2023-04-20-CAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8. Comcast cable television license renewal ascertainment process – Ken Pogran, P.K. Shiu, Dave Becker, Dave Buczkowski, Nick Lauriat Mr. Pogran discussed email correspondence he had with our cable attorney, Bill August, regarding our plan. He noted that Mr. August preferred that an ascertainment public hearing be held by the Select Board, but ultimately agreed that the Committee's plan, to receive public comments at a CAC meeting and then have our ascertainment report endorsed by the Select Board, was a reasonable plan. The Committee then discussed what sorts of requests we might make of Comcast. Topics mentioned were HD PEG channels, a PEG Capital grant, and, potentially, additional Internet bandwidth for Cary Library and for schools. The latter item depends upon whether Comcast is still offering this type of support, as they did when we were negotiating the current renewal license. The Committee further discussed the need to justify asking for the full 5% Franchise Fee payment in the renewal license. The Committee agreed that we have been diligently maintaining PEG revenue projections and should have no trouble demonstrating a need for the full 5% payment. The Committee also discussed the schedule for the ascertainment process, deciding to hold the public comment session at the Committee's June meeting, with a goal of having the Committee's ascertainment position endorsed by the Select Board sometime in August, which would be twelve months prior to the expiration of the license. This would position us well for negotiations with Comcast. 9. Wireless Applications – Nick Lauriat Mr. Lauriat reported there are currently no active wireless applications. 10. Complaints No complaints were referred to the Committee. 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM. Respectfully submitted, Dave Becker Recording Secretary