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May 17, 2001 Communications Advisory Committee Minutes
Members present: Jane Gharibian,Miriam Boucher, Steve Ellis,David Becker,David Kanter,David
Buczkowski,Jennifer Taub,Connie Ross,Ed Vail
Also; Jeanne Kreiger, Selectmen's liaison, Steve Grossman,RCN
Changes to Minutes: David Buczkowski requested that his last name's spelling be corrected
Minutes approved as amended
Complaint assignments:Bill Kofoed,June; Steve Ellis,July Jennifer Taub,August and Dave Buczkowski,
September
Jane Gharibian noted that the Town Meeting close caption expense was less than expected and
complemented RCN on their employees extra effort and technical ingenuity in supporting the additional
date as well as the switch to Clarke Middle School. Margery Battin gave public acknowledgment to both
Jane and RCN for their efforts.
Dave Buczkowski inquired whether Raul Marques was still a Committee Member. Action Item: Jane to
call Raul and determine his status.
RCN report(April&May Update):
I-Net Information:On May 3rd and 15th meetings were held with Connie and Steve to discuss I-
Net related issues.
Marketing: during May,we mailed the attached Cable Modem offer. As of this month we serve
an estimated 3,000 cable television customers. The digital Cable Television launch is scheduled
during June.
PEG/Local Programming:During April and May we taped eight nights of Town Meeting.These
tapes were played back to our customers on the RCN system.We also provided copies of these
tapes to AT&T for their playback. AT&T continues to provide RCN with copies of the
Selectmen's meetings. We continue to receive and play the tapes sent to us from Lexington
Interfaith. Steve needs to meet with Peggy on this.
Community Events/Sponsorship:May-Partial sponsorship of Lexington Discovery Day
Dave Becker raised an issue about Internet access while traveling. He wan't able to do this from
home, Web site shows that its available;Help Desk said that it was dropped. Steve replied that
letter was supposed to have gone out saying this service was cancelled(Jane and David B.didn;'t
receive them either. Steve has an action item to check.
Mr.Tortola complaint update: Issue was distance to house from street. Turns out he owns the
conduit to his house and RCN can use it. Steve has an action item to call Mr.Tortola.
AT&T Report
Lexington studio position:The position remains open.However,the interviewing process is complete
and Human Resources and access management are selecting a final candidate.I will keep you
informed.
Town Meeting: Continued thanks to RCN for the shared coverage of Town Meeting.RCN is unable
to provide further coverage.If Town Meeting continues next week,AT&T Broadband will cover the
meeting and provide a dubbed tape to RCN.
Museum Drop:AT&T is preparing to begin construction on a permanent Institutional Network drop
at the Museum of our National Heritage.I spoke June Cobb and Ralph Roscoe at the Museum and they
have agreed to the construction plan.The internal wiring is already in place,and this project will be
complete in the near future.While not a franchise requirement,AT&T will pay for the underground
construction costs.
Lexington Upgrade:As reported previously,David Grain, Senior Vice-President for the Northeast
Region,recently met with AT&T Broadband senior management to discuss capital spending. The
Board of Selectmen's recent letter and their particular concerns relative to the upgrade were discussed
in detail. Following that meeting,we are awaiting further capital spending allocation information and I
will keep the Committee informed.I responded to the Selectmen's letter and cc:ed the Committee.
AT&T Renewal
Jennifer Taub reported that Peggy had indicated that AT&T was leaning towards an Amendment.Jennifer
requested Committee input on alternatives. The Committee discussed issues like the value of a license,
AT&T's possible upgrade plans,a possible Public hearing and 6-month and longer term amendment
periods.
David Kanter reported on the buildout streetcut situation with the town and RCN. After discussions with
Tom Steel and Bob Sheehan, an RCN letter has been sent to Town Engineering for review David would
like to meet within one week to develop alternatives and a mutually agreeable deadline.
David also described the revision on Instructions for Wireless Applications for the Board of Appeals on
sound pollution from installations. This is not typically generators but accumulating HVAC sources. The
Instructions were revised to require ambient measurements and the increased DB at the abutting boundaries
resulting from the installation. In response to David Becker's question about requiring as built measures,
David answered that if non-compliance was measured,the permit would immediately lapse and that there
were a wide variety of noise mitigating methods available.
State Wireless Legislation:No change in status
Wireless Applications David Kanter reported on the following:
• Sprint, Carroll Property—No new activity
• Mass DPW—Nextel's power request for this site due to overlap of coverage with Belmont site was
approved by the Board of Appeals on April 26,but the decision has not yet been filed with the Town
Clerk.
• Sprint—A revised Cranberry Hill application package was just received by David;he will review and
send out copies to interested members.
• American Tower, 75 Concord Ave.—XM Radio's application incomplete conditionally approved at a
public hearing 10 May The Board of Appeals Permit is contingent on XM proving that their FCC
license is consistent with the FCC Intended License.
• North Coast PCS—No new changes
• Cingular—David received a call from their consultant requesting clarification on the Application
Instructions.
• Nextel: Cranberry Hill Office approved by Board of Appeals,20 day-appeal period has begun.
I-Net Report Ellis reported on SCOLA and I-Net
• SCGLA. The satellite antenna siting is still unresolved. Steve has spoken with most of the
stakeholders except the Permanent Building Committee.
• I-Net Service is unpredictable due to Boston Edison power outages and a typical two-day recovery
period for full restabilization.
• Has the RCN hardware and will start installing,probably with the Police or Fire Station.
David Kanter question to Steve Grossman: Status on emergency override?Action item for Steve to call
David Buczkowski/David
Date of next meeting June 21st
Adjourned 7:00 PM