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Home My WebLink About2009-12-17-CAC-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2009 Present: CAC Members Jeanne Canale, Chair; Dave Becker; David Buczkowski, Jim Goell, Ken Pogran, Linda Roemer; John Rommelfanger Others Florence DelSanto, LexMedia, George Burnell, Board of Selectmen, Dorinda Goodman, Town of Lexington, Jane Atkins, Lincoln Laboratory Children's Center Call to order The meeting was called to order at 6 30 P.M. 1 Approval of previous meeting minutes. The minutes of the meeting of June 17, 2009 were approved, with Jim Goell abstaining. The minutes of the meetings of September 17 and November 19, 2009 were approved unanimously 2. Comcast report. Jane Lyman was not present No report was received. 3 RCN report. Tom Steel was not present No report was received. 4 Verizon report. Verizon's new representative to the Town, Mary Lou Frere, was not present She has indicated she will attend the January meeting. 5. Chairman's report. a. Request from Lincoln Laboratory Children's Center Jeanne Canale introduced Jane Atkins, parent board representative from the Lincoln Laboratory Children's Center (LINCC) LINCC is interested in upgrading their Internet connectivity to broadband in order to meet parent demand for "webcam" viewing of activities at the Center LINCC has received an estimate of$25,000 in construction costs to extend broadband connectivity from the adjacent Minuteman High School, and is asking if there is any way the Committee can intercede with one of the broadband providers to provide connectivity at a lower cost. Ms Atkins confirmed that all utilities at LINCC were underground. As LINCC was constructed under the auspices of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the committee suggested that LINCC approach the Lincoln Laboratory facilities department to determine if there may be available underground conduits, or if Lincoln Laboratory would fund the Center's construction cost b Chair's report on materials received. i. RCN has not paid its fees in a timely manner ii. The Town has received materials from counsel for Montgomery County, Maryland, which like Lexington is served by RCN, petitioning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stay, reconsider, and reverse its Communications Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 19, 2009 Page 2 order of October 19, 2009 granting RCN relief from FCC requirements for system performance tests for its digital cable system. Montgomery County argues that neither RCN nor the FCC properly notified RCN franchising authorities of its petition, resulting in the FCC receiving no comments in opposition to the petition. Dave Becker confirmed that RCN's license would require RCN to notify Lexington of such a filing, no such filing was received by the Town. The committee decided to contact RCN representative Tom Steel via email to inquire how this would impact Lexington and to remind him of the license requirement c LexMedia RFP The Town has determined that a full RFP process will be required for a new public access corporation contract, rather than a simple new contract negotiation with LexMedia, due to State requirements for"goods and services" procurements This process requires obtaining input from the community served by the public access provider, including citizens, schools, and community groups The LexMedia subcommittee expressed its concern over the amount of time available to conduct a formal RFP process The committee discussed the amount of effort involved, and considered the possibility of entering into a contract with a term longer than five years The following motion was approved That the Committee request permission from the Town to commit to a term of up to ten (10)years in a new contract with a public access corporation. 6. Selectmen's Liaison report. George Burnell had no additional comments 7 Report from the Town Director of IT/MIS. Dorinda Goodman reported on progress in getting fiber connections to the Town's new network head end in the DPW building, as well as Town needs for fiber connectivity to Town-owned locations including the golf course and the water tower Goodman pointed out that Verizon "copper wire" connectivity to the water tower, which has a major municipal radio network facility, has been unreliable Goodman also reported on an issue the Town had with its Internet connectivity from RCN All broadband connectivity was lost for several days, and restoral efforts and escalation by RCN were inadequate Jeanne Canale will inform RCN representative Tom Steel of the Town's concerns The committee also discussed the possibility of LexMedia obtaining some Internet bandwidth from the Town's allocation from RCN to provide greater uplink speeds for LexMedia's program streaming to town residents 8. LexMedia report. Florence DelSanto reported she will be providing LexMedia's next financial report to the Town Manager in January She reported that the underwriting campaign is progressing. A consultant was hired to put together an underwriting package Shire Pharmaceutical has committed to underwrite a series of science programs Similarly, In Shape will underwrite health and fitness tips Communications Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 19, 2009 Page 3 9 LexMedia subcommittee. A subcommittee was appointed to work with the Town's Procurement Officer to assist in writing the PEG RFP Members of the subcommittee include Linda Roemer, Maria Kieslich, and Dave Becker The subcommittee discussed possible timelines for the RFP process, and suggested that the Committee hold a special meeting on January 28 to go over issues raised by the community for the RFP The Committee then discussed the process to be followed in issuing the RFP 10 Wireless subcommittee update. Jim Goell reported that ten wireless applications are in process Nine have been sent back to the applicants with comments and requests for changes to the applications The subcommittee continues to review one application. Jeanne Canale reported on a request from Jeanne Krieger, Lexington's representative to the Hanscom Area Towns (HATS) committee, that the CAC present its wireless application review process at a HATS meeting. 11 Negotiation subcommittee update. There was discussion of Verizon's defective fee notice increase Dave Becker suggested this issue be raised with Verizon's new representative at the next meeting. 12. Complaint updates. No complaints were reported. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8 45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kenneth T Pogran Communications Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes December 19, 2009 Page 4 SUBMISSION LOG Name Date Category Subject Verizon 12/11/09 Email Attendance at CAC meetings Canale 12/14/09 Report CAC draft Annual Report Canale 12/10/09 Public Access Notes on conversation with Corporation Town Manager re RFP Verizon 11/12/09 Rate increase Final Customer Notice notification Verizon 11/12/09 Rate increase HBO Business Customer notification Notice Verizon 12/1/09 Rate increase Notification to Town of notification consumer rate increase Verizon 12/1/09 Rate increase Notification to Town of notification business rate increase LINCC 12/8/09 Email Internet connection Goodman 12/8/09 RCN fiber Town IT request for fiber connections Montgomery 11/28/09 FCC Petition to reconsider and County, MD reverse FCC order re RCN Montgomery 11/28/09 FCC Petition to stay FCC order re County, MD RCN Comcast 11/19/09 License request Certificate of Insurance Comcast 11/19/09 Payment Cover letter& check for communications technology funding CAC 11/19/09 Minutes Draft meeting minutes CAC 9/7/09 Minutes Draft meeting minutes CAC 6/18/09 Minutes Draft meeting minutes