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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-17-CAC-min.pdf SUN - 24 - 93 T H U 10 : 07 C A R Y L IBR . R Y P 02 CATV and Communications Advisory Committee Minutes of meeting held June 17 , 1993, 5 30pm Attendees Julian Bussgang (Chair) , Lionel Fray, Ted Mairson , Sara Schoman Bill Spencer , Martha Stanton , Julie Triessl , Caleb Warner Cablevision representative Jay Somers Visitor Nicholas Hay. Minutes of May 13 meeting were approved Somers reported that retiering has been delayed while must carry and retransmission consent agreements are being negotiated for the Boston ADI ( area of dominant interest) Retiering is not likely for 60 days Sii s will contact Bussgang and Warner regarding public notices regarding retiering Current channel status 4 , 5 , 7 , 25 , 38 , 56 - retransmission consent 27 and 6$ have elected must carry 50 and 60 need to increase signal strength n00converter changeovers have taken place to date Of these only 19 have failed 6840 have yet to be changed over The price freeze has been extended by the FCC No rate increases until November 15 Mr Hay asked for clarification about subscribers who have had basic service He was assured that basic subscribers will be grandfathered under new arrangements and wi i con` inue to receive C-Span Basic service to new subscribers will no include C-Span eei visici circulated a letter which advises su Rcribers with note control units that they are entitled to discounts on .+nerican Movie Classics ssgang presented issue raised at NATOA meeting that communities ,y PiAk to be regulating agency of cable companies or may lett to FCC regulate In Massachusetts, the Commonwealth c Fines elf as the local regulating agency Differences in terminc ogy ,sere discussed Issuing authority does not necessarily equate ith frarn his rg authority Bussgang recommended that Lexington ask the a to regulate but reserve to local community rights still tc be c stied If the Town does take action to regulate a citizen may ask thnt the FCC step in Requ , ed in basic ) local commercial ,non-commercial , educational , rebroadcast ( not C-Span „ )public , education , governmental ( PEG) Law requires that premium channels be sold individual ) Oily fe :z J UN - 24 - 93 T H U 10 07 C A R Y L I B R A R Y F 03 basic is subject to local regulation Also regulated are fees for equipment such as converter boxes Warner recommmended that regulation be kept at local level to protect against influence of lobbyists at state level Somers suggested that the state be chosen as local regulator since the process would represent a hefty paperwork burden for the town Bussgang proposed that the committee ask to be put on the June 28th Selectmen 's agenda Mairson pointed out that various pieces of correspondence from the state cable tv commission bear varying titles Clarification is sought The New York Times of 6/17 reports that the FCC is not adequately funded The agency 's ability to reguate effectively was questioned Spencer recommended deferral of decision until more information is available He moved that the advisory committee update the Selectmen on issues of regulation , submitting Bussgang ' s letter as a draft for the Selectmen' s consideration, Vote was 6 in favor, 2 opposed Reconsideration was passed A substitute motion was made instructing the Chairman to consult with one or two members of the board advising them of the issues and seeking their sense of whether the board would prefer a statement of the problem or a statement of possible solutions The motion was unanimously approved Mairson spoke of the Mass Cable Television Association Consumer Protection Rules The FCC Summary Report and Order are in accordance with the 1992 Act Cablevision says it was meeting one year ago and is still meeting the Service Standards It was uggested that Mairson ' s letter also be submitted to the Selectmen nor their consideration Schoman will contact Kim Kyle of the state Cable TV Commission to arrange for presentation to be given regarding renewal of cable franchises Selectmen will be invited to attend Consumer issues Hay expressed concern about C-Span Somers says it is not part of basic but it is part of grandfathered basic. Broadcast basic under new regulations does not, but may, include C-Span Warner reported complaint of subscriber who found that she might not have changed services had she realized that a service call to the home was necessary She suggests that subscribers be advised of this requirement Local Access Schoman reported that the continuing challenge is in getting S U H - 2 4 - 9 3 T H U 10 08 C A R LIBRARY P . 04 tears to operate cameras A thank you letter signed by ,...0sgang on behalf of the Town will be sent to all those who volunteered over the course of the year A suggestion was made that volunteers be given some payment TMMA will contribute $1000 for tapes to be used for recording town event Hometown Network is on the local origination channel shared by Lexington , Bedford , and Hanscom Field . Bussgang suggested that there be a statement of policy for local origination Ina itutional trunk Mairson suggested a postponement of a suggested motion to request Selectmen to appoint town coordination of I-Net The second $25 , 000 check from Cablevision has been received Compliments were offered on the coverage of graduation Regarding Internet at Lincoln Lab, no application has been made to Cablevision :;omers checked with Stanton regarding status of equipment replacement Discussion was held regarding the request to the Committee that the committee evaluate present and future communications systems at the Fire Department Members suggested that the present committee does not have any member with this sort of expertise warner and er both had non-committee members in mind who might be called upon for assistance The suggestion was made that common sense might be the ultimate qualification particularly if the role of the advisory committee would be to evaluate presentations of vendors Discussion was held about the PBX and Centrex phone systems Mairson pointed out that his and Bussgang' s terms on the Advisory Committee are about to expire Both will need to be reappointed A v was taken to officially dissolve task forces Next 11.,,ting will be July 15 at 5 50pm to discuss recommendations to the Selectmen Respectfully submitted Julie Triessl