WHITMAN –The Select Board on Tuesday, July 23 approved a new contract with Comcast, finalizing contract terms between the town and the cable television corporation, governing the operation of Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV.
Whitman’s special cable counsel William Solomon briefed the board on the contract negotiations during the Tuesday, July 23 Select Board meeting.
He’s worked for the town for about 25 years, starting when the town was transitioning from a company-run program.
“There’s no better program in the Commonwealth,” he said of the current WHCA board and employees. “I work from Pittsfield and North Adams to the Vineyard and there’s no better program than you have here in Whitman-Hanson.”
He also credited Executive Director Eric Dresser, whom he referred to as a “one-person show,” in regard his programming and technical skill, for his contributions to the license renewal process.
“We’re here today, hopefully to get a vote of approval
The facility’s building on South Avenue was owned by Comcast at the time.
Comcast Senior Government Affairs Manager Michael Galla said the 10-year license is what the town and Comcast negotiated – a “normal time period we conduct with all our licenses with our towns.”
Solomon said that, while Galla is a tough negotiator, he has “great insight into figuring out how much does the town care about community television and PEG access and what are those needs.”
“That’s why I think we have an excellent license,” Solomon said, adding that Assistant Town Administrator Kathleen Keefe efforts helped the town obtain a better contract. “There’s a lot of things to do and I know cable isn’t always first.”
There will be public, educational and government (PEG) programming support for the WHCA team – 4.75 percent of gross annual revenues – and Comcast will be increasing the capital dollars that were in the last license to $280,000 over the 10 years – or $28,000 per year to the town as well as a high-definition channel to be provided within the first 24 months.
Solomon also mentioned the improved picture on two of the PEG channels to serial digital interface (SDI), which will require encoders and the hi-def channel, which will also require an encoder.
The Select Board and WHCA would decide together what the hi-def channel would be used for.
“It turns out that there is a strong interest among the towns to have the government channel be the high-definition channel, because when you do your presentations, people at home can read the graph, can read the spreadsheet and can follow along,” he said.
Comcast was looking for some initial funding – $10,000 – for the encoders, Solomon said, adding he has seen numbers ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 for the equipment.
“It’s the major aspects of the contract, which is in Article 6 of the license,” he said. “Those are the main aspects that allow your PEG access to operate.
“I know our community access has grown over the years,” Select Board Vice Chair Dan Salvucci said. “It’s unbelievable, what they’re doing.”
“As a company, we are actively invested in that,” Galla said. “It’s an impressive operation and we’re happy to be a partner of it.”
Extension of cable service, if needed would carry no density requirement, Solomon said, noting all Whitman residents now have the ability to connect to cable.
There will still be a senior discount for those over age 65, Solomon said, stressing that the $2 discount is voluntary on the part of Comcast under the Cable Act.
“Most companies don’t provide it,” he said. “We’re grateful that they continue to provide that senior discount.”
There is a financial qualification, but there are more categories of qualification in Whitman than elsewhere.