Committee Agenda for Public Service and Transportation Committee 10/14/2014

CITY OF WORCESTER

Public Service and Transportation Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 4:08 P.M.

Adjourned: 5:35 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council David J. Rushford
Committee Members
Chairperson Konstantina B Lukes
Councilor Morris A Bergman
Councilor Gary Rosen

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Konstantina B Lukes Councilor Morris A Bergman Councilor Gary Rosen

	Also:	Deputy City Solicitor Michael E. Traynor Cable Services Director Judith Warren City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

Communications of the City Manager



1a.	Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Cable License Transfer. # 12.4F CM September 16, 2014 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Speakers: 1. Mauro DePasquale, Worcester resident 2. Jacqueline Norton, Worcester resident 3. Regina Gahan, Worcester resident 4. Jo Hart, Worcester resident Utility Representatives: 1. Thomas P. Cohan, Director of Governmental Relations, Charter, 95 Higgins Street, Worcester, MA 01606 2. Daniel M. Glanville, VP, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Comcast, 90 Phoenix Avenue, Enfield, CT 06082 (Holyoke resident) 3. Nick Leuci, VP Government and Community Investment, Comcast Cable, 676 Island Pond Road, Manchester, NH 03109 Recommend adoption of the accompanying Order to request the City Manager issue a decision rejecting Comcast Corporation’s request for transfer of the Worcester cable television license from Charter Communications based on the testimony presented to the Committee presenting a lack of managerial expertise by Comcast leading to substandard customer service practices. (Roll Call 2-1 with Councilor Bergman in opposition)


1b.	Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Funds Received as a Result of the Cable Franchise License. # 10.4B CM June 17, 2014 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


1c.	Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to a New Contract with Charter Communications # 8.4B CM November 12, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2014 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


1d.	Transmitting informational communication relative to Update of Cable License Renewal Ascertainment Period. # 8.32B CM April 02, 2013 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


1e.	Transmitting informational communication relative to a Petition that Charter Communications' Filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). # 10.13A CM March 13, 2012 In Committee March 19, 2012 - Held In Committee April 11, 2012 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


1f.	Transmitting informational communication relative to Charter Communication's 4th Quarter Report on Response Time in Handling Phone Calls to Customer Care. # 8.4A CM February 28, 2012 In Committee March 19, 2012 - Held In Committee April 11, 2012 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File

Miscellaneous Items



2a.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request the Standing Committee on Public Service & Transportation review the rates for services charged by Charter Communications and make sure the company is providing senior citizens and others who qualify with any discounted rates or plans available. # 11s CC January 21, 2014 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


2b.	Petition of Mary Moule request the City Council investigate and negotiate a discount cable television service rate or rate cap for seniors in the current contract renewal negotiations between the City of Worcester and Charter Communications. # 8c CC March 12, 2013 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


2c.	Petition of Mauro DePasquale, Executive Director of WCCA TV13, et al request the City Manager and the Cable Advisory Committee to prioritize and assure funding and grant allocations toward the continued development of WCCA TV 13’ operations and facility. # 7aa CC February 26, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2014 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


2d.	Petition of Mauro DePasquale, Executive Director of WCCA TV13, et al requesting City Council request the City Manager to distribute WCCA TV programming broadly throughout Worcester County or, at least, through Charter’s system in towns surrounding Worcester. # 7bb CC February 26, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2014 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


2e.	Petition of Mauro DePasquale, Executive Director of WCCA TV13, request City’s consideration of extending our current agreement with the City until the renewal of the Franchise and that of WCCA’s agreement is accomplished. # 7z CC February 26, 2013 In Committee April 8, 2014 - Held In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File


2f.	Petition of Jonathan Curtis request a Citizen's Committee be created to advise City Administration and City Council on how to best to use Internet resources. # 8h CC January 15, 2008 In Committee October 1, 2014 - Held In Committee October 8, 2014 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File

CHAIRMAN'S RESOLUTIONS

That the City Council goes on record in opposition to the merger of Comcast Corporation with Time Warner Corporation. (Approved on a roll call of 2-1 with Councilor Bergman in opposition.)