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From YouTube: Boston Cable Hearing on RCN Transfer and Renewal
Description
The City of Boston holds a License Transfer & Renewal Hearing on behalf of the Issuing Authority for the Open Video System (OVS) License of RCN Telecom Services of Massachusetts, LLC, virtually on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
The purpose of the hearing is to review the FCC Form 394 transfer request received by the City of Boston on December 4, 2020. The Form 394 seeks approval for a transfer of control and renewal of the OVS License from Radiate Holdings, LP, to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners (Stonepeak.)
For further information, please call the Boston DoIT Broadband & Cable Office at (617) 635-3112 or email: Cable@Boston.gov
A
This
is
the
city
of
boston
hearings
for
the
open
video
system,
license
transfer
application
of
rcm
tokon
services
of
mass
and
the
license
renewal
are
the
same,
representing
rcn
telecom
services
of
massachusetts,
colson
vice
president
and
general
manager
of
icm
boston,
thomas
steele.
Vice
president
and
regulatory
council.
A
A
Over
the
last
year
they
have
maintained
the
fcc's,
keep
america
connected
pledge
for
broadband
and
wireless
providers.
All
three
have
offered
versions
of
affordable
broadband
to
city
residents,
rcn
and
comcast.
Both
offer
senior
discount
programs
for
cable
tv
and
all
three
providers
contribute
to
a
robust
city
network
bonet,
which
we
use
for
city
services,
public
safety,
schools,
libraries
and
more.
A
A
Today's
hearing
has
been
duly
advertised
in
the
boston
herald
on
march
3rd
and
10th.
As
you
can
see
the
clipping
on
the
right.
It
has
also
been
posted
to
the
city
website,
boston,
city,
record,
boston,
city,
clerics,
public
notices,
and
it
has
been
really
advertised
on
boston's
peg
tv
channels
that
is,
b
n
community
and
news
and
information
channels
as
well
as
boston
city
tv.
A
I
should
clarify
today
that
rcn
in
boston
is
an
open
video
system
in
ovs.
If
you
will
not
actually
a
cable
license,
however,
we
get
substantively
the
same
benefits
from
it
and
a
10-year
cable
television
license
protects
residents.
Customer
service
and
cable
tv
operations
preserves
the
dark
fiber
that
is
in
our
city
network,
supports
in
broadcast
b
n
media
channels,
collectively
all
three
provide
10
million
dollars
annually
to
the
city
for
fees
and
for
peg
support,
and
it
provides
regis
residential
access
to
cable
broadband
service,
something
that
is
not
inside
the
license.
A
It
rather
sits
outside
the
license
on
the
right.
Please
note
a
link
to
the
transfer
request
by
stone
peak
on
that
cable,
page
broadband
and
cable
cable
competition.
Boston.
Thank
you
for
those
of
you
who
may
ask
this
is
sort
of
an
illustration
if
you
will
of
the
area
of
the
cities
of
boston
that
are
covered
by
rcn
service,
and
this
is
just
a
brief
timeline.
A
Touching
on
the
history
of
rcn
in
boston.
Rcn
first
entered
the
market
about
22
years
ago.
It
had
a
cable
license
in
boston
with
its
partner
at
the
time
boston
edison.
A
few
years
later,
things
got
challenging.
Rcn
sought,
license
relief
and
became
an
open
video
system
in
boston
and
approximately
10
years
ago,
rcn's
ownership
was
transferred
to
aubrey
potnets
of
a
boston-based
firm
and
yankee
cable.
A
Patriot
media
group,
the
senior
management
team
which
had
previously
been
managing
rcn
continued
in
the
transfer
to
manage
rcn
and
just
in
december,
stone
peak
infrastructure
filed
the
transfer
intent
for
the
rcm
telecom
services
and
within
their
filing,
which
is
called
a
394
patriot.
Media
group
will
continue
to
manage
the
boston
system.
