HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-15-CAC-min.pdf Phyllis Smith
From: Julie Triessl (jcft@tiac.net]
Sent: Thursday February 19, 1998 2:00 PM
To: tgg@tiac.net
Cc: beckerds@aol; dbuczkowsk@aol.com;jbussgang@ieee.org; ellis@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us;
david@kanters.com;jlong@patriot.ci.lexington.ma.us; mairson@tiac.net;
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werlin@meol.mass.edu
Subject: cable comm
Next meeting: Thursday February 26, 1998 at 5:45 p.m.
Cable TV and Communications Advisoty Committee
Minutes of January 15, 1998
Attendees:
Members: David Becker David Buczkowski, Jack Cunha, Steve Ellis, Jane
Gharibian (Chair), David Kanter Julie Longcope,Ted Mairson, Raul
Marques-Pascual, Julie Triessl
Cablevision representatives: Rob Travers and Ron Rego
Visitors: Angelo Tortola, Susan and Douglas Kleinman
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m.
Complaint-handler sign-up sheet has disappeared. Dave Buczinski
volunteered to take calls for February Dave Becker volunteered for
March. Search is on for the schedule.
Steve Ellis will be secretary at next meeting.
Minutes of previous meeting approved.
Jack Cunha submitted his resignation. Newly appointed member Raul
Marques-Pascual was introduced. Caryn Werlin will be school department
representative.
David Kanter reported for Julian Bussgang that Bussgang has reviewed the
responses offered at the Massachusetts Cable Commission hearing and
those from Cablevision and has prepared a reply asking for
clarification. He noted that TBS is not raising rates to Cablevision
necessitating refiling by Cablevision.
David Becker said that there will be a meeting next week for a technical
discussion with RCN and users, satisfying the requirements of the Town.
He advised that negotiation meetings with RCN will be scheduled in
'bite-sized chunks"
Ted Mairson asked about plans for including Ethernet services with
public channels. Dave Becker and David Kanter said that both RCN and
Cablevision have said that they will be subject does not fall within the
licensing requirements. Steve Ellis responded that RCN is a phone-based
system and market conditions will drive the decision. Ted Mairson
challenged the committee to investigate whether or not provision of wide
band service is included within the committee's jurisdiction. He was
invited to submit evidence that it should be since previous study had
indicated that it is not.
Raul Marques asked for information about the nature of Mairson's
concern. Mairson replied 'That's where the interesting technology is'
The Kleinmans of 15 Hasings Road expressed disappointment that there is
no Internet access via cable. They expressed concerns about information
transmittal about cable services and asked how individuals can be
effective.
Angelo Tortola of Wood Street complained of insufficient and
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unsatisfactory responses from Cablevision staff to his questions.
The role of market forces in the decisions of companies to contract with
communities was held. It was felt that some communities are better
brepared to enter into the process early and that some have salaried
employees handling cable negotiations.
Review of letter from Audrey Hall inviting further discussion.
Committee wishes more specific responses.
Rob Travers asks that Committeee be more specific in terms of what it
expects of Cablevision regarding interfacing with RCN. Becker gave, as
an example, the studio as an area of non-duplication.
Belmont is negotiating for an open video system.
Kanter stated that ultimately it is up to the Committee to determine
what constitutes equity.
Travers reporting for Cablevision: Need to check regarding monitoring
of the head end to see that it is being monitored in both directions.
Regarding complaints about middle of the night disturbance to
non-subscribers by crews working on poles. Cablevision had been given a
permit. Crews have been asked to quiet conversations. Reinstallation
will continue for three or four months. The work requires approximately
two hours per pole.
Cablevision reports problems with character generators.
Kanter reported that the Drummer Boy agreement with RCN is in the hands
of the lawyers.
Buczkowski presented Cablevision representatives with a bill showing
charges being made for discontinued services. Cablevision will
investigate,
Regarding the warrant article regarding cellular towers, Bussgang and
Caleb Warner are attending meetings. Planning Director, Bob Bowyer is
concerned about potential law sults.
The Town Manager is cutting in half the budget request for a staff
person.
Triessl reported that Cary Memorial Library has suffered episodes of
multi-day down time of the I-loop. She stresssed that evening and
weekend service is important in the conduct of business for a public
library Rob Travers will Investigate. Mairson offered a statement in
support of the library's need for the need for reliable service.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Triessl
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