HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-09-23-CAC-min.pdf Cable Television and Communications Advisory Committee
Minutes of September 23, 1999 meeting.
Committee members present were David Balsom, David Becker, David Buczkowski,
Steven Ellis, Jane Gharibian (Chair), David Kanter, Raul Marques, Julie Triessl,
Robert Warshawer and Caryn Werlin. Prospective member Seth Silverman and
Richard Peterson, representative of the Concord Committee, were also present.
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted after the spelling of Mr Marques'
name was corrected.
David Kanter reported on the status of the RCN system:
Hub Site
The lease is not yet signed, but is expected to be very soon.
Necessary conduits under Bedford Street have been installed.
Architectural design is out for bid
Plan to complete work by mid-December, but date could slip.
Grant of Location
The Board of Selectmen issued a grant for the aerial work.
RCN still must obtain grants for underground work.
&twork Construction
Pole make-ready is about 100% complete; tree trimming, about 50%; and
strand and grounding installation, about 40%.
May be ready to start coaxial cable installation in about a week.
Construction has been broken down into 17 work areas, but expect
concurrent activity in many of them.
Radio frequency design was completed and delivered to Boston Edison last
week.
They hope to begin segment-by-segment testing of coax by mid-November
If everything goes as planned, could have first service in late December or
early January
Town employees monitoring Boston Edison personnel seem satisfied with
their cooperation and the way in which they are doing their work.
Steve Ellis reported that RCN has offered to bring the attachment point for new
INet switching gear to a building in Lexington center for our convenience. Steve is
concerned, however, that the cable lengths might exceed those specified for
operation without amplification.
David Kanter reported on recent Cablevision upgrade activities:
Authorized rates
Cablevision has filed Form 1235 with Mass Cable, giving them a basis to
increase rates for recovering costs of the upgrade in all affected communities.
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CTCAC 9/23/99 Minutes
It is not clear, however, that they could raise rates very much in a
competitive environment such as Lexington's.
Upgrade glanning
David Green and Rob Travers met informally with some Committee members
to sketch out their upgrade plans. They were confident that they would be in
operation by Spring of next year, but seemed unaware that they may be
required to seek a grant of location for their aerial work(believing that they
were covered by their authority for the current system). We suggested that
they get legal clarification as early as possible so that their schedule is not
unduly held up.
Cablevision seemed to have a well-thought-through plan for publicizing the
upgrade, keyed to actual dates of system availability
Steve Ellis will not be able to head the Town's team for the Cablevision license
renewal negotiation. Jane Gharibian requested that other members think about
filling this important job. Members were requested to email ideas for inclusion in
the license to Bob Warshawer(RWarshawer@aol.com)before the next Committee
meeting.
Jane Gharibian said that Dan Fenn is interested in meeting with committee
members to discuss the prospective access corporation. His availability is very
limited. Discussion identified Monday, October 4 at 6:00 PM as a possible time for
this meeting.
Dave Becker presented an overview of access corporation issues, assuming that
Lexington might want to team with one or more other towns to broaden the
subscriber base and so increase potential funding for a studio. A copy of the briefing
charts is attached.
Jane Gharibian began discussion of the need to bring the committee's Charge from
the Selectmen up to date. A motion was made to accept David Kanter's proposed
wording (received earlier in an email from him), without the parenthetical remarks.
The motion was passed. The text of the proposed Charge, which will be presented to
the Board of Selectmen for their approval, is as follows:
Title: Communications Advisory Committee (Previously the Cable Television
and Communications Advisory Committee)
Members: 13
Appointed by Board of Selectmen
Length of Term: 3 years
Appointments Made: September 30 and when necessary
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Meeting Times: 3rd Thursday of each month(excluding July and August) or
when called by the Committee Chair and duly posted
Purpose: To advise the Board of Selectmen on all aspects of wired and
wireless communication and data services to and within the Town; to serve as
ombudsman for Town users of such services; when stipulated by the
Selectmen, to represent the Town in negotiations and during
contractual/license relationships with providers of those services; when
stipulated by the Selectmen, to oversee any network which includes
municipal and/or school buildings; to help set Town regulations and review
applications to the Town for wired and wireless communications and data
services; and to advise the Selectmen and other Town officials on managing
the Town's growing information-handling needs and any supporting
networks.
Criteria for Membership: Members should have an interest in
communications and education. In particular, representatives of key user
groups in the town (e.g., schools, libraries, and service groups) are encouraged
to become involved.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 21 at 5:45 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 P.M.
Minutes submitted by David Becker, acting secretary
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The Access Corporation Issues charts follow, printed two per page. Two changes
have been made to the charts used at the meeting:
1. Dick Peterson's name is corrected on chart 2;
2. Chart 8, with initial thoughts on how Lexington might proceed, has been added.
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