[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING WWLP-TV22

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the 50th anniversary of WWLP-TV22, which on March 
17, 1953 became the first station to broadcast on the air in Western 
Massachusetts.
  As an NBC affiliate, WWLP is a leader in broadcasting, news, and 
ratings in Western Massachusetts. In 2003, the station was recognized 
by the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Associated Press as having the Best 
TV Newscast, the Best Sportscast, and the Best Public Affairs Program. 
Also, the station hosts the longest running high school program in the 
country, ``As Schools Match Wits.'' WWLP's history of public service 
programming includes the live broadcast of the Gubernatorial Democratic 
Debate, which originated in the new, all digital studio, in Chicopee. 
The corporate owners of WWLP, the LIN Television Corporation, opened 
the Northeast Operations Center out of the Chicopee office to 
accommodate five television stations being controlled out of a single, 
state of the art facility.
  WWLP continues to provide quality service to the community through 
their innovative Skylink program, which utilizes mobile satellite 
technology to broadcast live from anywhere within driving distance. 
Additionally, WWLP has a back up generator on Provin Mountain, and a 
UPS system and back up generator in Chicopee. Therefore, the back up 
systems will provide uninterrupted service to the viewers even in the 
event of a power outage at the transmitter or studio location.
  As the station celebrates its 50th anniversary, I would like to 
express my deepest gratitude to their continuous service to the 
community. WWLP is the only weekday morning news at 5 am, and the only 
weekend morning newscast in the area. Through the 31 hours of weekly 
news broadcasting and live Doppler radar updates, WWLP is a leader in 
news coverage.

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