Southwick begins cable TV
license renewal process
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Staff writer
SOUTHWICK – The Cable Advisory Committee has been negotiating with Comcast on behalf of the town.
Monday night, the committee updated the Select Board on where it stands with the cable contract after several meetings with Comcast’s Steve Fitzgibbons. Committee member Carol Baribeau said one of the main things the committee hoped to negotiate is not possible, which was a discount for senior citizens.
“They offered us a grant, but it turns out it would be a huge burden on the town to administer it,” said Baribeau. “It would be too costly than it was worth. They don’t give any discounts.”
Selectman Arthur Pinell said he had hoped to receive a discount not only for seniors, but for other residents in need of assistance. Baribeau said Comcast offered a $5,000 grant but it would be up to the town to decide who was eligible to receive it and how much each subscriber would receive.
“We would have to get into verifying income and it would be too much,” she said.
The board agreed it would be a cumbersome process for little benefit to residents.
Baribeau did say there are some residents of Depot Curt who were grandfathered in before Comcast cut its senior citizen discount.
“But,” said committee member Arthur Boissonnault, “If you change your address, you no longer get the discount.”
On December 27, 2011, the City of Springfield and Comcast settled a lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court and executed a non-exclusive Renewal Cable Television License, which provides for payments of more than $1.4 million from Comcast.
The settlement agreement and license renewal terms provide, in part, that Comcast would grandfather the current senior discount (10 percent off standard/age 62+/heads of household) so subscribers who currently enjoy that discount will continue to do so.
In addition, Comcast added a new discount going forward, so that new subscribers who are head of households and age 62+, or current subscribers who are head of household and turn 62, will enjoy $2 off Digital Starter.
Comcast did agree to add the new Department of Public Works building to the town’s I-net.
The committee asked Fitzgibbons how many residents are not able to receive Comcast service and he said only those who have driveways with a long drop and are not willing to pay for the drop are not able to receive Comcast service.
Baribeau said the current three-quarter of a percent franchise fee, is recommended to remain the same by the committee. She said she discovered another fee of .16 cents is buried within the current contract as part of other fees. She said if it was broken out into a separate fee, the town could recoup that.
The committee members said they will schedule an ascertainment hearing and start the contract length negotiations at three years.
Southwick has 3,126 Comcast subscribers.
Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at [email protected]
