2007TC0228

Town of Rensselaerville

Telecommunications Committee

February 28, 2007

Location: Town Hall

Present: Lisa Snyder, Member (via conference call)

Cathleen Bobrick, Member

Jost Nickelsberg, Member

Don Parker, Member

Fred Urrutia, Member

Brian Bowes, Mid-Hudson Cable

Steve Mortofolio, Mid-Hudson Cable

Brian Bowes reported in less than a year areas served by cable will be able to obtain internet via fiber cables. Typically 35 houses per mile are desired before running fiber line down a road. Mid-Hudson is receiving money via a federal grant and loans. Their goal is to rebuild the areas presently covered by cable first. Discussed the importance of looking at the contract the town has with Mid-Hudson and having the town attorney review the contract. Fred will look into the legality of using a yaggie antenna.

Additional notes from Fred:

• Rensselaerville (Milestone) was one of the “worst” acquisitions
• Brian estimates “maybe 120 subscribers”, but may be less due to shoddy service under Milestone
• Upgrading current analog cable plant (head-end and cable distribution) to digital hybrid fibre-coax (“HFC”)
• Main hub is in Cairo, fibre channel runs up through Medusa to Rensselaerville (which is at the end of their network system)
• Plan to activate head-end late this week or early next week
• Plan to switch Rensselaerville hamlet drops (hybrid to nodes, coax to homes) late next week or the week after
• Sales/customer service to contact subscribers, will install new tap and connectors and, if necessary, a new drop (coax cable) to the home
• Medusa will be next phase (can take 1-2 months to complete)
• Brian committed to talk to a Rensselaerville subscriber who complained at public meeting
• Lose ½ of the channels 3x/week, not responsive to calls, thinks call center is in FL and they just do not care about subs
• Brian will call Fred next week with an update
• [Brian followed though, spoke to the customer and actually upgraded his service to digital fairly quickly]
• MHC mentioned they are willing to install cable modem at the library at a reduced rate or free for a year
• [5/18/07: Subsequent examination of franchise agreement states service to library, schools, fire & EMS should be free. This has not been followed up yet.]
• Brian Bowes agreed to keep in touch with Fred on status of upgrade project
• [5/18/07: we did have several telephone conversations, he did follow up and they completed their work faster than originally estimated, probably due to our requests for status updates]