HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11-18-CAC-min.pdf CATV & Communications Advisory Committee meeting minutes 11/18/99
Meeting called to order 5:53 PM
Present:Jane Gharibian (Ch),Julie Triessl, David Becker, Robert Warshawer, Ed Vail,David Kanter,
Jennifer Taub,Steve Ellis,Mike Greene,David Buczkowski,Jeanne Krieger, &Rob
Travers(Cablevision).
Jane welcomed new member Ed Vail and a guest,Hunt Henrie.
Minutes of 11/28/99 meeting were approved with Steve Ellis&Mike Greene's names corrected.
Warshawer volunteered to be secy for this meeting, Becker has December complaints.
Both jobs were explained to the new members.
By request, Cablevision was moved to first on the agenda so that Travers could leave.
They have met with the HDC and are now ready to meet with the selectmen for grants of
location for their aerial work. They expect to start work immediately after receiving the grants
of location. Notifications will be made in each area that will be worked. When the rebuild is
completed, the old plant will be removed. Much paper was shown and some copies provided,
Travers agreed to provide a complete set to the Selectman's office for official attachment to
these minutes. In response to questioning CV stated that the INet will be maintained on the old
system but won't/can't commit to the INet being included in the rebuild/replace system. CV
stated that it was not considered because an INet system will be provided by RCN. (This
caused some comment which resulted in a motion covered later in these minutes). The EAS
problem is still up in the air It was suggested that the CV tech visit the chief and check out the
all of the available remote message capabilities and assure that the chief can access the system.
CV will be fully staffed at their service center on New Year's eve with on-call backup.
D. Kanter reported on RCN's build.
Expect to "light up" hub on 4 Dec. Backbone fiber 2 in place, remaining 6 by mid Dec. Power
Supplies: 142 of 158 in place, 23 were moved because of complaints. Coax: all aerial in place by
1 Dec. and 50% of splicing. INet available in about three months. They have had a minimum of
complaints and say that their work is going smoothly Marketing will start in January with
customers coming on line soon thereafter- all incrementally
Nothing reported on the Access Corp activity
Kanter updated on Tower applications -American Tower still on hold. The group opposed to
the NEXTEL in the steeple antennas is attempting to draft a change to the town bylaw to
change setback requirements (similar to other towns' actions).Jennifer asked for and obtained
advice on how to proceed and asked for help coordinating with that group.
Steve's report that the INet is essentially kaput created a vigorous discussion. Apparently CV has
a lesser cast of techs to assist in keeping the INet on the air They need a training session with
the hardware providers to bring them up to the point where they can continue to be effective in
keeping the INet functional. The discussion centered around the the lack of stability of the
INet. Temperature changes cause changes in performance which require continual
readjustment of interfacing hardware.
While the response of CV's techs is usually prompt, a more stable transmission system would
probably require fewer responses and reduce CV's cost of maintenance of the INet. CV's
statement that their no upgrade decision was based on the availability of an INet from RCN
was viewed as inappropriate. It was moved, seconded and passed that:
"CAC seek legal counsel to draft a letter to Cablevision expressing our dismay over CV's
reluctance to rebuild the INet as a way to ameliorate the ongoing tecnical problems"
Next meeting: Thurs,8 June,5:45PM
Adjourned at 7:30
Respectfully submitted
R.D.Warshawer