About

Keep It Local MA* is a growing network of concerned citizens, local organizations, Public, Educational and Government Access Centers and municipalities working to ensure equal access and fairness for all in the delivery of cable television service across the Commonwealth.

Supporters agree with a set of principles that center on the value of local control, the success of the municipal approach to franchising and the threats posed by the Verizon-backed legislation. To join the network, individuals and organizations have signed a statement of support outlining these principles.

Our goal is to share information and coordinate our efforts to preserve the current municipal franchising process from being preempted by the state. We seek to educate those who will be affected – residents, nonprofit organizations, local governments and businesses – about the special interest legislation that would short-change Massachusetts under the guise of competition, which already exists in many communities.

If you or your organization is interested in supporting local control, or if you would like more information about the issue or our network, please contact Dave Newman at info@keepitlocalma.com. For media inquires, please contact Cort Boulanger at (339) 222-2442 or press@keepitlocalma.com.

* Keep It Local MA is an informal network, without any membership or dues. Entities listed simply support maintaining local control and are not responsible for the content of the site. Any expenses the network incurs are paid for by the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association.

The following individuals and groups support local control and have signed the Keep It Local MA statement of support:

Elected Officials

Methuen City Councilor At Large, Kathleen Corey Rahme, Vice Chair
Mayor of Somerville, Joseph Curtatone
State Senator, Patricia Jehlen
City of Methuen Mayor, William Manzi III
State Representative, Cleon Turner

Organizations

MASSPIRG
Mass Access
Alliance for Community Media, Northeast
Community Media Visioning
Bedford Community Access TV
Belmont Media Center
Brookline Access Television
Cambridge Community Television
Cape Cod Community Media Center
Carver Community Access Television
Fall River Community Television
Foxboro Cable Access, Inc.
Foxboro Music Association
Groton Cable Advisory Committee
Ludlow Community TV
Malden Access Television
Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers
Medfield Community Cable Access
Methuen Community Television
Plymouth Area Community Television
Shrewsbury Media Connection
Somerville Community Access Television
Stony Brook Group, Brewster
Wakefield Community Access Television
West Boylston Community Access Television
Winchester Community Access & Media
Woburn Business Association
Worcester Community Cable Access

Municipalities

Town of Ashfield, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Bill Perlman
Town of Bedford, Town Manager Richard Reed
Town of Brewster, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Dyanne Cooney
City of Cambridge, City Clerk D. Margaret Drury
City of Easthampton, Mayor Michael Tautznik
Town of Foxborough, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Michael Stanton
Town of Gill, Selectboard Chair Ann Banash
Town of Grafton, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Craig Dauphinais
Town of Lakeville, Chair of the Board of Selectmen Nancy Yeatts
Town of Lancasater, Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco
Town of Middleborough, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Wayne Perkins
Town of Norfolk, Town Administrator Jack Hathaway
Town of Rowley, Town Administrator Deborah Eagan
Town of Stoneham, Chairperson of the School Committee, Maureen M. Soley
Town of Sutton, Town Administrator Joshua Handverger
Town of West Boylston, Town Administrator Leon Gaumond
Town of Westport, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Steven Ouellette
Town of Whately, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Paul K. Newlin
Town of Wrentham, Interim Town Administrator John McFeeley
Town of Yarmouth, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen James Saben

The following communities have passed resolutions opposing Verizon's special deal legislation:

Cambridge City Council passed Resolution, 9-0
Falmouth Board of Selectmen passed Resolution, 5-0
Foxboro Board of Selectmen passed Resolution, 5-0
Framingham Board of Selectmen passed Resolution, 4-0
Gloucester City Council passed Resolution, 6-0
Granby Board of Selectmen passed Resolution, 3-0
Methuen City Council passed Resolution, 9-0
Pittsfield City Council passed Resolution, 9-0
Quincy City Council passed Resolution, 9-0
Taunton City Council passed Resolution, unanimously
Waltham City Council passed Resolution, 14-0
Woburn City Council passed Resolution, 9-0
Worcester City Council passed Resolution, 11-0

Individuals

Julia Becker, Boston
Matt Belfore, Haverhill
Jennifer Bell, Haverhill
Dianna Biancheria, Worcester
Robert Bigda, Shrewsbury
Eldora Bishop, Foxboro
Erica Bodden, Shrewsbury
Paul Bond, Worcester
Bob Brandon, Haverhill
Susan Brandon, Haverhill
Samantha Bugler, Boston
Sarah Bush, Haverhill
Kelley Capobianco, Everett
Christian Cauicchio, Amesbury
Elizabeth Ciliu, Boston
Jay Cleary, Haverhill
Lianna Davies, Worcester
Julia M. DeVeaux, Haverhill
Karen DiCanzio, Foxboro
Jill Dunbar, Weymouth
Kelly Ann Dupuis, Shrewsbury
Edward Felker, Haverhill
Krista Ferrante, Boston
Katie Fick, Hanover
Brittany Flynn, Saugus
Alan Foucault, Haverhill
Matthew Froio, Worcester
Anna Furbish, Braintree
Mari Gottdiener, Northampton
Jennifer Grantham, Worcester
Jonathan Green, Belmont
Hanadi Hamzeh, Braintree
Shawn Hartsell, Roxbury
Tammie Heinrichs, Weymouth
Lorie Hogan, Shrewsbury
Robert Hurd, East Falmouth
Josh Jackson, Merrimac
Christine Juetten, Shrewsbury
Patrick Kelly, Newburyport
Robert Lamb, North Andover
Stephanie Lamb, North Andover
Don Lander, Weymouth
Kathleen Lander, Weymouth
William Lee Jr., Somerville
Roselyn Marshall, Foxboro
John McDonald, Shrewsbury
Roberta McConilie, Haverhill
Jonathan Miller, Haverhill
Derek Mitchell, Haverhill
Sara Mitchell, Boston
Kimberly Miot, Bedford
Michael Modestino, Braintree
Ray Naroian, Lawrence
Bill Nay, Worcester
Paul Newlin, Whately
Barbara Nordblom, Foxboro
Frank John Novak, Haverhill
Regan O’Handley, Boston
William Oster, North Attleboro
Mary Ernestine Oster, Braintree
Karen Oster, Braintree
Amy Pastenzyk, Boston
Samantha Porter, Gloucester
Greg Purdy, Worcester
Nancy Rea, Haverhill
Suzanne Reardon, Boston
Kevin Reault, Weymouth
Keerstin Rice, Southwick
Lindsay Robertson, Brookline
Frank Rocco, Worcester
Joel Russell, Northampton
Matthew Santorn, Haverhill
Melissa Schertzer, Stoughton
Maria Sheehan, Shrewsbury
Barry Sims, Holliston
Heather Soares, New Bedford
Max Taitel, Foxboro
Charles Thomas, Worcester
Damon Thomas, Haverhill
Laurence Van Atten, Shrewsbury
Paul Weaver, Shrewsbury
Peter Zawadzki, Brookline