A venerable who's who of local community and business leaders made a show of support for PCTV at Pittsfield's Cable Commission public input meeting last night inside City Hall. Twenty-four people stepped to the mike to lobby for continued support of the local television production company and to urge the commission to fight for more funding for PCTV in the new cable contract.

The city's 10-year contract with Time Warner Cable of the Berkshires will expire in May 2007. The Cable Commission is in the "ascertainment process" of contract negotiations, a required fact-finding phase that encourages the public to voice complaints or to praise the current cable provider and its services. This process allows the commission to better evaluate the provider and to gauge the needs of its citizenry.

Last night, a resounding message was sent: PCTV is vital to the community, and it must be grown.

The commission heard from people like Jane Winn, a member of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, who said that PCTV was "the best way to make our government transparent and keep locals informed."

Former Assistant School Superintendent Linda J. Porter, also a PCTV board member, spoke about how parents and students rely on a bulletin board for school happenings, such as cancellations, performances and emergencies. She detailed how area students have benefited in the classroom from producing shows and using camera equipment, and how fiber optic cables and more funding should be made available to the nonprofit.

Virginia Vogel-Polizzi told the commission how her organization, the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, showcases pets for adoption on television. Senta Brodeur, a local schoolteacher, spoke about how PCTV has nurtured creativity in the classroom, and how, in some instances, has helped to grow enrollment in music education.

City Councilor Peter Marchetti, speaking as a PCTV board member, said the analog system that is currently running will need an upgrade by 2009 to keep up with the digital divide. Beyond the more than 5,000 hours of yearly programming, including high school graduations, parades and election-night coverage, Marchetti said PCTV provides a "critical link between our people and our government."

He urged that a capital funding program for PCTV be established in the new contract.

Raymond Risley, a former fire chief, said he would like to see more done in the area of television notifications for emergencies such as floods or snow or street closings. He spoke of how the Fire and Police departments have been able to produce in-house programming on their professions, a fact Police Chief Anthony J. Riello backed up.

"(Our show) has been an excellent way to open up lines of communication with the community," Riello said. "There have even been times when we've called on them late at night to use their technology to help us solve a crime."

Officials from Miss Hall's School, Berkshire Music School, United Cerebral Palsy, the United Way, and state Sen. Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr.'s office also spoke in favor of providing more funding for PCTV.

PCTV Executive Director Bernard J. Avalle was pleased with the turnout.

"People need to understand that a lot of people depend on us," he said. "With the economic climate of late, there's always a concern that programming will be regionalized and funds will be eliminated."

Avalle said funding for PCTV comes from the franchise agreement with Time Warner, which sets aside less than 5 percent of annual revenues for the nonprofit. Avalle would like to see that sum increased.

The only comments concerning rates, programming changes and viewing content came from Commission Chairman Brian Johnson, who read from a few e-mails he received.

"I was a little disappointed that we didn't see a wide range of input ... more of a mix," Johnson said. "But there's tremendous support for PCTV. We're going to have to do our best to see what the cost relation is to the service, so we can try and get more funding."

People can submit their opinions to the commission by e-mailing pittsfieldcable@gmail.com. Also, the commission will hold a meeting March 13 at 5:15 p.m., where people can speak during an open-mike session.