HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-16-CAC-min.pdf CATV Communications Advisory Committee minutes,April 16, 1998
5:50 call to order.
Attending: Jane Ghariibian, Steve Ellis, David Kanter, Julie Triessl, Bob Warshawer, David
Carver, Ted Mairson, David Becker, David Buczkowski, Caryn Werlin, Rob Travers
representing Cablevision
Julie Triessl is complaint person for May
Feb. minutes approved, amended as follows:
•RCN Negotiations, paragraph 4--The Committee responded that it did
not feel it was appropriate for Cablevision to be a formal participant.
•Date of next meetingis March 19
•Adjourned--7.42PM
March minutes approved, amended as follows:
•Paragraph 3 (Planning Board Tower/Antenna Warrant)--The Committee
agreed that it would not propse an amendment to the motion at Town
Meeting but would express our concerns when the bylaw is
implemented.
•Last paragraph--should read"Mr. Marques presented a report for the
creation of an access courporation to administer the PEG/LO access
channels."
Report on Board of Appeals/Antenna Towers
David Kanter reported that the Board of Appeals ordered towers to be relocated
within 6 months or to be re-permitted. Sprint and Omnipoint lawyers were
present at hearing. Sprint will definitely leave Lexington within 6 months, while
Omnipoint will be looking to relocate and felt that 6 months was an adequate
time. Complainants pointed out that church steeple may afford a concealed site for
tower. No appeal to ruling is known. David Kanter went on record that the
Committee is against these permits. The Board of Appeals agreed that cell towers are not
utility substations and these permits should not have been issued.
RCN Negotiation Meetings
Public hearing will not be recommended until there is a response from RCN.
Feb. Tech Questions Follow-up
Ted Mairson said that he and David Carver would visit Library April 18 and
that he wants to set up dates with Julie Longcope, Steve Ellis and COA. Issues
include present resources, service records and long-term planning. The Library is
making plans for next 2 years,but what product line is stable enough?
Obsolescence is a concern. Other concerns include Internet access via BBN
and Lincoln Labs. Steve Ellis answered that , at annual renewal, GTE (formerly
BBN) took his word about current state. If things were to change then we'd
have to spend more and go to competitive bid.
Ted Mairson also mentioned that Town Meeting passed the information system
planning position @ $13,000 salary Steve Ellis said that it would probably
focus on organizing Lexington information on the WWW, rather than retwork
management. Discussion followed about who has authority
Rotating down-time
Steve Ellis reported that preventitive maintenance on I-net starts Weds April 22,
starting from Mass Ave near Wilson Farms and working towards Fiske and
Diamond.2 LHS buildings will remain on older channels. If building project is
approved in Nov they'll change to fiberoptic.
David Becker asked Rob Travers about diagnostic equipment to help with
network problems. R ob said there is a portable piece of equipment that goes on
pole and tracks signal,but Steve noted that this probably would not help
and that the real issue is manpower. Three more people are needed to
physically check out problems. He also explained that there's no way to track
down data problems without going to the cable because it's a dynamic system.
Cable TV part of the network works well, data networks not so well. Much
discussion ensued about responsibility of Cablevision, LANCity David Kanter
said this should be an action item to be addressed before next meeting and he
pointed out that the number of occurrences of problems seems high.
Steve said Cablevision's obligations are to repair critical outages and maintain
the cable to FCC standards. He said that the system is 15 years old and needs
to be replaced with one of higher reliability David Carver asked if there is a set of
criteria for I-net performance and Steve answered that they try to keep the I-net
running all the time. He cited the latest major problem that began March 22, and was
not t racked down until April 4 when the failure was severe enough to locate the problem.
Cablevision report/Complaints
David Becker questioned item 4 (I-Net maintenance and operation)on April 9
letter from Cablevision and Rob Travers replied yes and that this is only an
average time.
Jane asked about a previous complaint from a customer on Saddle Club Rd
whose underground cable had been severed. Rob said the customer will
receive credit and he will follow-up.
Previous complaint at Greeley Village for better rates--discussions are ongoing
with Cablevision.
March 20 complaint of customer without cable box who doesn't know about
channel changes--Committee consensus that there should be a channel card
for those subscribers.
Rob Travers reported that upgrades will be finished by mid-May
After discussion about a customer complaint about incomplete information in
channel guide, Rob said that Cablevision contracts out the publication and that
he would check on it.
David Kanter said he had received two complaints about lack of Internet service and
customers' dissatisfaction with Cablevision's response. Discussion about how CSRs
handle calls resulted in David Kanter's suggestion that CSRs should ask"Have I
answered your question?"
Steve Ellis gave Rob bill LHS had received.
Reply comments (Patrone letter 4-15)were passed out to Committee.
Clarification that April 9 Cablevision 1 8etter was additional information that was
requested.
Follow-up on Daycare Center at Minuteman Tech, Lincoln--Steve will go out
there to determine if it's close to existing I-Net. Rob said Cablevision has a
franchise in Lincoln.
David Kanter reported Hancock Church received bill from Cablevision.
Discussion followed about types of free service under the original license.Rob
to follow up.
New must-carry channel 83 (95 w/o box). Negotiations ongoing about better
channel position.
New rate order. Customers to be notified in bills. Adjustment is -$.06 Basic,
-$.03 Family
Next meeting: May 21
Note: July and August--no meetings.
Chair was authorized to request public hearing on RCN if nothing occurs before Committee's
June meeting.
Adjourned. 7 17PM
Minutes submitted by Caryn Werlin