HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-15-CAC-min.pdf JAN 11 94 11 19R11 P tis
CATV AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LEXINGTON
MINUTES OF December 15, 1993
The meeting was bald in Room 111 at the Town Offices. In attendance were
members: Julian Bussgang (Chair), Caleb Warner, Bill Spencer, Jack Cunha,
Ted Mairson, Martha Stanton and Jane Gharibian.
Rate setting issues:
Bussgang opened the meeting. The minutes were accepted and approved as
presented. A request was made to have subject headings for the minutes
which would facilitate information searches. Bussgang announced that
Cablevision has filed Form 393- rate regulation for basic rates. He is in the
process of preparing clarification statements to be filed by the town committee
for what rates should be in Lexington. The FCC regulates the 'Family" rates.
"Basic " rates are regulated by the Massachusetts Cable Commission. The
proposal will affect the rates and which rates will be going up. We have 30
days to answer. It was moved by Spencer that the committee have Bussgang
and Warner prepare the documents necessary in response to Form 393 filing
by Cablevision for submittal to Mass. Cable Commission as authorized by the
Selectmen. The motion was approved and Bussgang will seek authorization at
the Monday Selectmen's meeting.
Appointment/Cunha
Jack Cunha has agreed to spearhead the Access issues panel for the committee.
This would include notices for function coverage and working to set
guidelines.
Informal license process:
We have received a letter from Cablevision declaring that they want to go to
the informal license renewal process. Bussgang will ask at the meeting on
Monday for the Selectmen's response and have us designated as the committee
to work on the process.
Town Report:
Warner has prepared a draft of the Committee's annual report for inclusion in
the Town Report. It will be reviewed by Bussgang and submitted.
Selectmen's rtteetittg:
The Fiber optic cable hearing will be part of the Monday Selectmen's meeting.
It is hoped that the Selectriten will appoint Bill Spencer the Administrator of
the I-net at Monda'y's dicefRg.
Access Issueli:
Todd Bddthroid(sp9) is the net+ 'replacement for Cindy Campbell. We need to
clarify the role of. the stiff if fhb station with regard to Access/LO. This new
staff thembef heeds tb be iipprised df hil; role in obtaining people for shoots.
Cunha will coaidihite find tie the liaison. Clarification is needed on the time
resifittiod* when liking 311tdatik flit meetings.
I'M 'thinker, Kay Bell glad to Stip 6 video club which might generate more
pedple td Mari the dahibr&s for tdivn events,
Members feel that camera work and deportment of volunteers should be
critiqued to keep up to a high standard. All work by students should have
follow•up. It was funher decided that all work should have some follow-up on
how it was done. We still arc grappling with the issue of how to get people to
cover events. Further discussion on the issue of how events that arc not
published on the calendar of the newspaper get communicated to the station so
that crews can be obtained for coverage. It was suggested that someone from
the town offices might be approached and asked to notify station personnel of
important changes and additions to the calendar
Cablevision quality issues:
'Quality of picture" complaints are higher than in previous quarters. This,
according to Somers, is related to boxes and the box changeout is continuing.
There are still some rate confusion issues largely about the charge for
conveners. However, phone traffic for complaints is back to normal. The
state of flux in the programming changes is also causing confusion, but should
be stabilized soon.
Potters Pond residents who asked for a bulk rate were dissatisfied with the
agreement presented to them. No further discussion on the issue.
Family down to basic requires interdiction device which requires a unit in the
house. Some 1200 subscribers have "grandfathered" basic.
Cablevision is working on adding ESPN2 and NENetworkNews to their
grouping
Public Works barn is on the list for connection at a later date.
The Lincoln Lab Connection:
Somers reported that Cablevision has no capital dollars but has negotiated with
Lincoln Labs and a proposal has been submitted. Somers hopes to clarify and
have approval in the coming week (Dec.I5-22). The major payoff would be
improved connection to the internet at no monthly cost (current cost to the
school budget of $300. per month), plus higher capacity, since it adds the
municipal services as well as the schools. The town will contribute $7000.
No answer was given to the question of what benefits to Cablevision were
expected, but it will spring Lexington High into the 21st century
BB& Newman wants a demonstration project to go forward. One year will be
free to the town and they will assist in a grant search for future years.
Resolution from Somers for Cablevision for presentation to the Board of
Selectmen at the Monday; Dec.20 meeting.
