Back to Cable Advisory Committee Minutes
November 16, 2009
Call to order
Sandra Peavey called to order the regular meeting of the Hingham CAC at 7:00pm on 11/16/2009 in Hingham Town Hall.
Roll call
Eric Connerly conducted a roll call. The following persons were present: Eric Dresser, Jim Dellot, Sandra Peavey, Eric Gauthier, Amy Goebel and Eric Connerly. Robert Kirk, Katy Gallagher Wooley and Eric Dresser were not present.
Open issues
Payment from Comcast
The town received a check for $36,657.22 from Comcast for the period 8/14/2009-9/30/2009
Status of Town Hall equipment
Channel 10 is no longer functioning due to equipment breakdown. Mr Dellot agreed to work with Ms. Gallagher-Wooley to rectify the signal with Comcast.
Subscriber Base
FCC forms submitted by Comcast showed 6,592 subscribers in July 2008 and 6,231 in July 2009.
Norwell studio cost
The committee reviewed Comcast’s FCC filing and found that they had been billing Hingham subscribers $51,739.81 for the use of the Norwell studio in 2008.
Subscriber billing
Various members of the committee noted that the cost of the now closed Norwell studio had not been deducted from the rate charged Hingham cable subscribers. Mr. Dellot proposed, Mr. Gauthier seconded and the committee UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED a motion to recommend that the selectmen pursue a refund for Comcast’s overcharging of town subscribers. Ms. Peavey agreed to contact town special counsel Bill August to pursue legal remedies on the overcharges.
Government and public channel programming
The committee discussed several scenarios for providing operational oversight to the government channel. The committee agreed to recommend that the selectmen approve 10 hours per week of labor to keep the government channel on the air. The previous Board of Selectmen meeting also voted to approve the installation of a satellite dish at town hall for putting programming on a contemplated public channel so that the town could retain its right to carry programming on a public channel as stipulated in the franchise agreements.
Capital outlay committee
The committee discussed its pending discussion with the capital outlay committee on the equipment for the government channel.
Bulletin board
Ms. Gauthier proposed and Mr. Gauthier seconded and the committee UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED the form for town residents to submit items for the government channel’s bulletin board.
Board of Selectmen meeting presentation
The committee discussed various aspects of the committee’s upcoming appearance before the BoS to further explore the town’s options for cable programming using the funds provided in lieu of the Norwell studio.
Spanning the generations project
Ms. Peavey noted that Hingham had missed the deadline for submitting a grant proposal for the Verizon foundation, though it was possible to submit a new grant proposal after January 1 in time for the spring semester of the high school media program.
Adjournment
Ms. Peavey adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
Minutes submitted by: Eric Connerly