Tune in for better cable service

NORTH EAST— The Town Board met on Thursday, Oct. 9, to discuss a variety of issues. Among them was their ongoing arrangement with Cablevision. A public hearing on the matter was held that night.“There were a lot of comments,” said town Supervisor John Merwin the following day, adding the comments centered around the issue of Cablevision service reaching some of the town’s outlying areas.“They have a business model that they’re treating a little differently then if they were a telephone or electric company,” Merwin said. “There are density standards, and they’re operating below the density standard.”What that means, according to the supervisor, is that service is not being provided to enough residents, those who are hard-to-reach or more desolate areas.“It doesn’t help the people get it,” he said, adding that one speaker at the public hearing said he was practically dependent on the provider for Internet service, as are many in the region. Fairpoint is another Internet provider in the area.“But people like getting their Internet through cable — they like the idea of bundling,” said Merwin. “We’re really pushing [Cablevision] to look at other areas.”The board asked Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky to provide a map indicating when the company first came into the community and how much progress it’s made connecting residents to their service.It was also noted that the village of Millerton has a separate franchise agreement from the town, though Cablevision sometimes deals with them jointly.“Some of the things [the village] wants depends on what Cablevision is giving the town,” said Merwin. “They’re putting in a message generator, something that allows them to do Channel 22, public access.”He said the town must remain aware of the village’s needs and abilities, as well as the North East (Webutuck) Central School District’s. He lauded Replansky for his thoroughness.“He’s been very good taking that agreement and running through it with the Public Service Commission and making sure everything is OK,” said the supervisor. “We know Cablevision wants to get that agreement signed and everything done. We have to make sure it’s good for us.“They’ve come a long way; I’ve had cable for five years on a private dirt road,” said Merwin, “we never expected it but were lucky. If we can get it the others, we should too.”He added that people who don’t have cable service should call the town to let the board know, so it can let Cablevision know. They can look at the issue on a case-by-case basis, according to the supervisor.At the end of the discussion the Town Board authorized Merwin to sign the franchise agreement. To contact the Town Hall and register a comment about Cablevision service call 518-789-3300.