Foxboro Cable Access (FCA) is a non-profit organization that has been providing Foxboro residents with the opportunity to create local television programs for over 40 years. FCA operates three cable TV channels on Comcast and Verizon in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The organization welcomes interested residents to get involved, and volunteers produce various programs such as church services, local sports, community events, local music, talk shows, historical society content, public forums, and government meetings.
Public Access Television: (Comcast Ch. 8 / Verizon Ch. 39 ) FCA is dedicated to providing a platform for locally produced programming created by a diverse range of individuals, groups, and organizations within the community. The content is non-commercial and the producer has complete creative and editorial control. FCA offers access to this channel, equipment, facilities, and expertise to all segments of the community. FCA does not exercise editorial control except for unprotected speech and obscenity.
Educational Access Television: (Comcast Ch. 12 / Verizon Ch. 37) FCA administers channels to allow the airing of programming produced by FCA staff, faculty and students of community educational institutions. Programs usually center around the activities of schools or colleges and may include fully televised courses of instruction. Educational programming is often cablecast on channel 8 due to equipment limitations.
Government Access Television: (Comcast Ch. 22 / Verizon Ch. 38) Gavel to Gavel coverage of local government public meetings is the mainstay of this programming, but programs that are informative or satisfy the need of the community, such as fire safety, health, recreational or employment opportunities provided by local government are also offered. Government programming other than live meeting coverage is cablecast on channel 8.
High Definition – (Comcast 1072/Verizon 2139) In 2022, FCA added a new HD channel, which provides enhanced image quality comparable to other broadcast stations. This new channel features the latest HD content from all three areas: Public, Education, and Government.
I just wanted to offer FCA my thanks for everyone’s efforts on the most recent “Around Foxborough” show, and for allowing me to conduct the interview with Lisa Downs and the four members of the girls’ basketball team. They were all great, and I think it revealed a side to their personalities that maybe the folks in town don’t see on a regular basis, like the story behind Lisa’s pink suit and the pranks they liked to pull on their coach. The town can definitely be proud of this amazing team.
It may have been one of the best interview sessions I’ve ever conducted – at least definitely during my time in the electronic media. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it.
–Mark Farinella