Lowell TeleMedia Center Suffers 'Catastrophic Flood'

Burst pipe causes extensive damage to public access TV station's equipment and facilities

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:07pm

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A burst second-floor hot-water pipe at the Lowell TeleMedia Center, the city's public access TV provider, caused extensive flooding and damage to the organization's offices, equipment, and all four of its cable channels. The flood has taken the channels offline for the "foreseeable future" as the nonprofit works to restore operations.

Why it matters

Lowell TeleMedia Center is the city's independent public access TV provider, offering local programming, coverage of municipal meetings, and educational media services. The loss of its channels disrupts an important community resource, especially for residents without internet access who rely on the station's programming.

The details

The flooding occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning when a second-floor hot-water pipe burst, sending water pouring into the first-floor offices and equipment room. Five IT racks, a server, and all the equipment that carries the signal out to Comcast were damaged. The nonprofit is now working to get a restoration company to remove the water and start the insurance claims process.

  • The flooding occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
  • Last week, LTC suffered a separate catastrophic server failure that briefly shut down programming.

The players

Lowell TeleMedia Center

The independent nonprofit organization that serves as Lowell's public access TV provider, offering local programming, coverage of city meetings, and educational media services.

Adam McCune

The executive director of Lowell TeleMedia Center.

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What they’re saying

“The water went into first floor, which has all of our offices, and it came right onto the rack that runs pretty much all of our programming.”

— Adam McCune, Executive Director

“I talked to an 87-year-old resident who was mad that we didn't have the meetings on. She wanted to watch some of her other programming. I understand. She didn't have a computer or internet. This is what she gets. This is who we serve.”

— Adam McCune, Executive Director

What’s next

Lowell TeleMedia Center is working to get a restoration company to remove the water and start the insurance claims process. The organization hopes to get Comcast to provide new equipment so it can restore its cable channel broadcasts to residents.

The takeaway

The flood at Lowell TeleMedia Center highlights the importance of public access TV as a community resource, especially for residents without internet access. The disruption of the station's programming underscores the need for reliable funding and infrastructure to ensure the continued operation of these vital local media services.