Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-15-CAC-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2021 CONDUCTED BY REMOTE PARTICIPATION Members Present: Ken Pogran, Chair; Bob Avallone, Dave Becker, Dave Buczkowski, Smita Desai, Dorinda Goodman, P.K. Shiu, Rita Vachani, Ramin Taraz, Steve Kaufman Members Absent: Nick Lauriat Quorum: A quorum of members was present. Others Present: Florence DelSanto (LexMedia), Niall Connors (Verizon), Mark Sandeen (Select Board liaison) Materials Referenced: • DRAFT CAC Meeting Minutes March 18, 2021 • 2021.04.12 DTC Letter requesting status for Verizon renewal license • 2021.04.13 Lexington Select Board response letter to DTC- Verizon renewal license 1. Call to order and roll call—Ken Pogran Communications Advisory Committee (CAC) Chair Ken Pogran conducted the roll call and called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. Meeting held remotely via Zoom teleconferencing. 2. New Member Welcome Mr. Pogran welcomed new CAC member Steve Kaufman. 3. Review Minutes of the March 18, 2021 CAC Meeting The minutes of the meeting of Marchl81h, 2021 were approved unanimously with new member Mr. Kaufman abstaining. 4. Select Board liaison report -Mark Sandeen Mr. Sandeen reports that the new wireless policy is now in effect. This will result in more small towers. The applications will require review by the CAC for recommendation to the Select Board. 5. Service provider Reports Niall Connors of Verizon reported that there is no new news about the Verizon license renewal process except that Dave Becker and Peter Epstein are working on this issue. 6. Chairman's Report—Ken Pogran Mr. Pogran reported that the committee is now up to full membership. 7. LexMedia Update—Florence DelSanto The preparation for Patriots Day is underway. LexMedia is working with the Town Celebration Committee on this project. The coverage will be extensive. It will start with a concert at 11 AM and continue with the virtual parade which starts at 12:30 PM. The White cane award will also be covered. Reenactors will be included. LexMedia has covered sports including volleyball, swimming, and will cover football. They have covered concerts, end of the High School year celebration and Town Meeting. A new employee, Brian Gota, was hired to replace Julie Manoogian. Mr. Gota will be an Associate Producer who will perform in-studio and field work. 8. Verizon FiOS cable television license renewal—Dave Becker, Dave Buczkowski, Nick Lauriat The working group consisting of Messrs. Pogran, Becker, Buczkowski, and Lauriat will meet with Peter Epstein, Town Cable attorney to discuss this matter. There are several issues where there is a difference between what Verizon is proposing and the Town's needs. These must be worked out. Paul Trane is the attorney for Verizon. The working group will contact Mr. Trane and copy Mr. Connors. The Select Board received a letter from from the Department of Telecommunications and Cable, and replied that the Town is proceeding with the renewal process. Mr. Connors stated that Verizon wishes a five-year renewal period from now on due to changing technologies and market conditions. Mr. Becker commented on the Comcast license, which will expire in 2024. It will shortly be time for Comcast to tell us that they want to renew. The Town simply needs to to acknowledge that we do want to renew them. 9. Discussion of Legislative and Policy Initiatives —Mark Sandeen Mr. Sandeen brought up the subject of whether the committee would like to track legislation related to communication. Would the committee like to recommend to the Select Board,that they should take a position on certain pieces of legislation? Mr. Pogran said yes and that this should be a standing topic for the committee. In the past the committee has taken an interest in the subject of net neutrality, in particular committee member Bob Avallone. The committee has commented in the past on changes proposed by the Federal Communications Commission regarding in-kind contributions. The Committee drafted a letter and presented it to the Select Board which was ultimately submitted as a formal comment by the Town. The issue of the moment is a bill before the state legislature that would tax certain streaming services and return a portion to the town for PEG access fees. Mr. Sandeen explained the legislative process and that there will be a hearing on the bill in the next month or two. Mr. Avallone made several comments. The first was that he had attempted to contact Senator Markey's office to see if there was progress in reestablishing the policy of net neutrality, but he was unable to make contact. He also stated that the Town should support the PEG access fees bill to make up for the lost revenue from lower cable fees. The committee decided to establish a working group consisting of Ms. Vachani, Mr. Avallone and Mr. Kaufman with Ms. Vachani as chair to review the PEG bill and other legislative initiatives. 10. Wireless Data performance in Lexington—Steve Kaufman New member Mr. Kaufman is concerned about the lack of consistency of wireless connection speeds within the town. He finds in his part of town he would not have coverage except for the fact that he has FIOS available. Mr. Becker has noticed dead spots within the town and noted that some business owners have complained in the past. Mr. Pogran noted that Verizon and AT&T have approached the town to installed more small cell sites. Ms. Goodman stated that the site of the Town water tower, which currently has cell antennas from several carriers attached, is a possible location for a new free-standing cell tower. It was noted by Mr. Pogran that there is often a conflict between citizens who do not want more towers in their neighborhood and those who want better coverage. The conclusion was that the Wireless committee which hasn't met in a while should meet again to discuss this issue. 11. Town IT Update—Dorinda Goodman Ms. Goodman spoke about the cell tower that is planned for behind the Police Station. There is a lot of competition for space on the tower, especially for Town communications needs, and there is a limit to the space available. The other issue is aesthetics. Is there a way to disguise this tower? One idea is to cover it with a fake tree. The current plan is that AT&T will construct the tower so they will have first choice as to the use of the tower, after Town needs are met. There was discussion of the need for additional new cell tower sites within Lexington, given increased subscriber demand for wireless services. 12. Complaints —Dave Buczkowski(March), Bob Avallone (April) No complaints were received by committee members. Upcoming: Ken Pogran (May). Dave Becker (June) 13. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 PM. Respectfully submitted, Bob Avallone Recording Secretary