HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-29-CAC-min (Negotiating Subcommittee) COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
NEGOTIATING SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Room 111, Town Hall
October 29, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 7 19 PM
Attendees
Negotiating Subcommittee members David Becker and David Buczkowski, Jane Lyman from
Comcast.
The Request List was discussed with Ms Lyman.
Mr Becker spoke of talking with the police chief about the emergency contact person for
downed lines The police chief tested it successfully
Regarding the Side Letter on double poles, Ms Lyman stated that it was "Ball in Court" or BIC
on a shared computer list between the various companies that use poles in Lexington so Comcast
can't proceed until the ball is in its court so to speak.
Ms Lyman quoted the current license with regards to the cable boxes for the schools as
"necessary equipment for receipt of said signal" She will draft language for a more current
reference due to the change to digital and new equipment.
Comcast is not prepared to commit to providing an HD channel to LexMedia in the new license
but will commit to a continuing discussion. An HD signal uses 6 to 8 times the bandwidth of the
regular transmission.
Ms Lyman stated that servicing the new town property at 33 Marrett Road is not an issue but is
subject to the common license language
Comcast will continue to pay the 5% of gross annual revenues on a level funding basis and will
agree to keep the current definition. Comcast will also continue to send two checks to split the
payments
Ms Lyman agreed that Comcast will continue to pay In Lieu of I-Net funding but wants to
compute it differently to protect its customer base She calculated that the current payment is just
over one half percent of gross revenue She wants to change the payment from a fixed amount to
one half percent of gross annual revenues The final payment for 2014 will be $14,671 00 instead
of$17,606 00 because the license only runs through August 31, 2014 and not yearend so it is
only a partial calendar year
A discussion was held about Ms Lyman's September 16, 2013 letter to the Board of Selectmen
concerning high speed Internet service provided to schools It is currently provided gratis to the
Cottmg School and Minuteman Technical School by Comcast. It is basic mternet service and not
robust enough for the town's use in its schools
Mr Becker has the Comcast Melrose license for review
It was agreed to meet again on either January 15th or 22114 2014
The meeting was adjourned at 8 45 pm
Respectfully submitted,
David J Buczkowski, Acting Secretary