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CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Cable Television Advisory Committee is a permanent committee. During 2005, The Cable Television Advisory Committee saw changes in membership. Susan Timberlake retired from the committee. Sue provide institutional memory as well as a keen insight to the committee. She will be missed. Two new members were appointed to the committee: Janet Geggis and Jonathan Greene. Janet brings years of experience from the Belmont Public Schools. Jonathan brings technical knowledge from his high tech experience. In addition, Jonathan is a serving as the Selectman’s appointee to the Non Profit 501 (c) 3 corporation running the PEG Access TV Belmont Channel 8, 9 and 99. During 2005, much or our focus was the renewal of the Comcast Franchise Agreement between the Town of Belmont and Comcast for a Cable Franchise.
This year, the Cable Television Advisory Committee’s major efforts were devoted to the mandated license renewal process, given the expiration of the existing Comcast license on October 1, 2004. October 1, 2001 marked the commencement of the 3-year license renewal process, pursuant to the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, Section 626. The Town has opted to proceed using the Section 626 “formal process”. In addition, we are conducting informal negotiations with Comcast in an attempt to conclude the renewal process.
During the formal process, the committee made extensive use of the full results of the needs assessment. In negotiations, it became clear that COMCAST was unwilling to meet the needs of the town’s government, organizations, and it’s citizens. During the summer of 2004, The Board of Selectmen issued a preliminary denial for franchise renewal.
At that point, the formal negotiations moved to a formal legal process. Comcast appealed the initial preliminary denial to the licensing authority in fall 2004. During January 2005, Comcast and the Town began a series of meetings in order to head off a formal legal proceeding. Throughout the early spring, the Town presented numerous proposals to renew the franchise agreement. The lawyers for both sides, working with the Cable Television Advisory Committee and Comcast, continued to ensure that the legal process was followed, exchanged numerous documents and forms in order to follow guidelines set out in Comcast’s appeal.
The Cable Television Advisory Committee on recommendations of the Selectmen began negotiations in order to avoid the pending litigation. While the Committee believes that their case was solid, the committee felt that it was in the best interests of the Town to avoid the lengthy and potentially expensive legal process. The committee recommended to the Selectmen that they approve the latest proposal from the negotiations for the Franchise Agreement. The Selectmen approved the agreement and Comcast now holds a franchise to provide Cable Television Services over the Rights of Way of the Town.
A major element of the new license will be how PEG (Public, Education, and Government) access facilities, and services are provided. The Town believed strongly enough in the local access studio, to begin the process of forming a separate Nonprofit 501 (c) 3 to run the local Channel 8 and Channel 9 PEG TV. Under the renewal license, provides the Town with funding to run the TV studio in the high school, broadcasting local programs over the Town’s community channels, in addition to capital funding, based on percentages of revenues of Cable TV.
Looking ahead in 2006, the committee expects a resolution to the ongoing franchise licensing talks with Verizon to provide Cable TV in Belmont. This serves the Town and its’ residents in many ways: in increased competition, (we see additional funding for the TV access studio), more choice for residents and lower prices or more value.
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the fine work of the entire Committee. Additionally, I would like to thank attorney Peter Epstein, Lee McCanne, and staff of the Selectmen’s office, for all of their help and support.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory G. Poulos, Chairman
Barry Blesser, Richard Pew, Gregory Poulos, Susan Timberlake, Mark Carthy
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