A
Under
license
transfer
rules
in
this
state
and
in
in
this
country,
there
are
four
factors
coming
from
both
state
federal
rules,
as
well
as
the
city
license
that
are
considered
in
determining
a
request
for
transfer
of
ownership,
and
they
are
quite
similarly
as
delineated
here.
The
managerial
experience,
the
technical
expertise,
the
financial
capability
and
the
legal
ability
to
operate
the
system.
A
A
I
believe
that
is
patriot
media
group,
but
if
we
could
delineate
that
that
would
be
helpful
and
what
are
the
benefits
of
the
truck
transaction
and
by
the
benefits
I
mean
to
the
city
and
to
its
residents
with
that,
I'd
like
to
hand
this
over
to
jeff
carlson
gm
tarasian,
tom
steele,
vice
president
for
law
and
michael
nielsen
of
harris,
wilshire
and
grannis
on
behalf
of
stone,
peak
infrastructure
partners,
gentlemen
I'll
advance,
the
slides
as
you.
Let
me
know,.
C
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Mike
jeff
was
unable
to
join
us.
Technical
issues
prevented
it,
but
I'm
happy
to
be
here
primarily
to
get
to
the
task
of
introducing
mike
nilsson
is
the
representative
for
the
for
stone
peak
I'll.
Just
say
that
I'm
happy
to
be
here
again.
As
you
know,
it
will
be
the
third
time
and
we
have
another
investment
company
coming
in
and
and
looking
to
gain
control
of
our
our
company.
So
it's
it's,
an
indirect
transfer
might
explain
in
some
detail.
D
Sure,
thanks
so
much
so
I'm
mike
nielsen.
I
am
at
a
little
law
firm
here
in
washington
dc
and
I
represent
stone
peak,
which
is
the
the
transferee
here
so
and
by
the
way,
I'm
I'm
wearing
a
tie
only
because
it's
saint
patty's
day.
So
so,
let's
make
it
clear.
So
look
we
have
submitted
a
bunch
of
materials
and
and
rather
than
go
through
those
materials
at
length.
D
E
D
D
D
So
so
what
I
think
that
that
means
is
that,
in
terms
of
the
legal
ability
to
operate
a
cable
system,
I
think
rcn's
legal
ability
to
operate
a
cable
system
is
unquestioned
and
I
think
rca
itself
has
its
own
financial
records
to
demonstrate
that
rcn
is
financially
capable
of
operating
a
cable
system,
and
I
should
just
add
here,
mr
letter's
benefit.
As
we've
discussed
this.
This
transaction
will
not
add
any
additional
debt
to
rcn.
So
again,
I
think
we
can
rely
on
rcn's
financials.
D
So
if
we
could
move
one
more
slide,
please
what
does
this
mean
for
boston
subscribers
in
the
short
term?
Again,
nothing
at
all.
You
know
there
are
some
times
when
private
equity
funds
go
around,
looking
for
sort
of
distressed
investments
that
they
think
that
they
need
to
change
a
great
deal
in
order
to
make
things
work.
This
is
not
that
case.
Stone
peak
chose
this
investment
in
part,
because
things
say
rcn
is.
It
is
a
very
well
run
system.
It
thinks
its
operations
are
excellent.
D
I
think
its
management
is
excellent.
So,
as
as
as
both
mike
and
tom
mentioned,
there
are
no
to
change
the
operations
materially
and
there
are
no
plans
to
change
the
management,
including
tom,
steele,
right
and
so
again.
Legally.
What
this
means
is
that
that
we
can
rely
on
the
existing
management,
that
is
patriot,
media
in
terms
of
the
management
qualifications
to
run
a
cable
system
and
the
technical
qualifications
to
run
a
cable
system,
because
the
same
folks
are
going
to
be
there
tomorrow
that
are
there
today.
D
Now
you
know-
I'm
not
here
today
to
say
you
know
exactly
where
those
resources
might
be
directed.
