9/23/2008 CABLE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Minutes

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Ii e-that-the--S-el ctm-en anmnh �ri t- t the speci#c rates that Comcast can charge,nor can the Selectmen mandate the specific commercial programming that Comcast carries on its cable system in the Town. Mr.Eliason gave a short description of some of the responsibilities of the MCAT Board: MCAT reviews funding from the Cable provider to determine what funds are available and for what purposes, and makes recommendations as to their disbursement. MCAT also screens requests for funding for equipment and services to be provided to the Schools, local government and the Community Access Programmers. MCAT also monitors and reports periodically on the quality of staff support and studio equipment provided for'co rnunity access programming. MCAT advises the Board of Selectmen on Federal and Mate regulatory changes and technological changes taking place in the industry including mergers,alternate providers and service enhancements from cable providers. 0 MCAT reviews customer complaints with the purpose of providing a forum for extraordinary complaints, or those considered to be on-going that is, continued poor service, lade of service, or possible cable license violations. • MCAT conducts a periodic visit to the"head-end"as well as the local administrative offices of the cable provider and schedules meetings with the cable provider's liaison person when necessary to resolve issues of major concern to the licensing authority or MCAT. 0 MCAT advises the Board of Selectmen as to what facilities and support services would be needed to televise public hearings, as well as expanding and upgrading the present capabilities of televising and accessing information from Town lull and other sites in the community. • MCAT prepares a report of each of their meetings for the Board of Selectmen,, outlining the activities and items covered at the meetings. Mr.Eliason commented that in the past nine years under the terms of the present ten-yeas license we have had very few complaints which were not resolved by Comcast, itself,or the Selectmen's Office; nor have we been made aware of any violations of the terms of the contract. Mr.Efi son then introduced James Chisholm,Vice Chairman of MCAT. ,lames Chisholm added a comment that when MCAT makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and the recommendation is approved then funding is provided by ICT to the Town. Mr.Eliason asked whether any other MCAT Board member wished to comment. Maxine wolfset did comment. She said she thanked the Town of Ma hpee and Comcast for opening videography to her. Through the advantage of excellent training provided by the supervisors at the Comcast studio it enabled her to produce a number of videos that she feels had some impact on the Town. Maxine identified a documentary series she produced—some examples: on global warming; on saving the waters on Cape Cod, including at Popponesset and Woqutoit Bays; and one she did in memory of William A.Paolini that received an award. Mr. Eliason then asked: Tho we have any testimony from members of the public present today? There was none. David DeIVecchio addressed the Nearing. He explained that in the past five years the MCAT Board and the relationship with Comcast providing funding has enabled his Department to provide services to the Town of Mashpee that would not otherwise be available. He rioted a few examples of important things that needed to be done but only was able to be done through MCAT.funding: 0 Old data network was replaced and back-up network also installed so that 2 networks running. [updated domain servers and e-mail. Permitting software installed. 0 Tire Department upgrades accomplished through 11T funding. Beach,transfer stickers software installed. PCs for the library. Significant enhancements to systems and to the backbone of the network. 2