HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-16-CAC-min.pdf Minutes of December 16, 1999 Meeting
Communications Advisory Committee
Meeting called to order. Present were members: David Kanter, David Becker, Robert Warshawer,
Stephen Ellis, Caryn Werlin,Ed Vail, Michael Greene, Jane Gharibian, David Buczkowski, Ted
Mairson,Raul Marques; Board of Selectmen, Jeanne Kreiger; Town of Lexington, Connie Rawson;
Cablevision,Rob Travers and Guests: Kosta Jovanovic and Kevin Joyce of Metricom, Inc.
The Minutes were approved with the correction of complaint person for December. David Becker
is serving in December.
Kanter reported that RCN received its `grants of location' for underground work; the hub lease,
design and interior equipment placement are complete. The feed to 173 Bedford hub is in place and
the `lighting of the hub is underway
Kanter introduced Metricom, Inc. representatives who had been welcomed earlier. Kosta Jovanovic
presented their proposal for a 3'd choice of intemet access for Lexington residents, a wireless data
network called "Ricochet" The low-impact service is currently in place in Seattle and San
Francisco with proposed launchings for Chicago,Boston, Atlanta, and Houston. Metricom has a
local office in Woburn,but is headquartered in Los Gatos, CA.
Even though their installation is wireless and involves installations (shoe box sized boxes w/ 1 watt
max output)placed on existing street light fixtures,they were advised that for Lexington they would
require a special permit. Also, they would need to go before the Historic Districts Commission, the
Design Advisory Committee, and our Committee for approval. Transmitters are required for each
6-8 mile area and they allow the transfer of graphics, sound and data files @ 128K transfer speed,
up and down stream. The system is compatible with Windows 95, 98, CE, Linux. They expect
costs to be approximately$199 for the wireless modem and$30. per month for 28K service and$60
for unlimited 128Kservice. They need a 350 watt transmitter which may or may not need to be
physically in Lexington. They were advised to include that possibility in any application that they
make with the Town. They are hoping for a Sept. 2000 rollout with approximately 150 boxes
needing to be installed on light fixtures. Since Lexington owns its light fixtures, they were told to
anticipate a rental fee for use. Their frequency range is in both the licensed and unlicensed range.
The representatives were thanked for their presentation and were advised that any further questions
could be submitted to David Kanter who offered his services.
Kanter gave general background on the Bell Atlantic DSL item on the agenda: a resident asked if
the new fiber installations that Bell Atlantic is making in Lexington will expand the availability of
DSL service. Becker will pursue the question with Bell Atlantic.
Warshawer reported that to date he has but 3 items on his"wish list"for the Cablevision
negotiations. Items are solicited!
Kanter reported for Jennifer Taub that she had met with Rob Travers and Ron Rego on the
preparation of an approximate 8 min. in length tape about Access production. This will be
broadcast and used as a tool for finding out what the interest level in Access production in
Lexington. (This is a prelude to other inquiries which we hope will help in determining whether or
not to form an Access Corporation.)
Page 2 Minutes of December 16, 1999 Meeting
Kanter reported that Pagenet is installing 2 receiving whip antennas at the existing facility on
Concord Ave. It is a non-radiating installation.
Letter to Cablevision which had been voted on at previous meeting was drafted and sent to Norm.
Cohen. A round of calls from Cablevision, then Peter Epstein, led to a decision not to send letter.
Cablevision has agreed to include dark fiber for I-net in the rebuild.
Cablevision grant of location approved at Selectmen meeting; Bedford-Harrington underground
work is underway; conduit to be repaired. RCN and Cablevision are jointly funding cost of an
arborist for the overhead tree work. Some criticism of RCN on cutting of trees but they were
responsive and Brian Gilbert, the Town employee in charge of tree work is satisfied.
Ellis reported that Lincoln Lab requested I-net connection for the Day Care Center near Minuteman
Tech. Committee voted to oppose such a connection.
Ellis requested motion to use $2700 of the Cablevision funds for continuing the Scola subscription.
After some discussion,with opposition to using funds for operations instead of capitol items voiced
by two members, the Committee voted 10 for, 2 opposed to the motion and it passed. A suggestion
from Mairson that the Lexington Educational Foundation be approached to fund this subscription
was noted.
Ellis will work with the Selectmen's office and appear before the Selectmen for the request.
Ellis reported that there have been I-net problems at DPW and Diamond/Fiske.
Rob Travers of Cablevision reported that they were hanging the power supplies,had scheduled
meetings with the people at the DPW and the 2 contractors for underground and anal installations.
The arborist will be vigilant about the trees. Stranding is being done in the first week of January
with 6-10 crews working throughout the town. He will supply the Committee with a list
designating the order of installation.
In a discussion about values of service, Travers reported that Cleveland system was purchased by
Adelphi for$5000. per customer.
Travers reported, in response to a query, that Optimum TV is a marketing name for their service;
that Cablevision is testing intemet service in Boston; and that they will move forward on wiring for
the a new Met for Lexington. In response to the suggestion that Cablevision would rebuild the
entire Inet concurrent with the rest of the rebuild operation, a motion was brought that the
Committee endorse, as part of its negotiation for renewal,positive recognition if Cablevision
installs an upgraded, operable Met for Lexington. The motion passed by a vote of eleven to one.
No other business being requested,the next meeting date was confirmed as January 20.
Following a motion and vote, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, using notes from David Buczkowski and Jane B. Gharibian,
Jane B. Gharibian, Acting Secretary