You
know,
nor
am
I
you
know
here,
to
tell
you
exactly
sort
of
how
much
those
resources
are
going
to
be,
because
part
of
that
depends
on
on
the
co-invest
process
and
and
and
a
lot
of
sort
of
different
things
that
have
yet
to
occur.
But
I
think
the
basic
idea
is
that
if
you
have
more
resources,
you
can
do
things
like
improve
your
network.
You
can
improve
your
customer
service.
D
You
can
improve
your
overall
operations,
so
the
the
point
of
this
transaction
is
to
have
an
even
better,
even
more
reliable
rcn.
That
is
already
again
very
good,
and
so
that
that's
the
hope-
and
the
hope
is
that
that
boston
subscribers
will
will
find
themselves
with
a
better,
an
even
better
alternative
to
comcast,
right
and
and
the
other
incumbents.
D
You
know
we
still
have
not
crossed
the
t's
and
dotted
eyes,
but
I
think
we're
we're
we're
essentially
there
I
think
mr
lutterer
would
agree
and
we
have
agreed
to
pay
for
the
city's
expenses
up
to
ten
thousand
dollars
in
conducting
this
review
and-
and
mr
letter
was
very
reasonable-
attorneys
fees.
So
that's
my
that's
my
little
presentation.
I
think
I
made
it
in
under
five
minutes,
but
I'm
delighted
to
answer
any
questions
anybody
has
or
or
in
whatever
order.
E
Actually,
if
I
could
mike
mr
lynch
and
michael
nielsen,
I
I
just
would
like
to
clarify
one
point
that
you
made
and-
and
everything
you
said
is
absolutely
true.
I
just
want
to
make
clear
that
the
the
audit
was
not
conducted
by
stone
peak
or
by
rcn.
It
was
conducted
by
an
independent
auditor
that
the
city
of
boston
engaged.
E
That's
not
something
that
michael
lynch
or
I
really
have
an
expertise
in.
In
fact
that
came
back
with
a
a
clean
report.
Our
auditor
suggested
that
there
were
a
couple
of
safeguards
that
we
might
want
to
put
in
place
and
stone
peak
has
agreed
to
those.
As
michael
mentioned.
Have
we
signed
the
document?
No,
but
you
will
see
the
document
as
part
of
the
final
transfer
agreement
which
we
are
committed
to
putting
on
the
boston
web
page,
so
that
that
was
my
only
clarification.
E
A
Thanks
jerry
much
appreciated,
michael
nielsen.
Thank
you
very
much
for
that
presentation
and
before
we
move
on
to
questions,
excuse
me
one
sec.
I
just
have
to
thank
you.
I
just
need
to
introduce
at
this
time
again
glenn
williams
from
boston,
neighborhood
network
media
glenn
is
the
general
manager.
We
had
hoped
that
justin
petty
would
be
able
to
join
us
this
morning
as
well.
The
board
president
but
technical
difficulties
for
him
as
well,
and
I
think
glenn
can
well
handle
comments
from
boston
neighborhood
network
glenn
currently
are
on
mute.
Glenn.
B
B
Thank
you
very
much
michael.
I
appreciate
that,
as
michael
said,
I'm
the
general
manager
of
boston,
neighborhood
network,
the
city
of
boston's,
non-profit
charitable
tax,
exempt
public
access,
production
and
training
center.
I'm
here
today
to
testify,
on
behalf
of
bnn,
for
this
important
community
meeting
on
community
cable
and
technology
needs
in
the
city
of
boston.
B
B
Pnm
wishes
to
emphasize
the
great
benefit
to
the
general
public
and
to
the
city
of
boston,
from
continuing
strong
licensing,
support
for
peg
access
and
boston
neighborhood
network
in
boston.
We
are
fortunate
to
have
boston
neighborhood
network,
which
has
provided
community
access
to
the
cable
channels
for
thousands
of
bostonians
for
nearly
40
years
continued
in
level.
Funding.
