Here’s the skinny on tonight’s meetings:
Monday, September 8
Public Hearing: Comcast Franchise
6:30 PM – Auditorium Hall
The Town Council held a public hearing on Monday September 8, 2008 at 6:30 pm to receive public comment on the proposed Cable Television Franchise with Comcast.
The hearing was well attended. Town Manager Orsini went over the basic details of the contract:
Comcast will build out their infrastructure to provide service to the entire town (although private roads may not be served). Comcast is providing 40% of the cost of the build out. The town will provide the other 60% of the cost. This will be paid through a $2 per month charge on cable customers’ bills over ten years. As more customers come on cable, the $2 per month charge would be adjusted downward to adjust for the greater revenue. Customers will also pay a 2% franchise fee to build a fund for public access. Ms. Orsini gave the example that if a customer has a cable bill of $10, the franchise fee would be 40 cents. Ms. Orsini explained that that money will be available for the town to use for public access broadcasting and can be used for whatever technology would be applicable at the time the town chooses to begin public access broadcasting.
Comcast will provide a connection from the road to a home of up to 200 feet at no charge, however those with long driveways will have to pay for installation for the distance beyond 200 feet.
Public comment was in favor of the build out. Many citizens described the hardship of not having access to broadband internet access. Citizens described school students not being able to do assignments, get grades, or having to be driven to the library to use the internet. Others described how they cannot work from home or take online classes and have to spend hours doing tasks that those with broadband can get done in minutes. Several citizens drew applause when they called on the Council to move ahead on this.
There were many questions from those with long driveways about what the cost might be for installation. The Comcast representatives said they were not able to give even ballpark figures because each installation is different. Citizens expressed frustration about the lack of information about the cost for installation. The Council clarified that the contract negotiation is for access to cable television to be made available within the town. The purchase of cable and additional services as well as installation costs must be worked out between Comcast and each customer.
Some expressed a lack of trust of Comcast based on dealing with them in the past and asked that Comcast not make promised of timeframes they can’t or won’t keep. Others expressed frustration that Comcast has no competition so that citizens don’t have much power or choice in the matter.
The public hearing was adjourned.
Monday, September 8
Town Council Meeting
Councilors Kareckas and Roberge were absent.
Unfinished Business
1. Take action on zoning ordinance amendments 140.26D, 140.77G, & Land Use Table A. The Council voted unanimously to accept the zoning ordinance ammendments. (The amendments are described in the notes from the public hearing of August 25 recounted in an earlier blog post.)
2. Take action on Cable TV franchise with Comcast. The Council voted unanimously to sign the Cable TV franchise with Comcast
3. Discuss/take action on Grant Procurement Policy. The policy was discussed at last meeting. The Council voted unanimously to adopt the policy
New Business
1. Take action on resignation from Zoning Board of Appeals. The Council voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Bonnie Gould.
2. Take action on resignation from Solid Waste Committee. The Council voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Nick Tsakiris.
3. Take action on resignation from Planning Board. The Council voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Matthew Kenney.
4. Discuss/take action on junkyard permits. Two junkyard permits are due to expire on September 30. The Council moved to set a public hearing. The town clerk clarified that the two in question have not yet submitted an application for renewal. After some discussion, the Council voted unanimously to set a public hearing for Sept 22 that can be cancelled if no applications are forthcoming.
5. Take action on special revenue account for fuel assistance. The Council voted to table this to the next Council meeting when all Councilors are present.
6. Take action on Fall Bond Bank Issue. The Council voted unanimously for the Fall Bond Bank Issue to pay off the Anticipation Note taken for the St. Michael’s property.
nice little tip for Comcast. Good going council….nice use of the OPM.
Does anyone in this town bother to multiply?????????? Ever? If there are 2000 current cable subscribers paying 2 bucks per month, that is 4000 per month for the build out. Over the year, that is 48,000, and over ten years, we are going to pay $4.8 million dollars for this build out.
Did anyone ever bother to ask Comcast, and i know this is silly, but did anyone bother to ask Comcast what the buildout would actually cost?
oh, and what are we doing? Hooking up 200 homes? let’s see, division, i know its a new concept…..4.8 million/200 == 24,000 per home.
It would be lovely to know what the real cost of the buildout, and the real cost of connecting each home is……this is inordinately high. These homes should absolutely be connected, but this deal……
unreal.
Anon asks some good questions. Is the math right? If so, this does seem like a problem.
Actually, we won’t be paying the $2.00 per month for the full ten years.
Also, the cost will go down as they bring new people on.
After the 12 months, it could be down to $1.00 per month.
That will last for a couple to a few years.
Comcast is a business and in business to make money.
People deserve to have the ability to access cable tv and internet services.
Asking a for profit business to eat the whole cost, how long do you think it would be before the permanent rate hikes went in to effect?
We see the same thing from the electric company and phone company when they have major overhauls or repairs, and that is passed on to every one, not just the houses affected.
!) they are going to profit monthly as every home comes online, and will for years to come.
2) what is the real cost of the buildout? anyone ask. present day cost.
3) the homes should absolutely be hooked up. that said, the town should not be gouged by Comcast to do it.
so was there any negotiation on this topic, or did we simply accept the Comcast numbers?
Unfortunately, as Dave says, Comcast is a private company and has us over a barrel. Because our area does not have the population density of a city, they do not make a lot of money because of the high ratio of infrastructure costs to number of customers. None of their competition was even willing to come to South Berwick so the Town didn’t have a lot of power in these negotiations. Anonymous, I suggest you call the Town Manager, Roberta Orsini, and ask her about the negotiations. I think you will find that there was more work and thought put into it than you think.