Activities of Linclbn Lab/MIT thrdugh Fred Volk have been outstanding and
corht ittee wants recognition di that noted.
Performance date rot the I•nei and Entertainment net should be measured.
The comihlitee would like to see rest,lti. Dina will be given to Spencer by
Soiiiera
Lit:t hse Renew&l;
Bussgang i ill 'seek atithoFizhtidB far the Selectmen and ititliliniation to obtain
Legal counsel (Ut die infotlnil ptd6ess Since We need to ifsiittiie the process.
The committee *as charged to 0etermine what We should have and what we
would like to have included in the flew Iidensb. We will assemble, at the next
meeting, what we think should be added or changed. One item will be having
Access issues and responsibilities spelled out precisely
Agenda item 7, Town Dispatch Center was postponed for another meeting.
l•net Issues and Appointment of Spencer
JAN 11 94 11 21AM P 4/
It is hoped that a person can be found at the Town Hall for Bill Spencer to
coordinate with when he is appointed.
Mairson reported that he had received from Allay Epstein information
obtained at the NATOA meeting on what others arc doing with cable. He
suggests the formation of a consortium of technical people for the purpose of
identifying ways to make money The idea will be presented to the Selectmen.
Among those suggested were members from the Lexington Schools and
Municipal offices, Lan City, and MIT Lincoln Labs.
Spencer noted that a chart of possibles for the Lancity/Applitek bridges will
be presented at the Selectmen's meeting. The first eight on the list to be
okayed. Bussgang suggested exchanging positions of Library and DPW barn,
moving Library up the list. The committee consensus for the swap this year.
moving DPW to next year.
It was recommended that Mairson be the person to act for the committee on
technical matters. He declined.
The trend will be toward selecting people with discrete responsibilities rather
than having subcommittees. Spencer will try to handle the position Mairson
declined
Rate Regulation:
Update on the rate matrix prepared by Warner Somers reports that rates
identified in Warner's matrix are correct as best Cablevision can tell. Rates
submitted to the state arc different than the ones shown on the chart. These
should be the Sept. 1 rates which were presented Nov 17 The new rates were
calculated and submitted to the state on Sept. 1, but on recalculation there were
found to be errors. New rates were presented and may be challenged by the
state.
The committee will take up with the State Commission the issue of proper rates
and implications in Form 393 filed by Cablevision of a potential rise in the
rates
Bussgang wanted recognition 6f the efforts of Warner and Somers in
producing the chart feEofiltd. 1'flt etiM will He distributed to other towns and
to Rep. Markey's office and tithers.
The state regulates the Basic servile and the equiptneht. A pilot project by the
State Comtnisifin would silo* I fel iridnicipalidts to regulate themselves.
Bussgarig testified fiefbre the Hbukd Goveimiiient Regulations Committee in
favor of a wabief 96 that s itiunielpality ban itself take on regulation rather
than the state.
Therb that been coihplaikts ibbut family pfo$iamming services. The
committee hal riot yet filed it ebrrtplalht with Ute" FCC, but one citizen has filed.
NATOA advises tnimicipelltiel tb the in bider to verify rates, then complaints
on rates cah fie regulated by the FCC. It Was agreed that the committee should
file. This ivbuld be i Form 320 complaint and it triggers an audit of the rates.
Committee reorganization:
Bussgang will resign as chair on January 1, 1994. He presented a slate as
follows: Jane Gharibian and Caleb Warner as Co-chair, Julie Triesel
continuing as clerk. Slate was approved and voted unanimously
An attempt will be made to systemize the meeting dates by meeting on the third
Wednesday each month, alternating the time between 5:30p and 7,30p. We will
have the next meeting on Wed. January 19 at 5:30p. Members should call one
of the Co-chairs with Agenda items for each meeting.
Proposal for LexEd Foundation.
It was proposed that Lexington share courses with Bedford through cable,
working with corporations for equipment. This would require two channels,
one each way, so it would infringe occasionally on the residential channel.
It was moved that the committee support long distance learning which would
require occasional use of the residential channels (30 and 39).
Committee favored the proposal but additional information was requested so
action was tabled for the January meeting. (Clarification on the use of the
Hanscom Field channel or the Bedford Educational channel)
Also placed on the January agenda was a discussion of policy and process for
requesting use of bridges, nets, etc.
Bussgang will comment, for the committee, on the Fiber Optic proposals before
the selectmen on Monday at their request.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully (submitted, /
Jane B Gharibian