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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCable Television Advisory -- 2006-02-02 MinutesMinutes of the meeting of the Brewster Cable TV Advisory Committee scheduled for 7:00 pm on Thursday 2 February 2006. The meeting is called to order at 7:10 pm on Thursday 2 February 2006 by Larry Greeley. Members present at this time are: Larry Greeley Carol Chichetto Walter Powers 3 Art Stringer ~~, ~ ~' N In the absence of Norman Adams Larry asks Walter Powers to act as secretary. ~ -D N In the audience area there are 2 people: Steve Baty and Steve Duerksen. ~ v® rn r -, .' '.a X 1. Larry reports on the discussions at an informal meeting held at 6:30 pm on Wednesday 18 January 2006 in the Wellfleet COA, and was chaired by Tom Cole of Wellfleet. Attendees were people from the various Lower Cape towns who are involved in cable tv in advisory roles. The discussions made clear to all that towns each had particular well defined local issues and points of view. It became equally clear that there was some interest now in information exchange between the towns and perhaps later there might be interest in more extensive relationships. 2. Larry distributes a packet including e-mails from Mary O'Keeffe. These materials also include the response from Comcast of the Brewster request for information about the rates charged to Brewster. This material includes information on the budget of the Comcast-operated community access studio in Orleans. [When I arrive at 7:15 pm I take up my duties and collect Walter's notes (which are incorporated in these minutes). Members now present are: Larry Greeley Norman Adams Carol Chichetto Walter Powers Art Stringer] 2. (continued). This information is discussed at some length. 2. A. Larry draws attention to the fact that the numerous small-area segments ostensibly together comprising a "strand map" from Comcast are dated in 2000 and moreover lack signatures or identifications of professional engineers. The cable system has been substantially altered since 2000. 2. B. Furthermore the small-area segments are not accompanied by a overall large-area geographic map to which the small-area segments are keyed, nor does each small-area segment carry identifiers for the small- area segments adjacent to it. These lacks make the set of small-area segments virtually unusable. 2. C. In addition the small-area segment for the area including the Brewster Town office building is not included, and (again due to the lacks described in paragraph 2. B. above) it is not possible to be sure that other small-area segments of significance are not missing. 2. D. Larry reviews other elements of the packet distributed to the committee members and there is more discussion. There are comments expressing dissatisfaction with the information being provided by Comcast and with the difficulties of eliciting such information reasonably quickly. 3. Art Stringer proposes a motion which is seconded by Carol Chichetto: "That a letter be produced from the Brewster Cable TV Advisory Committee to Mary O'Keeffe requesting details of what the restoration [of the deleted uplink] would be." The motion passes unanimously. 4. There is discussion about what exactly is a "failure to provide cable TV service". Is a general power failure in a geographic area which causes a failure of Comcast to provide cable TV signals to households in that area a failure to provide service? Some households have independent power (like generators) and therefore may be able to receive and display or otherwise make use of cable TV signals despite the general power failure. What is the status of a brief (say 10 or 15 second) tiling event which renders a significant fraction of a news broadcast unintelligible? Is it afailure of service? How can such noticeable events be properly identified? Is there any practical way that this committee can collect "failure of service" data independently of whatever information is made available by Comcast? In short, in regard to "failures of service", at present there are many questions and no answers. 5. Larry reports briefly on a meeting between himself and Terry Duenas. He remarks that any discussions concerning possible relationships between eg Brewster and Terry's operation really are the business of the board of directors of Terry's operation, Terry being the agent of the board to do what the board decides they want to happen in the operation. 6. Larry recognizes Steve Duerksen in the audience who remarks (apropos of the term "maintenance" as applied to the equipment supplied by Comcast for the community access studio) that in insurance policies there is an optional specification of replacement such that when an item is to be replaced under the policy the new item is of current technology and construction. Steve suggests that in future contracts some such specification is used in regard to "maintenance". 7. The paperwork provided by Comcast relating to their possible installation of a "hub" for the town including forms to be filled out is discussed. A "contact person" is mentioned in this paperwork. The question of the selection of a "contact person" is discussed. 8. Art Stringer proposes a motion which is seconded by Larry Greeley: "That this board ask the Town Administrator to appoint the 'contact person' described by Comcast" [in their forms relating to their possible installation of a "hub" for the town -see also topics 7 above and 9 below]. The motion passes unanimously. 9. The paperwork provided by Comcast relating to their possible installation of a "hub" for the town including forms to be filled out is now deemed acceptable by the committee. See also topics 7 and 8 above. This includes eg the requirement that a "Comcast rack" be used to mount equipment that is part of the "hub" but is not to be provided by Comcast. The committee generally agrees that any mention of or allusion to "maintenance" should include the concepts of current technology and current functionality, and that there should be specific language to preclude the use of old or outdated or obsolete equipment as replacement for failed equipment. 10. Larry notes that the minutes of the last meeting have not yet been considered. Carol Chichetto makes a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of 9 January 2006 as presented. The motion is seconded by Walter Powers and is passed unanimously. 11. There is a brief discussion of the date of the next meeting and we settle on March 1 which is the first Wednesday of March. The meeting seeming to be out of other business to be taken up tonight, Art Stringer makes a motion to adjourn. It is seconded by Walter Powers and is passed unanimously at 9:10 pm. Submitted by Norman Adams, Clerk, Brewster CTVAC ~---~ ~~~ S