JOINT PUBLIC SERVICE & TRANSPORTATION AND
CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEES
JANUARY 12, 2005
COUNCIL CHAMBER
Convened: 5:33
p.m.
Adjourned: 7:00
p.m.
Councillor
Juan A. Gomez @ 5:50 p.m.
Councillor Barbara G. Haller, temporary
member
Cable TV
Advisory Committee Members William S Wood, Jack Lahey, Michaelene B. Mundras,
William Nay, Michael J. Cicero and Thomas Colletta
Also: City Manager
Michael V. O’Brien
DPW
Staffperson Robert Fiore
Deputy
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Telecommunications
Staffperson Judy Warren
Charles
Campbell, Worcester Public Schools
Technical
Services Director Paul Covello
City
Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk
1. Petition of Councillor Joseph Petty request the City of Worcester assume the lease cost for streetlight in front of 29 Tallawanda Drive.
#12 CC November 30, 2004
Speakers concerning the
renewal of the contract for providing cable television services in the City of Worcester:
1.
Rev. Michael Bafaro, 53 East Central Street, Worcester
2.
Jay O’Brien, 244 Belmont Street, Apt # 103, Worcester
3.
Scott J. Babbitt, 244 Belmont Street, Apt # 811,
Worcester
4.
Barbara T. White, 38 Upland Gardens Drive, Worcester
5.
Michael Bowie, 11 Forbes Street, Worcester
6.
Mauro DePasquale, 146 Morningside Road, Worcester
7.
Phil George, 3602 Knightsbridge Close, Worcester
8.
Sylvia Jaffee, 49 Lynnwood Lane, Worcester
9.
Frank Beshai, 42 Orton Street, Worcester
10.
Ramona Marangos, 15 Algonquin Road, Worcester
11.
Judy Langlois, 117 Morningside Road, Worcester
12.
Zara Dedi, Channel 13 receptionist
13.
Michael J. Armendo, Creston Street, Worcester, via
e-mail
14.
Pat Cushman, via e-mail
15.
Yvette Prayor, via e-mail
16.
Fran Anthes, Crown Hill resident, via e-mail
Chairman’s Order request the
City Manager provide the City Council with quarterly reports on resolutions to
cable television issues.
Chairman’s Order request the
City Manager to obtain from Charter Communications for the information of the
City Council a complete listing of the various discounts offered to
subscribers.
Chairman’s Order request the
City Manager provide the City Council with information identifying what the
technology access is that we need over the next ten years as a community, and
how do we include the various components to achieve same in a cable contract.
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with a list of all recent financial and in-kind contributions made by Charter to community efforts.
Chairman’s Order request the City Manager request Charter Communications engage with Advisory Committee to answer following questions:
|
1. |
On
November 4, 2004, Charter made the following statement in its Form 10-Q
Quarterly Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission: “We have a history of net losses. Further, we expect to continue to
report net losses for the foreseeable future. Our net losses are principally
attributable to insufficient revenue to cover the combination of operating
costs and interest costs we incur because of our high level of debt,
depreciation expenses that we incur resulting from the capital investments we
have made and continue to make in our business, and amortization and
impairment of our franchise intangibles. We expect that these expenses (other
than amortization and impairment of franchises) will remain significant, and
we therefore expect to continue to report net losses for the foreseeable
future.” What effect will these
growing losses have on the Worcester operations? |
|
2. |
Are
the Worcester operations' revenues separately reported to corporate? |
|
3. |
What
are the assets of the Worcester operations as "assets" were
discussed by Carl Vogel in the November 5, 2002 analyst conference call? |
|
4. |
Does
Charter intend to divest any "non-strategic assets" of the
Worcester operations as discussed by Carl Vogel in the November 5, 2002
analyst conference call? |
|
5. |
Have
the assets of the Worcester operations been specifically pledged at any time
since September 3, 2001 so as to secure any credit facilities used for
general corporate purposes? |
|
6. |
Given
Charter's current debt load, is the company in violation, technical or
otherwise, of any of its covenants associated with any debt or credit
facilities? |
|
7. |
With
a reduced capital expenditure program proposed for 2003, what capital
expenditures will Charter make for the Worcester operations? |
|
8. |
Has
Charter been notified by any Issuing Authority in any state that it is in
violation or default of its License? |
|
9. |
What
are the separate churn figures for Charter's analog, digital, and modem
customers? |
Chairman’s Order request the
City Manager report to the City Council the feasibility of creating a public
electric company in the City of Worcester.
2.
billing, service shut-off and collection issues
3.
electronic bill payment problems
4.
rates and multiple providers
5.
hp community representation
6.
community programming and countywide broadcasting
7.
choices of cable providers
8.
customized programming as an options
9.
ethnic programming, listing of public access programs
through Charter
10.
franchise peg fee
11.
reduced rates for social security and public sector
retirees
12.
changes to the billing cycle
13.
on-hold call issues
2. Relative to government channel policies.
#16A CM May 28, 2002
In
Committee January 13, 2003 – Held
In
Committee May 3, 2004 - Held
3. Relative to issues regarding Charter Communications.
#15B CM May 20, 2003
In
Committee May 3, 2004 – Held
4. Relative to outstanding Charter Communications items.
#15B CM July 1, 2003
In
Committee May 3, 2004 – Held
5. Relative to a supplemental list of items concerning cable television.
#15D CM August 12, 2003
In
Committee May 3, 2004 – Held
6. Relative to a notice from Charter Communications concerning its introduction of CableCARDs beginning on July 1, 2004.
#15A CM June 1, 2004
7. Transmitting report relative to City receiving proper compensation under the franchise agreement between the City and Charter Communications.
#150 CC August 12, 2003
In
Committee May 3, 2004 – Held
In
Committee June 23, 2004 – Held