2008-10-16
Beverly CATV Advisory Commission Meeting
DATE: October 16,2008
LOCATION: Bevcam office, Beverly High School, Beverly, Ma.
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Steve Pike - Chairman, George Johnson, Arthur Crandall, Al Torsey, Bob Murphy, Dan Murphy,
Eric Overberg, Neil Overberg
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
S. Pike, A. Torsey, D. Murphy, N. Overberg, E. Overberg, B Murphy, G Johnson.
PUBLIC:
(BEVCAM) Don Berman, Walt Kosmowski
(COMCAST) Jason Whittit
. A quorum being present Steve opened meeting at 7:00
. Public Comments: None.
. Old business:
. The minutes of the September 16th CATV Advisory Commission meeting were read and
accepted for posting on the Beverlyma.gov web site.
. New business:
. Don Berman presented the October BevCam report re: Staff, Productions, Project Outreach, and
financials
. Correspondences received; None
. Steve welcomed Jason Whittit of Comcast. A lengthy Q. and A. session followed.
Q. Don asked why Comcast is moving from analog to all digital.
A. Jason responded that Comcast will not continue to support outdated analog technology due
to bandwidth congestion. Jason stated that channels will be moved to the 200+ digital channels and give
subs 1 free sub box for 1 year, after which the sub should call Comcast for rates.
Q. George asked Jason for a written statement from Comcast for the station line up for the next
12 months.
A. Jason refused saying it was a proprietary business decision. George will request that Mayor
Scanlon send a letter to Comcast requesting this schedule.
Q. Don asked the difference in the "boxes"
A. Jason responded that the D/ A box are a non subs box and the digital receiver box is a subs box.
Q. Walt stated that Comcast's no refund policy on moved channels is not part of the "basic"
contract.
A. No response from Jason.
Q. George asked what CATV AC should do when subs complain about channel moves, and
suggested better communication between Comcast, CATV AC, and subs.
A. No response from Jason.
Q. Eric asked if there were any FCC regulations on programming, and bundling of channels.
A. Jason stated that there were no FCC regulations that he knew of except for support of PEG
channels.
Q. Steve asked why cables that were supplied by Comcast on the new HD subs boxes were not
compatible with some TV's.
A. Jason replied that he will look into that situation and get back to him.
Q. Don asked Jason about digital vs. analog bandwidth.
A. Jason replied that there is a 6-1, analog to digital bandwidth usage there by movement of
channels to the digital spectrum.
Q. George asked what Comcast's plans were for analog to digital for BEVCAM.
A. Jason said Comcast will continue to receive analog from BEVCAM and convert it to digital
until 2012 and will continue to convert PEG channels at all costs to communities after 2012.
. The next meeting was set for Thursday, November 13th at the BevCam office at 7:00 P.M.
At 8:20 P.M. a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted:
Eric Overberg