Pittsfield Anticipates Informal Cable Contract Negotiations
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Cable Advisory Committee plans to have "friendly" informal negotiations for the city's license renewal with Charter Spectrum.
Last week, the panel welcomed Mayor Peter Marchetti and a Spectrum representative to begin a narrative on the city's cable needs. Pittsfield's 10-year contract ends in September.
Marchetti looks forward to the negotiation process and hopes that they can find ways to provide quality service to residents. He wants to ensure that the quality of service seen in PEG (public, educational, and government) access channels can be maintained, pointing to the community's reliance on it whether they are watching governmental meetings, sports, or local programming.
"It is our way as a community of keeping in touch with the citizens and they have watched countless meetings, well over 250," he said.
In January, he debuted a bi-weekly public access show "One Pittsfield" to stay in contact with constituents and demystify the inner workings of the city.
The mayor added that Pittsfield Community Television was the residents' main connection during the COVID-19 pandemic and he will advocate for capital expenditure funding.
Marchetti noted that up until May of last year, he was the president of the nonprofit PCTV and has a ruling from the state Ethics Commission and has filed the proper disclosures with the city clerk, making him free to be at the table to negotiate the contract.
"It's just interwoven with every aspect of our lives," Chair Sara Hathaway said.
Attorney William Solomon has also worked in the county's other city, North Adams, where he said community television there is also essential for government, businesses, and the public working together. He sees similarities between Pittsfield and North Adams.
"Community television is a part of that local economy and very important to the fabric of the community, as the mayor said, connecting public to government and government to public," he said.
There was some discussion about a formal versus informal process for the contract negotiation. Members communicated that they intend to move forward with a friendly informal process where both parties come to the table to draft it.
A formal process would involve a proposal from Spectrum months before the expiration and the city would have the ability to issue a preliminary and final denial that the cable company could appeal. If the parties cannot agree, it is brought to court.
"I think we're going to tell you officially that no need for it. Let's agree that neither side is going to do that. As long as we know we're not going to get a formal proposal, we don't have to give you an RFP," Solomon said.
"So I think we'll officially let you know that and then we can agree on that, exchange something, and agree on the informal process."
The committee is currently in the ascertainment process. Focus groups for education and municipal employees were held and committee member Shawn Serre, executive director of Pittsfield Community Television, said they were very informative.
"I was actually quite impressed with the education focus group," Hathaway said. "People were gushing in praise for PCTV."
Residents will be able to give feedback on Spectrum's services during public hearings this week. An in-person hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 6, at 6 p.m. at City Hall and a virtual hearing will be held on March 8 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.
An online survey is also being conducted to gain more insight into residents' experience with Spectrum Cable and their viewing habits of PEG access television provided by PCTV.
Tags: cable television, public television,
