Town of Norwood

 The Norwood Cable Commission Members are appointed for three-year terms by the Norwood Board of Selectmen, in its role as the License Authority for cable operations in the Town of Norwood.Norwood is one of few towns in the Commonwealth that has its own cable corporation. The Norwood Light Department runs Norwood Light Broadband and is responsible for the development of the network and the providing of all cable services including high speed internet services. Comcast also provides similar cable service throughout Norwood.
 
The citizens of Norwood were given the potential of an additional choice for their cable provider when Verizon Communications filed an application on November 1, 2006 to offer cable communications service in Norwood.
 
During 2007, in strict accordance with Massachusetts statutes and regulations governing such an application, extensive negotiations were conducted between Cable Commission representatives and Verizon Communications including counsels representing each side. At a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen on August 21, 2007, the Chairman of the Cable Commission recommended that the Selectmen, as the licensing authority, approve the license for Verizon. The Selectmen followed this recommendation and approved the license on that date. This action thus brings to three (3) the number of cable companies providing the citizens of Norwood a choice of cable programming and internet services.
 
Revenues received from the cable companies are distributed to the Norwood Public Access Corporation to be used for local programming. This non-profit corporation was formed by the Board of Selectmen in 2003 to provide quality public access, educational and governmental programming over the town’s cable television systems, both Norwood Light and Comcast.
 
Norwood is also unique in that two non-profit cable access companies function within the town. In addition to Norwood Public Access Corporation appointed by the Selectmen, and identified as NPA TV, Norwood Cable Television Corp., known as NCTC, although now unfunded, remains operational.
 
Norwood Public Access Corp. has made excellent progress since 2003. In addition to bringing the studio at the High School on line, many local events were broadcast during the year including the weekly Selectmen’s meetings, School Committee meetings, Norwood High graduation and athletic events; Little League, Memorial Day and the July 4th parades; Town Meetings and Concerts on the Common; plus many excellent programs providing entertainment and information to the public.
 
Throughout 2007, the Commission continued its active opposition to bills filed at both the Federal and State level which would have the effect of removing franchise licensing authorities from the cities and towns and the additional potential of impeding the progress and viability of Public Access broadcasting.
  
The Cable Commission, in cooperation with Norwood Public Access Corporation and Jack Tolman - Norwood Schools TV Director, encourages the continued expansion of locally produced programming. Also, we will continue to inform the Cable companies at our monthly meetings of all requests, comments and recommendations offered by the subscribers with the goal to improve the Norwood Cable TV system for all subscribers.
 
It is important to note that although neither the Board of Selectmen nor the Cable Commission has any control over rate changes instituted by the providers, cable subscribers can raise their objections and/or comments to the Mass State Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. (For further information contact the Norwood Cable Commission).