MILTON BROADBAND MONITORING COMMITTEE

Broadband Committee Members

Jonathan Brown, Chairman
Bernard J. Lynch, III
Paul J. Yovino, Secretary, Pro Tem
Peter Epstein, Esq. Counsel

A posted meeting of the Broadband Monitoring Committee took place in the Cronin Conference Room at Milton Town Hall on Wednesday March 14, 2007 at 9 O’clock A.M.

In attendance were the following: Jonathan Brown, Chairman, BMC. Bernard J. Lynch, III, Paul J. Yovino, Secretary, Pro Tem, Peter J. Epstein, Esq. Counsel to the Broadband Monitoring Committee and the Town of Milton and Gerry Buckley, Manager of Government and Community Relations - Southeastern MA Region for Comcast Cable.

The purpose of the meeting with Gerry Buckley was to continue the negotiation of a new license with the Town of Milton and Comcast Cable. A discussion of a wide range of topics took place but no definitive answers were reached on most of the following areas:
Future Meeting Schedules
After a brief introduction, the following meeting schedule was agreed upon by all parties present. Those meeting are scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 9 O’clock AM, Monday, April 9, 2007 at 9 O’clock AM, Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 9 O’clock AM and Friday, May 4,2007 at 9:30 AM. All meeting were scheduled to be held at Town Hall.
F.R.C Discussion
The BMC discussed the F.R.C [Franchise Related Cost] document which Comcast presented to the BMC. The BMC asked for a better explanation of that document. Buckley said the FRC was created by Comcast’s accounting department and as a recent employee of Comcast he did not have a complete understanding or answer.

MPEG Access Funding Discussion
A discussion followed regarding the funding for the new public access group, MPEG, Access, Comcast will no longer provide the studio, services or equipment to maintain public access cable programming in the town of Milton. However, Comcast will partially fund that effort through the fees it charges its Milton customers at a rate and percentage yet to be determined.
Attorney Peter Epstein stated that funding for the new public access group should be in the area of 5% consistent with the requirements as presented to the BMC by MPEG Access. Comcast’s figure was significantly less than that figure. Gerry Buckley stated that Comcast’s ascertainment determined Milton ratepayers were not willing to pay for the access and that 2 / 1/2% less fees was the only figure Comcast would be proposing.

FRC and Capital Expenditure Discussion
A further discussion followed relating to the FRC and to capital expenditures.
Peter Epstein clarified that rates and the FRC are different pools of money. He questioned Comcast’s claim of “prior operating” expenses going back 20 years ago when Comcast was not the cable provider for Milton. Gerry Buckley responded that he would ask “Norm” the accountant to clarify the question and report to the BMC at the next meeting.

The discussion continued regarding the means and the amount of funding needed to support the new public access corporation.
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Future Service and Maintenance Discussion
Peter Epstein opened the discussion of the term of a new license with Comcast and the town of Milton. He mentioned that it might be a consideration that it be commensurate with the service Comcast was willing to provide to the town

Public Access on 2-¼ % Discussion
Comcast stated it could run public access on 2 ¼ % which Comcast claims is level funding. Comcast was questioned on its definition of “level funding” if Comcast now spends $130,000 on public access. The BMC noted on the record the decline in access service over the past four years under Comcast‘s control
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Logs and Customer Satisfaction Discussion
The question was asked to Comcast as to the budget, costs and logs of Comcast’s Milton public access in 2006. The BMC asked if any logs were maintained at any level at Comcast regarding customer satisfaction levels or complaints of its public access management. Comcast stated that no such logs or records were kept by Comcast.

M-PEG Access Discussion
Peter Epstein suggested that at the next meeting a budget for M-PEG Access be presented as part of the discussion. Also, he asked that Gerry Buckley explain Comcast’s capital and operating budget for the town.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 AM

Respectfully submitted,
Paul Yovino, Secretary Pro Tem