City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Cable and Broadband Internet Commission, 30 Aug 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 6.7.2023 Cable and Broadband Internet Commission

Description

6.7.2023 Cable and Broadband Internet Commission

A

Take us off mute there. We go all right. Okay, so uh we'll call the meeting to.

B

Order, uh yes, maybe do a roll call. Oh yeah roll call, so yeah rob capone lis.

B

Rodriguez ash and suzanne woodland, deputy city manager also, the lawyer.

B

All right, uh I guess before we start too, we do have a visitor, so I'm wondering if perhaps.

B

To it all guess, sort of comes down to you, we could she has, you would normally be under other.

B

Business would be toward the end if you would like, we could move you toward the front so that.

B

You don't have to sit through the boring meeting. It's entirely up to you. You know just move public.

A

Comment forward right, yes, so, okay, so is that okay take a motion motion to move the public comment up.

B

To uh the item number two all right, all four ag great right: okay, all right! So we'll move public.

B

Comment right there: okay, so best yeah! You could no problem. Why don't you come up? Why don't you.

B

Come up to the mic just so you know it is being we. We do actually have a zoom connection. No one.

B

Never comes, but we do as well as it is being recorded so watch my just for um thank you.

C

So my name is bess mosley and I live at springro condominiums and in the last in recent weeks, our.

C

Internet service has gone off without warning during a workday and some of my neighbors, the.

C

Service came back several or a couple of hours or several I'm not sure how long after it went out.

C

And my one neighbor said I guess he had contacted comcast, they were doing upgrades in the area so.

C

They had cut off service but cutting off service to 144 units housing. People who, I am sure work.

C

From home and without notice is disruptive, to say the least when they did come back on, I still did.

C

Not have internet service, and initially you know they just want to send you the the restarter on.

C

The automated menu that you get when you call that 800 number well, when none of that worked two days.

C

Later so I'd been without internet service for two days they sent a serviceman who determined.

C

That my modem was no longer compatible with the upgrades that had had been made. So I have.

C

An issue with maybe they could figure out how to notify people when they're going to do work. That.

C

Will cut people off so that was my email. That was my issue with the internet with email. I have an.

C

Issue apparently, comcast provides 10 gigabytes of storage for for your emails and for me that.

C

Is insufficient because some of it goes back 20 years of stuff that I that needs to be maintained.

C

So so about every week, or so I get something an email telling me that I will no longer be able to.

C

Send or receive emails until I delete something, so I am always going into the computer to delete.

C

Sent emails in addition to the trash some of those sent emails, I would rather keep for a.

C

While but I need to keep unloading things now, I've been told I haven't pursued this yet that.

C

Gmail, which is a free email service, provides 100 gigabytes of storage. So I'm wondering if maybe.

C

Comcast would increase it and they just don't know that there are people not happy with that.

C

Limit and of course, there's no way to pose a question to anyone at comcast so and then my.

C

Last thing is on the television. [music] um You know you have this. My my comcast bill is about.

C

$230 a month now I use the computer every day. I do have a landline and the tv I probably watch.

C

I don't know fewer than 10 channels, but I get 200 and something and when I wanted to delete, I wanted.

C

To cancel netflix, which was part of my bill as a practical matter, you cannot delete it because my.

C

Bill would go up because deleting it changes the package I'm on and the new package would.

C

Be $6 was more than I am paying now, so those things seem unreasonable to me and I assume.

C

It's because consumers really have no access to comcast and that's why portsmouth has you.

C

Folks to provide us with some yeah, so unfortunately, I think.

B

In a lot of cases, we really don't have have a lot of control as far.

B

As as far as billing, as far as the the uh packages that they do, provide.

B

um I am prepared to uh contact our this. We we discussed. I figured I'd, wait until I actually.

A

Got to meet you in person and and hear everything, but I'm willing to um reach out to our government.

A

Relations person and just see if we could get any more information on the interruptions in.

A

Service and to request more notice to the extent they scheduled work as opposed to emergency work.

A

That they consider some way to push out notices, so I'm happy to make that effort. Yes, as we know.

