Cable Contract Renewal Fact Sheet

Background:

Comcast’s contract to provide cable service to Northampton residents expires in April 2006. Comcast’s exclusive franchise to provide cable services to Northampton requires it to provide financing and support to the city’s Community TV studio and to its I-Net (institutional network) system which links all city public buildings.

Since the city signed the last contract in 1996, the cable franchise has undergone four changes in ownership. During this period, our once very active Community Access TV studio has reduced staff, training and programs. The I-Net is slow and unreliable. Both services are maintained by Comcast.

In preparation for contract renewal negotiations, Mayor Higgins created the Cable Access and Ascertainment Board (CAAB), an advisory committee consisting of city residents mandated to gather information, in 2003. Its mandate is to organize hearings and provide a report on the present status of cable services to the city of Northampton and recommendations to assist in her negotiations with Comcast on a new contract. The Mayor, not the CAAB, will negotiate the final contract with Comcast.

The CAAB has held meetings with the Senior Advisory Board, the Youth Commission and city departmental heads on Comcast service. It will hold a Public Hearing for all Northampton residents on June 14, 2005. The meetings so far have generated a number of questions which are summarized below with brief answers:

Will our rates go up with the new contract?

Like other utilities, such as telephone and natural gas, rates are determined by federal regulatory authorities, not by the municipalities or other entities who grant the franchises. In this case, rates are determined in negotiations by cable companies and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

How much money does Comcast give Northampton annually for the exclusive right to provide cable services?

The last cable contract authorized a one-time grant of $150,000 for the TV Access studio on Bradford St., and equipment. In addition, Northampton receives an annual user’s fee of 50 cents per subscriber.

Can the new contract improve the quantity and quality of the commercial program packages offered by Comcast?

The city’s contract with Comcast does not cover commercial program packages. Again complaints about pricing and programs should be directed to Comcast and the FCC. The contract, however, does apply to programming on Channel 15 and is an important part of the CAAB’s recommendations to the Mayor in contract renewal negotiations.

Why do we have all those shopping channels?

As already noted, Northampton’s contract with Comcast does not cover their commercial programs and program packages. Complaints need to be sent to Comcast and the FCC.

Can we negotiate with a cable server other than Comcast?

This is a contract renewal and under these terms Northampton expects to enter into a positive negotiation with Comcast. If the negotiations break down completely, Northampton does have the right to deny re-licensing.

Does the contract provide instruments to require better services from Comcast? Is there a way to monitor programs and services annually and take Comcast to task if they don’t live up to their contractual responsibilities?

The Ascertainment process as well as community hearings are a means to review the present level of services and to make recommendations on monitoring and evaluation in the future contract.

Why does Channel 15 no longer provide classes and support local video productions?

Personnel at the Access studio have been reduced to one part-time Comcast employee. We see the revitalization of Channel 15 staff, studio and program offerings a primary goal of the new contract.

Will the CAAB make recommendations on making the studio more accessible, for example, move it to the Northampton High School? If so, how and when will this happen. Who will fund it? How will it be administered?

As part of the revitalization, the CAAB is investigating moving the Access studio to Northampton High School which already has a media center and is wired for broadcast. A nonprofit organization (501 ©) 3 ) would replace Comcast as manager of the station. This organization would be responsible for hiring employees, overseeing the studio and for Community Access programing. Successful models of this approach exists in Easthampton, Amherst and Greenfield.

Will seniors get a discount in the new contract?

At the Council on Aging hearing several weeks ago, Northampton Seniors indicated that was one of their most important priorities. That priority will be communicated to the Mayor along with the other recommendations raised by Northampton public access viewers.

How can we be assured that our concerns and wishes actually get into the contract?

Following these hearings, as part of the legal requirements of the Ascertainment process, the CAAB will prepare a report listing recommendations and issues concerning Community Access TV based on information we have collected at these hearing and any written communications received before June 30, 2005. This information will be provided to the Mayor and her legal counsel prior to the commencement of negotiations with Comcast. This report will be available to the public.