Support
for
bnn
is
crucial
to
continue
our
strong
track
record
in
providing
training,
production
and
media
access.
B
Services
b
n
has
shown
great
strength
as
a
center
for
the
production
of
talk,
quality
and
informational,
local
programming
about
the
city
of
boston's,
public
affairs,
community
and
public
events.
During
this
pandemic.
Boston
neighborhood
network
developed
a
partnership
with
the
boston
public
schools
to
provide
their
teachers
with
a
tool
to
engage
remote
learning
students
with
curricular-based
programming
to
enhance
their
learning.
B
We
dedicated
9
a.m
to
noon
and
2
p.m.
To
4-5
days
a
week
for
this
necessity.
Now
the
only
the
only
way
we
have
to
judge
the
success
of
this
partnership
is
through
the
reaction
from
the
teachers
and
our
video
on
demand
analytics
and
what
we've
discovered
is
there's
been
thousands
of
vods
students
returning
to
the
pages
and
then
the
programming.
B
It's
been
very,
very
successful
from
7
30
to
8
pm.
Five
days
a
week,
we
recruited
various
high
profile
individuals
to
read
bedtime
stories
to
our
younger
viewers,
mayor
marty,
walsh
and
the
patriots
julian
endelman
come
to
mind
as
some
favorites
one
of
our
proudest
programming
accomplishments
is
the
extension
of
our
weekly
program
extra
help.
A
homework
help
online
hotline
call-in
program
for
boston,
public
school
students.
This
past
year
we
helped
students
live
on
television,
prepare
for
entrance
level
exams
in
math
and
english
language.
B
Learners
accomplish
accomplishing
their
goals,
though
our
studios
have
been
closed.
We
continue
to
provide
our
members
with
zoom
classes
to
continue
providing
their
vital
link
to
their
communities.
We
also
carry
many
of
our
non-profit
webinars
in
programming.
It's
been
very.
Very
successful.
People
have
been
using
the
facility
bnn
collaborates
with
bus
with
the
city
of
boston,
to
provide
vital
programming
for
the
city
as
well
as
other
community
events
and
political
forums.
B
B
B
B
B
B
A
Excuse
me,
thank
you.
We
appreciate
that
contribution
at
this
time.
I
would
like
to
prepare
check
with
see
if
there
are
any
public
comments
that
need
to
be
made,
as
I
believe
when
everyone
knows
from
the
notices,
there
is
an
opportunity
for
written
public
comment
at
the
link
that
is
on
your
screen
now
and
we
I'm
sorry
jerry.
Yes,.
E
E
It's
not
part
of
the
transfer
process
now
we're
doing
them
together,
but
it's
one
of
these
silly
things
where
just
for
legal
purposes,
we
need
to
make
clear.
What's
going
on
we're
the
city
to
deny
the
transfer,
we
would
not
want
anyone
to
claim
that
the
denial
was
based
upon
an
rcn
refusal
to
provide
hdtv.
E
A
Thanks
jerry
much
appreciated,
so
actually
we
have
a
series
of
questions,
tom
and
michael
that
we
would
like
to
ask-
I
guess,
patriot,
media
group,
rcn
and
probably
the
petitioning
ownership
group
regarding
the
renewal.
There
are
a
series
of
commitments
that
icn
has
made
over
the
years
to
boston
and
we'd
like
to
clarify
them
now,
as
mentioned
at
the
front
end
of
the
hearing,
asean
serves
about
10
to
20
000
customers
in
eight
apostles
neighborhoods.
A
Under
this
comprehensive
open
video
system
agreement
with
the
city,
asean
presence
here
in
boston
offers
not
only
cable
tv
but
also
high-speed
internet
and
phone
services,
and
it
has
been
able
to
provide
residents
with
some
limited
competitive
choice
for
capable
internet
and
phone
service
in
these
areas.
Under
the
existing
boston
terms,
rpm
has
sustained
a
10
a
month,
basic
rate
for
seniors
and
an
overall
basic
rate
of
17.50.
