HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-17-CAC-minTOWN OF LEXINGTON
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2009
Present: CACMembers: 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
December 19, 2009
Meeting Minutes
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
December 19, 2009
Meeting Minutes
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
December 19, 2009
SUBMISSION LOG
Meeting Minutes
Page 4
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
Corporation
Notes on conversation with
Town Manager re RFP
Verizon
11/12/09
Rate increase
notification
Final Customer Notice
Verizon
11/12/09
Rate increase
notification
HBO Business Customer
Notice
Verizon
12/1/09
Rate increase
notification
Notification to Town of
consumer rate increase
Verizon
12/1/09
Rate increase
notification
Notification to Town of
business rate increase
LINCC
12/8/09
Email
Internet connection
Goodman
12/8/09
RCN fiber
Town IT request for fiber
connections
Montgomery
County, MD
11/28/09
FCC
Petition to reconsider and
reverse FCC order re RCN
Montgomery
County, MD
11/28/09
FCC
Petition to stay FCC order re
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