HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-26-CAC-min.pdf Meeting Minutes, February 26 1998
5:50 Call to Order
Attending:
Caryn Werlin,Steve Ellis, Jane Gharibian, Ted Mairson,David Kanter,
David Becker, Bob Warshawer, Julie Triessl,Raoul Marques, Julian Bussgang
David Buczkowski arrived later.
Rob Travers and Ron Rego representing Cablevision
David Carver, Nick Hayes guests.
Correction to minutes for meeting of January 15
Chair expressed thanks to Jack Cunha for his service
Minutes from January 15th meeting approved as amended.
Jane Gharibian reported that:
As of Monday March 2, Cablevision work on connector changeover will switch to daytime.
Work hours: 6:00 AM - 3.00 PM. Also, the number of crews will be increased to 10.
Estimate of work completion 4-6 weeks.
Discussion on Form 1240•
Revised Form 1240 rec'd. Lays out calculations for Basic service. Julian commented that
revised form indicates lower rate than originally filed. Cablevision is charging higher rate.
Mass Cable Comm will decide and direct how Cablevision makes good.
SCOLA report
Ellis reported that SCOLA is now being made available on the educational access channel.
Since it is a digital signal, the SCOLA channel may freeze occasionally When this occurs,
receiver must be reset. This may lead to outages in service until next school day
Ellis asked about report to Cablevision on Cable funds. He will prepare and get to Jane.
Kanter reported on Cable Commission upcoming hearing. He will attend. Agenda appears
consumer oriented.
Richard Canale reported on Planning by-law proposal for wireless communications facilities.
Hearing March 9 Draft 6 is version published and will be discussed at hearing. Canale
presented list of existing permits (attached) and explained approach taken.
Antennas that are hidden and in commercial zone can get regular building permit. Others
must obtain special permit.
Facilities on town land will be encouraged for revenue purposes. Becker asked if there was
any way regular permit Antennas would be reviewed in a town wide context. Answer. no
Bussgang asked about existing antennas that should not be grandfathered due to violations of
existing standards. Will by-laws cover review of these?Answer is that in general there is no
way to retroactively enforce new standards.
Bussgang asked about trade-off between height of tower and number of towers. Board
position is that only in CM district(Hartwell Ave.)will towers be allowed to exceed 65 ft.
Max is 85 ft. Outside CM zone, max is 65 ft.
Kanter asked why town towers should not be required to comply unless reasons exist for
exception. Canale reported that the board has no control overthesetowers.
Gharibian asked if Lex can assess each new tower a fee?That is something not covered by
by-law Selectmen can set fees.
Any tower that applies after official public notice of hearing can be required to meet
standards if passed.
Appeal hearing for tower permit at 31 Allen St will be March 26.
Canale listed the "questions" the Board is looking for input on at hearing:
Do regs do what we want them to do?
Are they enforceable?
Is it a good approach?
RCN Negotiations:
Becker reported on general negotiation status. He hopes by this time next month we'll be
ready for Public Hearing.
Cablevision reported on issues relating to investigation of Boston Edison improprieties in
relationship with RCN. Such things as improper subsidies and special treatment for RCN.
Cablevision is one complainant along with Attorney General.
Bussgang reported on access conversations with Jim Shea(Bedford).
They are starting renewal process with Cablevision. Question is how public needs best be
met re access. Since RCN is seeking license Cablevision is not required to share PEG.
Questions include whether an access Corp. should be investigated. Bedford indicated an
interest in pursuing the subject. Raul Marques is interested in following up (see later item).
Cablevison expressed interest in participating in discussion with RCN re access.
May be a topic for Cablevision renewal(renewal process should start within 5 months)
Kanter advocated that we encourage development of a business plan to outline issues for
transition to an Access corp. Marques has volunteered to start process. He has experience in
Newton. He pointed out one advantage to an access corp. is the ability to do outside fund
raising.
Mairson suggested a report on status of information technology in Lexington would be a
useful adjunct to business plan. He agreed to help with getting information and putting
together the report.
Kanter suggested that this should be done but that the Access corporation issue is more
limited. Mairson agreed.
Mairson also raised issue of townwide position for tech "coordinator" has once again been
cut. Marques asked if RCN could be source of funds for such as position.
Becker suggested investigation of joining other towns in getting a joint access corp for
economies of scale.
Mairson expressed interest in getting Internet access via cable modem.
RCN fiber will help situation. Mairson wants to get committee moving in that direction.
Kanter and others pointed out that the subject of what services a cable company offers is not
strictly within the purview of this committee.
Cablevision Report
Cablevision was asked about communities that may have transitioned to Access corporation.
Communities mentioned as having access corporation(not necessarily transitioning to one)
included Norwood, Haverhill and Brookline
Drummer Boy situation still moving forward.
Reported on failure on head end. Part of the problem is whether Cablevision is always aware
of when access programming is scheduled.
There is another must carry station coming. Cablevision will keep us updated. Content is
basically Religious programming.
Rob Travers will have LO report requested by next meeting.
Other business:
Bussgang asked about I-net problems at Cary Library Specifically, with reliability of data
service. Questioned whether Cablevision was meeting license requirements. Ellis (I-Net
administrator) stated: that the period in question included a number of different separate
problems.
Local Cablevision technicians are meeting or exceeding license requirements in regards to I-
Net maintenance. Weekend problems at Cary are treated differently due to:
1) decision to define business hours for Lexington as Monday through Friday as part of
Cablevision renewal process.
2)lack of technical staff coverage on weekends.
Gharibian requested that Ellis supply the library with a complete list of trouble-shooting
options and some guidelines on how to get themselves back up, if it is a'local'problem, not a
network problem. Unfortunately, if it is a network problem, weekend resolution is not likely
to occur.
(Prior to completion of discussion, secretary departed for another meeting.)
Committee agreed that we would like a resolution to the library problem, but we were not
able to resolve it at the moment. Will wait to see if trouble-shooting helps.
Gharibian urged attendance at the upcoming Antenna hearings and thanked Dick Canale for
his presentation.
The next meeting will be March 19@ 5 45 p.m.
Meeting adjourned ???
Steve Ellis
Co-Director,Network and Data Services
Lexington Public Schools