headlines!

The month of May seems to have been a happening place here at LTC! Not only has LTC launched a new channel dedicated to public affairs and community programming, but it has also played a role in the local political community by providing a space for the first Democratic Lieutenant Governor's (http://lowelldems.org/2006/05/17/lt-gov-forum-location-change/) candidate debates for this political season.

Acting as a host for this event was as simple as having a member fill out a request form for use of space. With the local Senior Center disqualified as the original planned location for this debate, LTC made itself available at member request to help this political forum with a live studio audience that aired on Channel 10, a live streaming video feed via the internet, and a public space with wireless internet where political "bloggers" were able to use cutting-edge technology to reach a wide range of audiences.

Articles were published in The Sun (http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_3852100) and The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/05/22/in_blogosphere_democrats_provide_a_first/)
and included a fair amount of praise for the ease of use at LTC's facility as well as the accesibility and quick turn-around of the change in venue.

On Monday, May 22 a live launch party was filmed in LTC studios A and B with Mayor William Martin, a slew of talented local musicians performed live music and dance, and assorted LTC members and staff gave cameos and interviews for the cameras. A documentary short was shown mid-way through the show with 20 minutes of video about LTC's new channel. This 4-hour event was organized by LTC staff, produced and directed by member volunteers, and broadcast directly into the living rooms of cable subscribers across Lowell! After a successful launch, there have been a few audio and video hiccups in LTC's new channel 95, the Sunrise radio show has been successfully broadcast live from UMass Lowell's campus every day this week. Other shows that have been airing on Channel 95 include Lowell Works, In Focus, Eye on You, Marketplace, Walking Lowell History, Democracy Now!, the Independent News Network, old archives and local news footage, and NASA television programming.

While LTC has made press with the recent debates and has pushed the limits of local access programming with the new addition on channel 95, even more innovative projects and events are fast approaching! On June second the 100 Second Festival (http://100second.ltc.org/) will be showing at the Revolving Museum and other locations throughout Lowell. Likewise, the Digital Bicycle project will soon be unveiled at the Regional Alliance for Community Media conference in Boston...

All in all, May has been a very exciting month here at LTC! Hopefully, the rest of the summer will also include fast paced projects and exciting new events and technology that will continue to push the limits of public access technology and television.