WESTFIELD – The city’s telecommunications needs are in transition as it negotiates with Comcast for a new contract, the term of which will impact the availability, and quality, of local programming.
The Cable Television Committee members discussed the technology involved in expanding the number of the city’s local broadcast channels for live community radio and television programming last night against the backdrop of the Comcast contract negotiation, which may limit or expand public access capabilities.
Community Development Director Peter J. Miller Jr. said the recently submitted compromise counterproposal to Comcast, which responded Monday, listed concerns about the city’s contract proposal.
Miller said there are only a couple of issues, several of which have been at the forefront of the negotiating process, which have yet to be resolved as the two parties enter a new agreement.
Miller said the term duration of the proposed contract, the customer service center on East Mountain Road, and an increase in the number of local access channels have been the focus of the contract talks.
The City’s position on the term of the contract is that telecommunication technology is evolving so rapidly that a shorter duration, five years, is in the city’s best interest, while Comcast has countered that it needs a longer term, closer to the 10-year duration of previous contract, to recoup its investment in the city.
“It’s been just the past week or two that we’ve reengaged with Comcast, picking up where we left off in the summer,” Miller said
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik stepped into the negotiation process, offering Comcast a counterproposal and compromise, a seven-year term, but with a requirement to maintain the customer service center for at least half of that duration and that the number of local access channels increases.
Comcast responded Monday, Miller said, seeking an eight-year contract. The two sides are planning to meet within the next few weeks to see those issues and concerns resolved.
The city is seeking to increase the number of local access channels to at least three. Comcast currently provides one combined PEG (Public Educational and Governmental) access channel at City Hall.
The city is considering creating live local content at athletic, community and cultural events that would be broadcast via a mobile studio. A third studio, to support community-based content, would be established downtown.
The city would continue its partnership with Westfield State University which has facilities for editing and broadcasting content, with the city’s Technology Center being the transmission route between the city and university.
