One Last Tech Update from CCTV’s Andrew Crawford

One Last Tech Update from CCTV’s Andrew Crawford

After nearly 10 years as CCTV Center for Media & Democracy’s Linux System Administrator/Tech Director/Video Engineer Andrew (Andy) Crawford is moving on. If his title is any indication, Crawford leaves behind some mighty big shoes to fill.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities — of planning, budgeting, and providing technical leadership and management to CCTV, Channel 17, and Common Good Vermont — Crawford’s job required drive, curiosity, resourcefulness, focus, and a collaborative spirit. (He also provided technical support to Burlington community media outlets RETN, VCAM, and WBTV-LP/93.3 FM.)

A tenacious and good-natured problem solver, Crawford was almost always ‘on call,’ troubleshooting problems and resolving technical issues on many evenings, weekends, and Election Nights throughout his decade-long tenure.

A true believer in public access and digital inclusion, Crawford was instrumental in launching Burlington’s Civic Cloud Collaborative Project — a platform for public, non-commercial Internet applications and digital creative works — and has been working to maintain and expand its capabilities since 2014.

As an open source advocate and expert, he recently testified on “H 680: An act relating to protecting consumers and promoting an open internet in Vermont,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining net neutrality and explaining that because “Internet access is used like a multi-purpose utility, it should be classified as such.”

Crawford’s commitment to community and fundamental democratic principles fueled his passion for his work at CCTV. “Freedom to access community knowledge, associate with others, and speak online is the foundation of self-determination and local democracy,” he explains.

Crawford will soon be sharing his passion and his vast and varied skills with another local innovator — Dealer.com. He is looking forward to having a more predictable work schedule, and to spending more time with his wife and three kids. He promises to continue advocating for open government and open networks and will continue working to support and expand the Civic Cloud initiative.

CCTV will host a going away party for Crawford at the Channel 17 Studios on Friday, June 1st,  at 4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

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Since 1984, CCTV's Center for Media & Democracy has been an incubator of new ideas for building community through media. As an advocate for free speech, public access, open networks —  and open government — it established some of the first public access cable television channels in Vermont. Learn more at www.cctv.org.