AGENDA

PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Tuesday, FEBRUARY 19, 2002

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 7:07 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:05 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councillor Joseph M. Petty

                             Councillor Michael C. Perotto

                             Councillor Stephen T. Patton

 

Also:                     City Solicitor David M. Moore

                             Deputy City Solicitor Michael Traynor

Gordon Champion, Group Director of Operations for Charter Cable and Robert Spain, Regional Director of Government Relations for Charter Cable

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

CABLE

 

          Communications of the City Manager

 

1.       Relative to Charter Communications/Charter Digital Cable launches in Worcester.

          #17C CM  October 31, 2000

In Committee December 12, 2001 - Held

Recommend Hold

 

2.       Relative to Charter Communication’s rate setting and programming.

#17A CM  January 23, 2001

In Committee December 12, 2001 - Held

Recommend Hold

 

3.       Relative to the impaired signal quality for Public Access Channel 13.

          #16B CM  December 18, 2001

Recommend Hold

 

4.       Relative to the legal opinion regarding the terms of the franchise agreement with Charter Communications concerning local news coverage.

          #16D CM  December 18, 2001

Recommend Hold

 

5.       Relative to a letter from Charter Communications describing its plans for local news coverage.

          #16E CM  December 18, 2001

Recommend Hold

 

6.       Relative to a map from Charter Communications indicating the status of the build-out and deployment of Charter's digital cable and internet service.

          #16E CM  January 15, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

7.       Relative to addressing a number of cable-related issues in response to the Council's inquiries.

          #16A CM  January 29, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

8.       Relative to cable-related issues in response to the Council's previous inquiries.

          #16B CM  February 12, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

Petition

9.       Gary Salo et al request City Council to investigate the high rates that are being charged on the new bills from Charter Communications.

          #12 CC  January 15, 2002

Recommend Hold

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request Charter Communications provide the City Council with statistics for the most recent five year’s time concerning the number of Worcester subscribers and the various levels of service they choose to purchase whether these subscribers have digital or analog service.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request Charter Communications provide the City Council with statistics concerning call abandonment and the wait times experienced by callers for years 1997 through the current year.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request Charter Communications provide the City Council with records of complaint calls.

 

Chairman’s Resolution that the City Council goes on record in support of the Notice to be sent to Charter Communications by the Administration for their non-compliance with the term of the cable television contract concerning call-times.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager explore the possibility of obtaining pole attachment federal regulation to include underground access to encourage competition for cable television services in the City of Worcester.

 

SPEAKERS:

1.                 Mauro DePasquale, 146 Morningside Road, Worcester

2.                 Dave Gauthier, 77 Haven Lane, Worcester

3.                 Gary Salo, 73 Haven Lane, Worcester

4.                 Sam Rosario, 141 South Flagg Street, Worcester