Welcome to DCAT!
We hope you'll join us in our efforts to create and share local programming that
addresses the interests, concerns and events of Danvers. Danvers Community Access
Television, Inc. is an independent non-profit corporation governed by a locally
elected board of directors. It is funded by a percentage of Comcast and Verizon
gross revenues. The daily operation of the station is run by the Executive Director
and three employees as well as our many DCAT members and community volunteers. Each
member of DCAT's staff brings a unique and distinct vision to our station.
Meet the DCAT staff What is Public Access?
For many in the United States, television has become the number one source of information
about the world. Every day, people take in news, editorials, opinions, entertainment
and many other types of programming, all paid for by large companies that can afford
network and cable advertising rates. The opportunity for other voices to be heard
on "the soapbox" of our times has become very limited. In order to address the problem,
Congress adopted the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, which provided for
public access to the airwaves. Most local authorities have used this provision to
require cable franchisers to dedicate channels on the cable system to Public, Educational
and Governmental programming (
PEG Access).
How Public Access Works
DCAT's mandate is to give members of the community a voice. We provide the equipment
and training; You make the television programs. Any individual or organization can
register to become a community producer. They will be trained on our equipment and
given access to the DCAT studios as well as borrow field production equipment. The
equipment is then available on a first-come, first-served basis to all trained volunteers
to create programming for the Public Access Channel. Organizations can form their
own video team; individuals can work together. We encourage a wide range of subjects
and styles—music, drama, comedy, sports, public affairs, and any other program
you are interested in making as a DCAT volunteer.
What does DCAT Do?
The programs that you produce for DCAT can:
- Be viewed worldwide via our Video On Demand playback
- Provide a forum for debate on local issues
- Inform residents about services available in the community
- Allow limited-run productions (plays or other events) a life on television
- Expand the audience for a local band, poet or craftsperson
- Allow people who can't attend an event the opportunity to see it anyway
- Give people a fresh perspective on aspects of our community
- Present a documentary view of a neighbor, friend or organization in town that's doing something interesting
- Teach skills ranging from gardening to origami
- Change people's stereotypes—change your life
