HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-20 Board of Selectmen Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
March 20, 1997
The meeting was convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room, 16 Lowell Street,
Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Vice Chairman Camille Anthony, Secretary Bruce
MacDonald, Selectmen Sally Hoyt and Dan Ensminger, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner,
Cable TV Committee Chairman Jim Guarente, Cable TV Committee Members Richard Cohen and
Bernice Svedo, Cathy Maloney and Mark Reiddy from Continental Cable TV.
Joint Meeting with Cable TV Committee re: Franchise
The Chairman noted that the purpose of this meeting was to get public input into the franchise
renewal of Continental Cable TV. Jim Guarente, Chairman of the Cable TV Committee, noted
that the public hearing is to gather the views of subscribers to see what direction they want to go.
The primary issue identified to date is the studio. Should local programming expand. The
programming is positive, and there are good comments about the volunteers and staff at the
studio.
The renewal process takes up to three years. Within the first six months, Continental Cable has to
inform the Town that they want to renew the franchise. It is then up to the Town to ascertain
what the community wants. This is done through public hearings such as this, through surveys,
comments and annual reviews. The Cable TV Committee then develops a community needs
document and gives it to Continental Cable. Continental Cable has sixty days to respond. The
- parties then have sixty days to negotiate. A new contract can be between three and ten years.
Rates and programming are not subject to local regulation.
Cathy Maloney from Continental Cable noted that they welcomed this opportunity to hear from
the community. The original franchise was granted on 12/29/80. Customer Service staff hours
used to be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The hours are now close to twenty-
four hours a day. They are currently 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. but it will be expanding to a
twenty-four hour Customer Service program. There are 6,856 customers in Reading, or 81%
"penetration."
Continental has provided an improved network programming lineup for Reading. Continental has
spent $1.5 billion nationally, and Reading is one of the first areas to change over to the new
service. In addition to offering new program services, improved picture quality is offered. Two
way access is also available through Highway 1. Highway 1 has transmission speeds of one
hundred times faster than other alternatives. The cost is $49.95 per month if you have cable.
Continental Cable provides the equipment. There are no phone line charges. The Continental
Cable studio in Reading has been nationally recognized, most recently for their Super Bowl
coverage.
Board of Selectmen Meeting March 20, 1997 -,Page
Jim Guarente asked what Continental Cable's future plans are -- what services will be available.
Maloney noted that Highway 1 is the most advanced program offered. This is an interactive
access to the internet. With regard to programming, Continental will offer additional Pay per
View and premium channels. The platform that currently exists in Reading allows for a lot of
different uses that may evolve. Video on demand or near video on demand will be available.
Dan Ensminger asked what the plans of Continental were to improve the capital plan in the
studio. Maloney noted that this is subject to negotiation.
Bruce MacDonald has received calls from citizens -- particularly a concern that Channel 3 seems
to include rolling ads for Continental Cable services. The resident who called could not find the
phone number to call. Maloney noted that right now there is a notice of this hearing on the
channel, and that is probably why there is so much Continental Cable material on Channel 3.
Bruce MacDonald noted that he was concerned about the local studio and urged Continental
Cable to negotiate in good faith to bring significant improvements to this facility. Simple items
like a second camera in the Selectmen's Meeting Room are needed. Additionally, some kind of
direct connection from a data source to Cable TV would be helpful.
Richard Cohen noted that Continental still does not have the capability to continuously play back
programming for a long period of time. This is a problem with not having adequate equipment in
the studio.
Sally Hoyt asked about the cost of the Highway 1 program. She also asked about a senior citizen
discount, and Continental Cable noted that this is a negotiating point. There is a lifeline program
for those who cannot afford the average $35.00 per month. It is at an affordable level -- less than
$10.00 per month.
Bernice Svedlow noted that she is the newest member of the Cable TV Committee and is a
volunteer at the studio. She has enjoyed working with the staff and volunteers and wishes that the
Committee would take more advantage of the studio. She noted that a lot of the equipment needs
to be fixed or replaced. She expressed frustration at getting a program that she had taped on
campaign finance reform on.the-air because of lack of adequate equipment.
General discussion continued and on motion by Ensminger seconded by MacDonald, the Board of
Selectmen voted to close the hearing at 8:45 p.m. On motion by MacDonald seconded by
Ensminger, the Board voted to adjourn at 8:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary