History of ICAT

In 1992 the Irondequoit Town Board formed a commission to look into the current state of the Town’s cable access television station.  Its mission was to report about the feasibility of reorganizing the access channel to better serve the needs and interests of the whole community and then recommend a plan toward that end. 

By March of that year, using students, volunteers and equipment from the West Irondequoit School District, the first Irondequoit Town Board meeting was televised. Soon afterward, other civic and educational programs were organized and telecast, throughout the year.  An initial grant of $15,000 from the incumbent cable system allowed the relocation and creation of two origination sites plus a portable camera two videotape playback decks a small character generator for a community bulletin board and some other supplies. 

A year later, enough programming had been created to warrant a second TV channel which was made available for community use.   A third origination site was negotiated with Time Warner Cable, allowing the Town, and the East and West Irondequoit Central School Districts to create and televise live and recorded programs from their own facilities.  Now, Channel 12 focuses on Town government news and information, as well as programs from community producers and a wide variety of special interest, ethnic, arts, military, religious, and entertainment programs.  Channel 15 primarily airs shows from both public school districts.   Both channels provide up-to-date community information bulletin boards.

In 1994, ICAT created the first town website working with volunteers from the Genesee Gateway.  www.irondequoit.org was one of the first virtual communities in the area.  ICAT continues to maintain portions of the site for the Town. 

In 1998 ICAT became part of the Department of Parks and Recreation.  Production of the Town's quarterly magazine, Images of Ironde- quoit, became the responsibility of ICAT.  Images is mailed to each household in Town.  The magazine provides valuable information about Town government, including news from each Town department and the regular program offerings of the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Irondequoit Public Library. 

In 2000, ICAT created the Connect With Irondequoit business membership program.  Proceeds from this program are pooled into the Town’s coffers to help cover costs of print, television, and website production. 

In 2006, ICAT and the Town's Information Technology department became the Town's new Department of Information Services.  That same year, ICAT was instrumental in updating and expanding the Town website.   In 2008, Irondequoit Cable Access Television and Penfield Community Cable Television signed an agreement to share staff between the two organizations, thereby increasing the quality of programming while decreasing the cost of services.