A
We
recognize
that
rcn
has
expanded
in
dorchester
with
capital.
This
investment
utilizing
existing
stranded
plant
over
the
last.
I
believe,
eight
years
time
you
could
clarify
and
rcn
has
offered
two
fiber
strands
between
their
bedford
street
presence
at
eversource
and
43
hawkins
to
interconnect
different
fiber
networks
available
to
the
city
and
tom.
I
was
just
going
to
having
recited
these.
I
just
wanted
to
acknowledge
that
we
understand
these
correctly
and
that
these
are
elements
of
the
renewed
license
that
will
continue
for
the
benefit
of
the
city
of
boston.
A
E
E
C
B
As
a
representative
of
the
end
users
trauma,
I,
I
can't
tell
you
how
much
I
appreciate
that
we
have
got
a
response
back
from
people
who
have
said
things
to
us
like
gee.
You
know
it'd
be
nice
if
I
could
see
that
performance
or
or
see
the
the
kids
artwork
that
that's
being
displayed
at
some
galleries
and
stuff
in
a
better
definition.
This
is
a
large
step
forward
and
we
are
grateful
and
very
appreciative
of
that.
Thank
you,
tom.
A
A
Bennett,
okay,
so
I'm
checking
with
master
control.
I'm
not
too
sure.
I
think
what
we
might
do
is
we'll
reach
out
to
mr
bennett.
We'll
get
that
question
in
writing.
We
have
left
the
record
open
for
this
hearing
through
march
19th.
We'll
include
it
in
at
that
time.
At
this
point,
unless
someone
has
closing
comments
tom,
I
offer
you
that
opportunity.
E
E
Nielsen
and
mr
steele
both
outlined
a
number
of
improvements
or
safeguards
their
company
has
committed
to
in
exchange
for
this
transfer
agreement.
If
we
do
not
process
this
transfer
within
that
120
days,
the
transfer
goes
through.
If
we
lose
those
safeguards,
we
lose
those
improvements,
and
so,
if
you're,
looking
at
the
calendar
and
you're
wondering
why
this
is
done
so
quickly
during
a
pandemic,
it's
because
we
are
acting
within
the
time
frame
that
the
federal
government
provides.
E
So
if
you
do
have
an
issue
that
you
want
to
raise,
please
please
please
note
the
shortness
of
of
your
opportunity
to
speak
is
march
the
19th.
It's
not
that
we're
trying
to
cut
off
any
discussion,
we're
simply
working
within
the
time
frame
that
federal
law
permits
and
if
you're
wondering
where
that
120
days
went.
Most
of
it
was
eaten
up
by
the
auditor
needing
to
go
through
all
the
books
of
the
the
various
entities
that
were
in
the
process
and
then
the
negotiating
process
to
put
in
place
the
safeguards.
E
So
if
I
just
wanted
to
explain
that,
because
I
didn't
want
anybody
to
think
that
this
is
a
being
rushed
for
a
breast,
take
no
it's
being
moved
expeditiously,
because
federal
law
requires
us
to
do
that
or
we
lose
the
opportunity
to
impose
the
same
parts
that
we've
already
been
able
to
achieve.
I'm
sorry
mike,
I
apologize
for
adding
that
at
the
end.
A
Thank
you
for
the
qualification.
I
believe
something
similar
happened
five
years
ago
when
the
closing
was
around
the
and
new
year's
holidays.
So
good
point.
Thank
you,
mr
nelson.
Thank
you
for
your
presentation.
Glenn
williams.
Thank
you
for
yours,
john
steele
of
rcm.
We
appreciate
your
continued
support
for
boston
during
the
rcn
operations
and
with
that
I'd
like
to
close
this
video
section
of
the
public
hearing,
leaving
the
record
open
until
friday
and
after
close
of
business
friday,
we'll
be
posting
new
materials
on
the
city's
website.