If you are looking for WCVB Channel 5 from Boston on your Spectrum cable in Berkshire County it’s gone.  For years we’ve had to endure a blackout on Channel 5 because of “duplicate programming”, which wasn’t always the case.  Also last year Charter, now spectrum eliminated WWLP channel 22, the NBC affiliate from Springfield.

Spectrum has explained that Berkshire County is an "orphan county" according to the agency that regulates TV & Radio, The Federal Communications Commission.  As far as Washington D.C. is concerned we’re part of the Albany, New York media market. Customers access ABC and NBC from Albany stations, meaning they don't get local Massachusetts news.

Now, according to Masslive.com, our local lawmakers from Berkshire County are asking their constituents to stand up against Charter Communications as yet another Massachusetts news and sports station is pulled from the "Spectrum" cable TV lineup.  A petition asking Charter to restore the stations is being circulated by Sen. Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield), Rep. John Barret (D-Adams), Paul Mark (D-Peru), Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield), and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli (D-Pittsfield).

"Charter Spectrum: The Berkshires demand access to Massachusetts news and sports!" the petition declares. "The Berkshires are western Mass -- not east Albany!"

Charter in the past has said it has no control over the matter, and that towns should take their complaints to the FCC.  Charter's Berkshire County service territory includes Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Great Barrington, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Williamstown and West Stockbridge.

 

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