HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-26-CAC-min.pdf CABLE TV & COMMUNICATIONS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING OF 10/26/95
CONVENED at 5:30 in room G-15 of Town Office Building.
COMMITTEE PRESENT included members Cunha, Ellis, Mairson, Spencer Associate member
Warner temporarily in Chair(at Jane Gharibian's request). Stella Liu temporarily representing
Library
A-R REPRESENTATIVES included David Green, Ass't. Gen'I. Mgr., and Peter Atherton, newly
appointed Director of Government Relations for A-R.
CITIZEN GUESTS PRESENT included David Kanter Nicholas Hay, Gilbert Garber and David
Becker
LIBRARY REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEE is still not settled. Stella Liu stated that,
although she was present, she is not a member of the Advisory Committee.
QUORUM of Committee members was not present, hence it was agreed that no formal votes
would be taken, but that meeting should proceed so as to solicit the sense of those present,
especially to hear out citizen guests, A-R representatives, and member reports/concems.
AGENDA was altered by scheduling Green's agenda items first since he had to leave early
NEW A-R MANAGER OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, Peter Atherton, was introduced by
Green, and stayed on for the full length of the Advisory Committee meeting. [Translation of this
title means that Peter will be dealing, in the future, with the Advisory Committees in Lexington
and the other Towns franchised out of Hudson].
MINUTES OF 9/23 MEETING were reviewed, with no corrections suggested. Formal approval
awaits a quorum vote at a subsequent meeting.
CONDO BULK RATES were discussed by Gilbert Garber, Chair, Board of Trustees of Potter
Pond. He reported that a stand-off remains between a group of condos and A-R regarding
obtaining a more favorable bulk rate for cable services. Dissatisfaction was registered by
Garber not only on the level of rate discount offered by A-R, but of the responsiveness of A-R.
The situation is briefly described in Garber's "Report to the Cable Commission [Advisory
Committee] regarding request for Bulk Billing", dated 10/26/95, appended hereto. He cited
specific instances of more favorable rates in surrounding communities, and inadequate
responsiveness from A-R. Garber reported that Potter Pond has an'offer'for a multi-channel
service from another supplier
A "Bulk Billing Rate Card" dated 10/3/95, was submitted by Green, and is appended hereto.
Green stated A-R's position as basically"fair to the subscriber" The higher bulk rate discount
allowed by Cablevision/Boston was explainable in that Boston is served by a different corporate
entity than Lexington, and the bulk rates had been negotiated by a separate subsidiary of the
parent -- Cablevision of Woodbury L.I.
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ROLE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN DETERMINING BULK RATES was questioned by
Garber He felt that the Adv Comm. should have a significant influence in the matter of
negotiating or determining bulk rates. Spencer asked for clarification of the Advisory Committee
in such matters. Warner pointed out that the right to determine bulk rate discounts was
specifically not the right of the Town, accorcling to Federal Regulations, and shall be a matter of
negotiation between the cable service provider and the group requesting discounts. Spencer
suggested that, if the Advis. Comm. has no legal power in bulk rate discount matters, the
Committee "could at least show some bias, publicly' (or words to that effect).
ROLE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN CONTROLLING GENERAL RATES was addressed by
Hay, Becker and Gaiter They generally questioned why the Adv Comm. did not appear to put
more pressure on A-R to control rates. Green explained the facts of regulation imposed by
Federal law, and carried out by the State and the FCC. Wamer admitted to frustration at the
Town's lack of legal right to regulate rates. Green stated that the impending arrival of
competition and the continuing regulation by State and Federal authorities provide certain checks
and balances in rate setting.
SUBSCRIBER REACTION TO PROGRAMMING CHANGES was brought up by Nick Hay. He
felt that A-R had made changes in programming without conducting proper surveys of
subscribers. Green said that the sales group had, in fact, made user surveys before changing
offerings.
ROLE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN PROGRAM AVAILABILITY was questioned both by Hay
and Becker They wondered why the Advis. Comm. had not influenced the program selection
process. Warner cited regulations which specifically limit such selection to the cable provider
PROPOSED RATE INCREASES have been scheduled by A-R, according to Green, under the
current Federal and State regulations. The amounts and timing of the rate increases are
forwarded to subscribers in compliance with regulations.
COMPLAINT LETTER FROM BROOKE has been answered, according to Green. The Brookes
were offered help on their premises by A-R, but refused the offer A copy of A-R's response letter
has been sent to Jane Gharibian.
COMPLAINT FROM MR. McGOLDSKY (sp.?) regarding simultaneous watching/recording has
been answered, according to Green. Mairson raised the question as to whether A-R had made
subscribers adequately aware of solutions to such problems. Green promised that instructions as
to what can be done will be forthcoming.
