FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2015 Easton Community Access Television 50 Oliver Street, Suite 201A North Easton, MA 02356 Contact: Jason Daniels (508) 230­7200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eastoncat.org Community Radio takes shape in Easton Coinciding with the February 13th celebration of World Radio Day, Easton Community Access Television announces that their application to build a low power radio station for Easton, Massachusetts has been granted. On January 8th, 2015 ECAT was issued a construction permit from the Federal Communication Commission to broadcast a 25 watt station on 96.5 FM, originating from an antenna to be set up on the Lothrop Street tower. The permit initiates an 18 month timeline with broadcasting beginning in mid June 2016. The call letters for the new station are WREQ, the RE standing for “Radio Easton”. The construction of the station will be managed by ECAT and provide opportunity for local voices and local producers on a range of topics and community information. By definition, low power radio (LPFM) is non commercial programming thus mirroring the current framework that guides the local community cable access channels also under the purview of ECAT. The application was originally filed in November 2013 and might possibly have been the last window for communities to apply to the FCC for an LPFM license. “The potential was too great not to try”, says ECAT Executive Director Jason Daniels, “we have the infrastructure and our mission is aligned to support this endeavor.” Over the past 5 years Easton Community Access Television has grown to 3 cable channels and a robust online video presence. With WREQ, ECAT is building towards 5 local outlets which happens to also correspond to the organization’s 5th year of delivering community media. “​
As a member of the ECAT board, I am really looking forward to the next chapter of development. The possibilities for expanding our reach into the community will now be boundless. I can't wait for our first broadcast” said president George Farrell. For those interested in getting involved with community radio please contact Jason Daniels at 508­230­7200 or [email protected]. The first public community meeting will be Tuesday evening March 10. Easton Community Access Television (ECAT) ​
develops and produces educational, cultural and informational community programming for Easton, Mass. ECAT provides and preserves an electronic forum for the free exchange of information and ideas which reflect the talents, interests, concerns and diversity of Easton residents. ECAT features a variety of noncommercial, local programming that is produced by residents, groups and municipal agencies. ECAT invites all members of our community to get involved through access to education, production and distribution of content. Three types of programming covering community public access, government and education are available on: Comcast 9, 98, 97; and Verizon 22, 23, 24; and archived for anybody on our website. For more information, come to the studio, visit ​
www.eastoncat.org​
, call ​
508­230­7200 or follow twitter.com/eastoncat and www.facebook.com/eastoncat​
.