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CATV AND COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Annual Report 1995
Role of the Cable Television& Communications Advisory Committee is: 1) to advise on
implementing cable television, 2) to watch over the performance of the licensee -- A-R Cable
Services, Inc. (d.b.a. "Cablevision"), 3)to represent the Town in Contractual Relationships with
the licensee, 4)to be ombudsman for cable system users, 5) to oversee the use of the Institutional
Trunk connecting municipal and school buildings, and 6) to analyze and advise concerning
communications within the Town.
A new responsibility is emereine for the Committee - assisting in the management of the Town's
growing information handling network in cooperation with other Town entities, interconnecting
with Internet with the next goal of expanding connection to the residential subscriber, leading to
Town-wide access to, and participation in, the technologies of the future.
Cable TV provides six types of service not offered by local commercial TV broadcasters: a)
redistribution of local broadcasts to produce higher quality images, b) wider spectrum of
entertainment programs, c) access to programs produced by citizens, religious organizations and
other Town activities, d) professional production("local origination") of programs of local
interest, e) communication between Town and citizens and 1) digital and video communication
between various town functions -- schools, libraries, town offices, etc. This last service (or
"Institutional Net") produces significant cost savings to the Town.
In the future_ cable can provide additional safety, communication and utilitarian services, since 60-
65% of the Town s residences and over 500 locations within the Town buildings are already
"hard-wired"to the system. It remains to be seen how these services will be implemented. The
Committee hopes it will be able to contribute in this area through contract negotiations which are
in process.
Re-reeulation of rates and program tierine are a continuing problem for subscribers and the
Committee. Some types of subscriber complaints have dropped off as explanations of changes
have been issued. Formal complaints continue to be filed with the State of Mass. and the Federal
Communications Commission on issues the Committee feels need to be clarified and/or corrected.
The Town and Cablevision continue to wait for decisions and clarification. Consumer complaints
to Cablevision and the response of Cablevision to these complaints continue to be a concern for
the Committee.
The License renewal process is ongoing. The current license expires in 1996, and active
negotiations are drawing to a close with the deadline of December 29 1995
Coverage of local events has increased, but there is a severe shortage of volunteers to help with
production. Efforts by the Committee to recruit new volunteeers fell short.
Town communications have been and are being addressed, especially in the form of:
1) improvements in the"Institutional Net" which interconnects all Town facilities, and its
maintenance, 2) technical consulting regarding Fire and Police dispatch, 3) expansion of fiberoptic
public utility cabling within the Town and 4) continuation of the position of Network Supervisor
and most importantly, 5) passage of a Committee initiated Warrant article for funding of services
when current grants which fund them expire.
Members and their areas of concern: Julian Bussgang (`93, regulations), John Cunha(local
programming), Stephen Ellis (licensee renewal), Jane Gharibian(Chair, operations), Theodore
Mairson (information technology), William Spencer*(network management, retired), Martha
Stanton (schools), Sara Schoman*(local access, resigned), Julie Triessl*(library, resigned), Julie
Longcope (information technology, Town), Caleb Warner*(`94 Co-chair subscriber net,
resigned), William Lucas(regulations, licensing), Lionel Frey*(negotiations, resigned). New
members, Fall/Winter '95 Robert Warshawer(technology), David Buczkowski (legal,
regulations), Marguerite Bateson (library), David Kanter(consumer issues, regulations), David
Becker, interim appointee (technology, consumer issues). Technical Consultants: Byron
Blanchard, Paul Nesbeda. Advisors: Sara Schoman, (local access), Caleb Warner(license
negotiations, general history, advancing technology). License Negotiation Team: Stephen Ellis,
Caleb Warner, William Lucas, Principals; Julian Bussgang, Jane Gharibian, assisting. Liaison
from the Board of Selectmen: Leo McSweeney