(adapted from Patrick Cody’s report to ACM-NE)
Comcast Certificate of Public Good
The biggest piece of work undertaken by the Vermont Access Network (VAN) in the past few months is the review of Comcast’s Certificate of Public Good (CPG) renewal. In Vermont, a CPG is the franchise license that a utility or telecom company must obtain in order to do business in the state. They are regulated by the Public Service Board. Comcast’s current CPG in all areas of Vermont expires at the end of 2016. VAN has been granted “party status” in this docket, has put together a team to work on the proceedings, and has set aside some funds for legal counsel. VAN members are paying for this through a legal fund that was established, based on their access support fees. Rob Chapman is on the team working on the Comcast CPG renewal. He reports:
Most of the last few months have been back and forth filing of testimony and discovery questions. As expected, VAN presented a robust and forward looking vision of community media in the state of Vermont, while Comcast worked at reducing its regulatory obligations. Comcast pressed its argument that many of the suggested CPG conditions are antiquated or outside the authority of the Public Service Board, particularly when the obligations relate to broadband technology. VAN continues to push for industry standard distribution methods and platforms, such as HD video and access to the interactive program guide. This summer will include actual hearings in front of the Public Service Board with the final decisions drafted by the board for the end of the year.
VTel / SAPA Update
SAPA (Springfield Area Public Access) has dropped its case against Vermont Telephone (VTel) in front of the Public Service Board. SAPA had opened a “docket” (hearing) to seek the Public Service Board’s assistance in resolving contract negotiation disputes, but decided that the legal costs were too great. Springfield-based VTel, a small independent telecom operator, received an expedited Certificate of Public Good in 2012 to upgrade the network within its pre-existing territory to a new fiber optic network. This now includes the highest speed internet service in the State as well cable television service. The process of including PEG Access in VTel services has not been smooth.
VTel has contracted with 4 of the 6 community access centers (called Access Management Organizations or AMOs in VT) operating in its service territory. They now carry channels from each of those AMOs to all of its cable TV subscribers. So VTel cable TV subscribers receive all access channels from those AMOs, not just from the channels they would receive on incumbent cable service.
SAPA, along with LPCTV in Ludlow, did not agree to the contract terms as presented by VTel. SAPA initially decided to take the issue up with the Public Service Board; LPCTV’s Board of Directors decided to simply wait to see how things progressed. Over the last several months, VTel has announced it is experimenting with other forms of meeting the PEG Access requirements. This is still far from a dead issue.
Something New
Vermont Interactive Technologies (VIT), a nonprofit running teleconferencing services at several sites across the state, has closed its multiple doors. The state college system had been a principle user of its services & studios but state funding for the service was lost. The network and studios are still in place. Can AMOs fill in void? The issue is still in flux as of April 2.
http://digital.vpr.net/post/vermont-interactive-technologies-losing-its-funding-whats-next#stream/0
http://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/detail/2016/311
VAN Annual Meeting
The Vermont Access Network (VAN) will hold its 2016 Annual Meeting of Friday, May 6 in Burlington. Before that, VAN is sponsoring a statewide 5-minute video contest through April 1. It is open to people of all ages.
48-hour Floating Film Slam
CATV in White River Junction, serving the Upper Valley region, in collaboration with the White River Indie Festival, is hosting a 48 Hour “Floating Film Slam.” Participants produce a film in 48 consecutive hours between April 7 to May 9. Films will be shown on Sunday, May 16 at the new Northern Stage in White River Junction.
Good People Moving On
RETN (Regional Educational Television Network) in Burlington announced the passing of one of its staff, Doug Dunbebin, the community education & public relations manager. This was completely unexpected, and everyone whose lives Doug touched has expressed a combination of shock and sadness. Doug was a graphic artist by trade, a former Burlington city councilor, and much more. A nice write up was printed in a recent edition of Seven Days.
RETN’s loss is compounded as its executive director, Scott Campitelli, leaving to work for Vermont PBS. Scott received ACM-NE’s Chuck Sherwood Leadership Award in 2014. It is reported that his career move may bring a closer partnership between access channels and PBS in the state.
Also reported at the ACM-NE meeting in April: Mike Valentine passed away in Rutland; his obituary notes that among other events in his life, he served 21 years as executive director of PEG-TV.