Broadband has become a necessity of economic and educational life so we need to have access. If broadband could be categorized as a public utility it would work more like phone and electricity. All of us pay surcharges every month on those public utilities that go into a fund that then provides universal access. When I had to get a dedicated telephone line because I’m one of the people who can’t get Comcast (I still won’t after this deal, because I’m on a private road) and needed it for my dial-up, the phone company came and strung 3/4 of a mile of new line for me and it cost me nothing (other than those monthly surcharges I’ve been paying all my adult life.)
You know, Molly, the constant apologies for the Town’s inept handling of its finances doesn’t excuse what goes on.
Comcast literally does not have the town over a barrel. There are, if you do research about various town negotiations, several ways to deal with the company and its practices. IT IS WELL KNOWN for gouging. It is currently in all sorts of trouble for this sort of thing…..along with some of its other practices.
That said, clearly the decisions have been made. We’re in another ridiculous deal where the other side probably went out, got in their car, drove to the nearest place out of sight of town hall, and did a happy dance.
Geeeezzzzzzzzzz
i don’t mind a company making a profit, if they are conducting business fairly in a free market. This is not quite the same.
So Anon, are you going to spend some time to get original, valid info or not? Or just rant with speculation?
The posts you make are entertaining, to be sure, but on a number of issues that I know about (have info on), I know that your posts exaggerate, if they are not be completely off-base.
Dude, the numbers are coming DIRECTLY from the info Roberta provided, as well as the contract…..
maybe, like many in this town, you are unfamiliar with this tool, its called a calculator…..
also….using the numbers provided, it is interesting to note that we are paying 60% of the cost, which ballpark is 4.8 million, so that means that Comcast is estimating the cost of the buildout in toto to be …..
8 million dollars…..or 40K per house.
call me irrational, but we could build a very nice community center with a pool, and equip it with wifi broadcasting covering the immediate 4 mile radius, and give everyone there a laptop for that same money.
Oh, Anon, that calculator comment was biting. That kind of sarcasm doesn’t help your credibility (or the crediblity of your dirt track problem….).
I even have a computer, and can run spreadsheets and data base software!! Imagine that!
My comment stands about the veracity of some (not all) of your posts.
ah, the threat of the old boy network to stifle any questions or protests. that helps the situation.
you know, the sad part is, there are people willing to help. who would pick apart these contracts, do the work, call the FCC and the Maine state government to bring Comcast in line.
well, i’m glad i’ve got this “old boy” subtle threat in print. thanks.
Whether or not you like someone’s posts, what about the the actual facts and figures? If, in fact, Anon is correct, that seems a steep price to pay. I think that was his/her point.
I’m not an old boy………. You should not be so smug with your assumptions.
As far as facts: present them really, a full analysis. It would be appreciated.
Instead, why don’t you provide us with the figures that you say contradict the numbers Roberta quoted and that are in the contract?
the ones that make this a more palatable deal?
That would take a calculator…..
In answer to the second posting from Anon….yes, some of us in this town bother to multiply and $48,000 per year for ten years is $480,000, not $4.8 million.
I just don’t understand why those with existing cable service will be required to partially pay the cost of running the cable to other areas.
Anon, Better check your calculator’s batteries.
Just like Fox News…. Put it out there, right or wrong. That’s what I find hard to read on this blog — stuff that is wrong, and I know it, passed off with supposed certainty in a rant. I’m coming toi the conclusion it’s a waste of time reading this stuff.
Maybe you can start your own blog. Since you are so concerned about what you “know” is right.
Get over yourself.
I think most people are writing what they think is true or is their true perception of a situation. This is an opportunity for people to test their observations and to get and give feedback about opinions. I wish people were more understanding and respectful of others on this blog, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to hear opposing viewpoints and to have people ask hard questions. I often don’t agree with what is written here but hearing opinions helps me to think more deeply about what I do believe and causes me to be more rigorous in researching and thinking about my positions on issues.
Molly,
I have to agree.
It’s not often everyone will agree, but if everyone thinks about others viewpoints, then you can refine your own ideas.
It’s easy to dismiss someone just because you disagree with their viewpoint, but the true sign of growth is to be able to look at these viewpoints as objectively as possible and learn from them.
I wish there were less people named anonymous on this site.sometimes it seems like you are fighting with yourself!!!
what is this math thing you speak of?
What I doubt the value of is reading stuff that is certainly wrong, that distracts from real discussion, and is supposed to be “respected” simply because someone wrote it. If these are opinions, I’m guilty of discounting them, because they are misinformed at best, misleading at worst. Like that factor of 10 mistake on $480k; written with arrogance and condemnations and accusations of anyone that disagreed.
So if my bill is $150 a month and it is charged a 2% fee plus the $2 fee (150x.02=3+2=5) then my bill goes up $5 a month or ($5 x 12= $60) per year so that people in the back forty can get cable and we can maybe have a cable access channel at the town hall.
So what am I getting for my $60 a year. nothin!
And whats more funny is that comcast already moved some channels a month or two a go so I can’t get them.
I put the equations in so I wouldn’t make a mistake and get beaten with a hose!
we need facts and that is always hard to get. I wish the town would spend more time getting out the information so we could spend less time fighting over whos facts are right between us. Why we need a group of concerned citizens to work in each area to find the true facts and relay them to us then we can make suggestions about how to move on.
If you want to remain anonymous, you could choose a “handle” as they CB users use. Otherwise using an inanimate object name could make a good blog alias.