Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-20-CAC-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAR 20, 2014 Call to order. CAC Chair Ken Pogran called the meeting to order at 6:33 PM in the Parker Room (G-15), Town Office Building. Present: CAC Members: David Becker, David Buczkowski , Frank Cai , Smita Desai, Dorinda Goodman; Maria Kieslich, Nick Lauriat, Ken Pogran , Linda Roemer, and Geoffrey Xiao. Others: Florence Delsanto and David Ilsley, LexMedia; Tom Steel, RCN; Steve Iverson, resident and prospective CAC member.. 1. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes. The minutes of the meeting of February 11, 2014 were unanimously approved 2. Carrier Reports. RCN a. Mr. Steel reported on the continued unreliability of the hardware provided to LexMedia for transmitting the High Definition PEG channel signal to RCN. When the current hardware does work, there is significant interference on the audio channels of the three Standard Definition channels. At this point, RCN believes that different hardware is required, and they are investigating other solutions. b. Mr. Steel reported on a difficult situation for his company as well as for other cable operators: content providers are asking operators for large increases in the price for access to popular channels. Percentage increase in channel fees are significantly larger than have been asked in previous years, and, with current cost margins, the operators cannot absorb these unexpected increases. On the other hand, many customer contracts promise that cable prices will not increase for some period of time, typically one to three years. RCN feels forced to pass through some of the unexpected content cost increases to avoid a loss, but this has made some customers unhappy that RCN appears not to have kept its promise. 3. Selectmen’s Report – Joe Pato Mr. Pato was not in attendance. 4. Chairman’s Report – Ken Pogran a. Action on the proposed policy for Wi-Fi in public buildings has been delayed. b. The next CAC meeting will take place on April 17, 2013 in a room to be announced. c. The May meeting will be at the LexMedia studio. d. Mr. Pogran would like everyone’s cooperation in updating the CAC’s contact information over the next month. e. Mr. Pogran announced that we will be testing out the Town’s new process for archiving all CAC official business email. 5. LexMedia update – Florence DelSanto a. Installation of the broadband connection for the backup server by RCN is expected soon. b. As reported by Mr. Steel, the High Definition connection to the RCN head end does not yet work. c. The audiovisual installation in Cary Library is now operating acceptably as an origination point for LexMedia programming. 6. LexMedia Q2 report – Linda Roemer, Maria Kieslich, Geoffrey Xiao After a discussion of LexMedia’s Second Quarter report and of the LexMedia Working Group’s draft response, Ms. Desai moved, with Mr. Buczkowski seconding, that the CAC send the response to LexMedia. The CAC unanimously approved this motion. 7. LexMedia contract renewal – Linda Roemer, Maria Kieslich, Geoffrey Xiao The Town’s ten-year contract with LexMedia consists of an initial three-and-a-half- year term with two possible three-year extensions. The first term is coming to an end, and the contract calls for a public hearing, providing information on LexMedia’s performance to help determine whether the operator should be awarded the first extension. The public hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2014, and the LexMedia Working Group has prepared a timeline (see Mr. Pogran’s email of March 18, 2014), selected a venue, arranged for appropriate public notice , and set up a process for receipt of comments after the hearing. It is anticipated that Selectman Pato will chair the hearing. The Working Group will discuss issues brought up during the public hearing and other changes the Town may consider for the contract extension, and will develop a Performance Review to be conducted as part of a Board of Selectmen meeting. Results from the hearing and Performance Review will be considered along with LexMedia’s proposed Business Plan and Capital Plan for the extension and LexMedia’s response to the Town’s requirements for the extension in determining whether the Town will award the extension. 8. Cary Hall renovation and Community Center project status – Linda Roemer The Town has a strategy to simplify and accelerate construction on both projects, with an aim for earliest possible occupancy and minimization of total cost. The plans will be presented at a combination of regular and special Town Meetings to request support for revised funding and construction schedules. 9. Wireless coverage in Lexington – Ken Pogran The Committee is considering what actions it might take in support of local mobile telephone customers who have complaints about their service. Mr. Pogran has been in informal communication with Verizon Wireless, and has received information about Verizon’s existing wireless sites and preferences for additional sites. The Town has maintained restrictive zoning for a number of years, making it difficult for service providers to establish new sites. The Committee agreed that this was a topic that should be pursued further. 10. Comcast negotiations update – Dave Buczkowski, Dave Becker, Nick Lauriat The Board of Selectmen approved a request that the Town Manager issue an RFP to Comcast, with response requested by May 1, 2014. This will allow four months for final negotiations, which members of the Negotiating Subcommittee believe will be sufficient to come to agreement on the few issues remaining. 11. Town IT updates – Dorinda Goodman Vendor responses indicate a potentially lower cost for installing the first redundant fiber segment than was originally thought. The Town is waiting for confirmation before awarding the contract. 12. Wireless report – Frank Cai Frank Cai reported that there was no license application activity this month.. 13. New committee member application – Steve Iverson Resident Steve Iverson submitted an application to become a CAC member and attended this meeting. Mr. Iverson and Committee members had an informative discussion on his interests and capabilities, and on the tasks that are expected to need attention on the near future. After the discussion, the Committee unanimously voted to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that Mr. Iverson be appointed a member of the CAC. 14. Complaints a. Current complaints No complaints were reported this month. b. Recent and upcoming complaint assignments are as follows: Ken Pogran (February), Nick Lauriat (March), Smita Desai (April), Dave Buczkowski (May) c. Status of Complaints spreadsheet The cumulative complaints spreadsheet will be reviewed to ensure it is complete. 15. New Business. There was no new business this month. 16. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 PM Respectfully submitted, David Becker