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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-11-30 Cable TV Advisory Committee MinutesV Cable Televison Committee November 30, 1994 Called to order: 7:15 PM Adjourned: 10:20 PM Meeting Minutes 11/3,O/94 - Page 1 Location: Arnold Berger Meeting Room, Town Hall Present: Mark Cloutier Richard Cohen, Vice Chairman Silva Gerety Jim Guarente, Chairman Marc Guyott, Secretary Jim Liston Mike Longo Absent: Also Attending: Greg Brennen, Continental Cablevision Catherine Maloney, Continental Cablevision Kevin Casey, Continental Cablevision Kevin Casey, one of Continental Cablevisions technical managers from the Andover office, gave a brief technical presentation followed by a lengthy technical question and answer session. The committee discussed many technical issues in great detail with Mr. Casey. 2) The committee discussed system upgrades, costs, and scheduling of upgrades with the Continental representatives. 3) The committee reviewed last meetings minutes. The amplifier spacing in item 2A was updated to 2500 ft. for a 400 MHz system and 1800 ft. for a 550 MHz system. The meeting minutes from the committees 10/27/94 meeting were approved as ammended above by a 7 - 0 vote. 4) Jim Guarente talked about a phone conversation he had with a citizen who has been having problems getting a converter box that would work properly. The citizen has gone through several boxes and still has not been able to get one that works properly. All boxes that he has tried have been dropping the premium channels. Greg said that he was not aware of a significant change in converter box problems in Reading. Richard said that'he had experienced similar problems himself. Cable Televison Committee Meeting Minutes 11/30/94 - Page 2 Greg said that our boxes are not current technology but that new ones ;could be made available. Greg said that he would look into the callers problem and do everything he could to resolve the matter. Greg also said he would talk with the technical managers and supervisors to see if this is becoming a more common problem. Greg said that Continental's goal is to exceed customer expectations. Greg said he will.review the most recent information on file at Continental and get back to us with more information. Greg said that information is logged everytime a converter box is picked up. 5) Greg was asked if he could provide free HBO to the Reading Fire Department as is done for the Woburn Fire Department. Greg said Woburn should not be getting free HBO and that that-situation would be addressed (i.e. Woburn will no longer be getting free HBO). 6) Greg informed the committee of comming increases in the state and FCC regulation fees. The state fee is going from $0.12 to $0.14 on January 1st. A new FCC regulation fee will start at $0.03 on January 1st and go up to $0.04 in.April. 7) At the next meeting the phone survey subcommittee will present a completed phone survey for an up or down vote. RN The committee discussed several unresolved issues relating to the ,phone survery. The committee voted on the following motions: The following question was added in the "Discontinuity of Service (Outages)" section by a vote of 7 - 0: 2) How would you compare the Cable Signal outages to the outages in other utilities. Are they (More, Same, Less)? The following question was added in the "General Questions" section by a vote of 6 - 0 - 1 (Marc Guyott abstained): 1) Using a scale of (Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor), how would you rate: r' a) variety of programmming b) quality of picture c) value of the product/service d) customer service e) repair/technical service f) equipment 4 Cable Televison Committee Meeting Minutes 11/30/94 - Page 3 The committee voted that one of the following two questions be added in the :'Demographics" section by a vote of 5 - 1 (Jim Liston was absent). Question 1: 1) What is your present Cable Bill per month? a) Under $15.00 b) $15.00 to $26.00 c) $26.00 to $38.00 d) $38.00 to $50.00 e) Over $50.00 f) Don't Know Question 2: 1) What is your present Cable Bill per month? a) Under $10 b) $10 to $20 c) $20 to $35 d) $35 to $50 e) Over $50 f) Don't Know The committee voted that Question 2 above be added in the "Demographics" section by a vote of 6 - 0 (Jim Liston was absent). The committee voted to add the following items to the "Methodology" section by a vote of 6 - 0 (Jim Liston was absent). 3) Continental Cablevision is to select and pay for the party to conduct the survey. 4) Dates and time slots when survey is to be conducted is yet to be determined. 5) Sample Size is suggested at no more than a +-5% Error-based upon subscriber population of 6,000+ would require a sampling of -400 subscribers. 6) No individual is to be contacted more than once. The committee°'voted NOT to add the following item to the "Methodology". section by a vote of 6 - 0 (Jim Liston was absent). 7) All information is to be kept confidential until reviewed and authorized for release by Reading Cable T.V. Advisory Committee. 9) The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 by a vote of 4 -2. Jim Liston was absent for this vote. A4uyy Marc Secretary