1998-10-27
CABLE TELEVISION
ADVISORY COMMISSION
City of Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
Members: AI Torsey - Chairman
Thomas O'Connor, Amy Siemasko, Arthur Crandall, Robert Lee, Gerald D' Alfonso, Daniel Murphy
Meeting of October 27, 1998
Beverly Public Library
Present: Torsey, Crandall, Siemasko, Murphy, Lee
Jane Lyman from MediaOne
Absent: D'Alfonso, O'Connor
Chairman Torsey convened the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Highlights:
· Murphy reported a prospective member of the Commission had been contacted. There
are two vacancies as regular commission members and authorization for three
alternate members. News stories in the local press will solicit volunteer members.
· Members reviewed correspondence from MediaOne as to certain channel designation
changes and the dropping of CourtTV channel in favor of Outdoor Life. Lyman
reported that CourtTV programming had not sustained quality and that much of
content was redundant with other channels.
· Members discussed licensing procedures. The ascertainment process is now in effect
Chairman Torsey made sub-committee assignments as follows.
· Surveys-Questionnaire (in the year 2000) - Murphy and Siemasko
Written Records - (Ongoing when available) - Murphy, Crandall
Public hearing (Year 2000)
Conducting financial review (Year 2000)
Researching past performance
Reviewing plant and equipment- (Year 1999) - O'Connor, Torsey
Obtaining map of service area - Lee
Meeting with community organizations - (Ongoing) - all
Lyman reported that MediaOne intends to introduce telephone service in mid-December:.
This will include new pricing structure perhaps bundled with cable television and
Broadband internet service. She reported that BEV-TV studio has introduced news show
in conjunction with the Beverly Citizen and Corinne Lacey, reporter. Also, plans include
coverage of the 100th high school football between Beverly and Salem on Thanksgiving.
Lyman reported that James Capillo, MediaOne producer, is especially pleased wilh
quality of game coverage this year.