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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor CHICOPEE Charter Communications continued its commitment to the city last week when representatives of the cable television company presented the city with the first installment of a $1 million contribution. The funding will be used to help build a Telecommunications Center at the new Chicopee Comprehensive High School. Mayor Michael Bissonette explained at the Wednesday press conference that Charter officials were presenting $704,000 to the city, $500,000 of which is earmarked for the Telecommunications Center. The remainder of the funds represent the cable's company's annual contribution to the city. Bissonette said that over the 10-year contract between the city and Charter, Charter would raise $3.5 million for the city through fees. The mayor added he thought it was important for Chicopee residents to know that part of the fees they pay for cable television come back to benefit the city. John Dumont, who heads the current Telecommunication Center operations on James Street, said the city began producing local programs on its cable access channel in 1976. Since that time that there have been several upgrades of technology and that the Charter funding will help the center convert to digital technology in its studio in the new high school, he added. Moving the fiber optic lines from the James Street studios to the site of the new high school is a $50,000 job, Dumont said. Robert Spain, the director of Government Rrelations for Charter, said the funding reflects the company's policy of working with the communities it serves. "We believe in a partnership with the city," Spain said. "It makes us feel good to know we're helping with the education of the students in the city," he added. The second $500,000 contribution will be made on March 31, 2008. |