CATV HEARINGS AT STATE COMMISSION were attended by David Kanter, representing the
Lexington Cable Committee. These hearings concerned issues raised previously by Bussgang
regarding accounting practices by A-R in determining rates. David's report is appended hereto.
David found that the capability, thoroughness and responsiveness of the State Commission
personnel impressive. The Lexington Committee thanked him for his efforts.
Green reported that additional information was still requested from A-R to be able to respond to
Bussgang's earlier letter A-R will supply information to the State.
LICENSE RENEWAL NEGOTIATIONS were reported on by Ellis and Warner, indicating that
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ancillary services, "level tying field", and costs passed through to subscribers remain at issue.
Mairson showed concern over the possibility of reduction in support of ancillary services currently
provided by A-R in the event that"levelled playing field" is instituted in the future to protect A-R's
competitive position. Beer felt that license negotiators speaking for the Advis. Comm. should
take a public stand toward)more control of rates and programming services, even if such is
limited by law Warner voiced frustration of not being able to bring more support to subscribers
in the operation of the Advis. Comm. and license renewal process.
EXTENSION OF ETHERNET TO SUBSCRIBER NET was discussed by Mairson, saying that
certain channels on the subscriber net should be made available for interconnection to the
institutional net through use of additional bridge(s) at the headend, and use of Ethernet. The
technical issues involvedtsere not discussed.
OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNANCE OF I-NET was presented by Mairson.
This important subject had been deferred several times in previous meetings due to press of
then current business. Marson' comments are well covered in a memo he has prepared on the
subject, (attached hereto). His comments stimulated further discussion detailed below.
NEWLY FORMED "L.I.N.K." STEERING COMMITTEE was described by Spencer A written
summary of charge, membership, and supervision/reporting, plus a table of definitions was
submitted by Bill and is appended hereto.
Members currently are(?): t)from the Town Manager's Office: Julia Novak and Candy
McLaughlin; 2) from the School Dept. Bill Spencer and Sandy Guryan; 3) from the Library: Stella
Liu. Ex officio members were not detailed, but Julie Longcope has been active. The Steering
Committee has met twice so far.
Mairson showed some concern that this new committee had been formed without any discussion
with the Advisory Committee, or any public notice. He also asked what relationship would be
established, if any, with the currently non-functioning LINK committee. Spencer and Liu stated
that the previously-established LINK committee would address future activities such as grant
proposals, and would contbue to contain a broad representation not only from the schools and
municipality, but also from academia, involved vendors and interested citizens.
Warner felt that it would be important to have knowledgeable citizen representation on the newly-
formed LINK Steering Corranittee. Liu felt that is was wiser to maintain the committee solely as a
working group of Town employees.
Initiated by Ellis and supported by Kanter Becker Mairson and Warner all felt that the charge of
the new committee ought to be carefully worked out, and that the 'LINK"word should perhaps be
removed and a functional word inserted into the name.
INFORMATION HANDLING BUDGET is to be prepared by the new LINK Steering Committee,
according to both Liu and Spencer The budget will include funding to pay the Internet service
provider and to hire one addStional individual as a network specialist. The budget would appear
as a line in the Town Manager's section of the budget at the next Town Meeting (not as a
separate article). Liu stated that the new individual hired is to sit in the Library.
INSTITUTIONAL NET STATUS IN EVENT OF SYSTEM RE-BUILD was questioned by Mairson.
Ellis described the general approach anticipated in the event that A-R rebuilds the system using
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fiberoptic cabling. He explained that there would be a feeder ring around the outside of the
communities served by A-R, with fiberoptic cable spokes going to each community. Since re-
build would be undertaken to reduce maintenance and operating costs, the I-Net would
undoubtedly be similarly re-built so that operation and maintenance can be standardized
throughout the system. In short, re-build might present an opportunity to improve the I-Net
(provided, of course, that ancillary services remain funded under the license in force at the time).
CANDIDATES FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP were not discussed in view both of a lack of a
quorum, questions about going into executive session, and because we were running out of
time.
NEW BUSINESS consisted of a statement by Bill Spencer that he was resigning from the
Advisory Committee, effective December 1, pending his retirement (effective Jan.1, 1996).
When questioned whether his replacement would serve the same role on the Committee, Bill
was not sure. An advertisement from Boston Sunday Globe (of 10/15?) for Bill's replacement
was circulated as an item of information, describing the re-defined slot in School Dept.
organization, and is appended hereto.
NEXT MEETING decision re date, time and agenda was held in abeyance in view of small
turnout at this meeting. Members are to be solicited by telephone to determine a satisfactory
time to assure a quorum.
ADJOURNED at 7:30.
SUBMITTED by Caleb Warner Temporary Chair
(File:cw/ca5/CAMI1095/W PW I N60.wpd/10-25-95)
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