A

Sometimes it's effective and sometimes it's you know we'll see, but but we've got at least at.

A

Least, I have a a communication channel which is perfect um as a start, and um I I think to.

A

Follow up on what the chair's comments are, we have very little control, um barely even a whisper of a.

A

Voice but I'm happy to share with our government relations folks that the other two issues um just.

A

So they know that we have a resident. Who has these? You know two concerns and we'd like them.

A

Conveyed and shared so I'm happy to to express that. um I'm not optimistic that they'll change.

A

Their email storage, but I'm happy to express it and and it's encouraging to know that, there's.

C

Even a way to have it expressed really so I'm pleased that's in consolation. I last week I did.

D

The same thing I was at home, my internet went down. I got a text maybe an hour before and then.

D

We have a w area, um there's a modem there and it took two days for them to come change it because.

D

The modem same thing, the modem, your rec area, is not compatible with the new 10g signal. 10G.

D

Upgrades so uh so another notice iss issue on m. That's something that I'll add that to the list.

A

Four things yeah yeah and so just to to sort of further emphasiz your point, um one of the.

E

Documents that we were just looking at was the survey that we had sent out um regarding all.

E

This and the the availability of packages and the cost of things and how you basically can't.

E

Really move freely within these things, without really compromising or paying more um is one.

E

Of the things that came up multiple times in the comments, so it's going to be definitely.

E

In included in our findings and what we're going to be reporting to to comcast spity great thank.

A

You good point. Yes, you are not alone, but thank you. I appreciate all the feedback. This is again.

E

It's good to know that we're helping and that there's people that you know care yeah, I'm gon.

F

I'm interested in a survey, so I'm gonna stay and listen, but thank you very much. Okay. Thank you.

B

Okay, um is there any other? I guess public comment specifically, uh there is no one.

A

Else on the zoom all right, so you can go back to your regular agenda, all righty! So uh we'll.

B

Come back to item two which was approval, the uh minutes for the march meeting yep.

B

Everybody have a chance to look at okay, all right motion to accept the minutes.

B

Second, all right, all in favor, all all right, all.

F

Sure all right so, uh as I mentioned to the chair, uh stephanie secord, who helped us uh greatly with.

A

Getting out the survey and uh compiled the results, we left the survey open all the way to the end of.

A

The day monday in part, because we wanted to um give time for the spring book residents if.

A

They were interested to complete the survey um and so uh stephanie has compiled the results. She was.

A

Planning to be here today, um but had an emergency that has taken her away from being here today,.

A

So, apologies for that we could kind of summarize if you want the the big items, knowing that maybe.

A

We can talk more um at the next meeting about what some of those results are. um So I don't know if.

A

You want me to just kind of walk through the broad results quickly or do you want to wait until, let's.

B

Let if you wouldn't mind, unfortunately, because we only have one copy, I think we'll just put it.

B

In you and you will yeah tell us what we're rem I apologize for that, but I think yeah. Why don't.

B

We get at least get a start on looking at the results yep, so we had uh and- and I I would have.

A

Made more copies, but I like I said I didn't go till about 10 minutes ago, that I was on tap for.

A

This okay, so uh we have 506 responses to our survey, which actually I thought was a pretty.

A

Good number, all things considered um and uh do you uh most of them were portsmouth residents.

A

uh We had just six five or six outliers um and then do you currently subscribe to any comcast.

A

Xfinity service- um and that was over- and I can't read this 474 of our responses. Then there is a.

A

Group about 33 of no so they completed it, they may have another. They may have um the fiber. That.

F

Consolidated perhaps, um and then with the within the last 12 months, have you had any disruptions.

A

In your cable tv, as in not internet or streaming service and the yes responses were over just over.

A

50%, okay, I need glasses 58%. I should have pulled this up on my computer because it's bigger on my.

A

Computer um and then no was about 28%, and then there was a percentage small percentage of don't.

A

Know um question four which we had uh within the last 12 months. Have you contacted comcast expin.

A

Infinity customer service for any reason, regarding your cable tv, a not internet or streaming service,.

A

The answer is yes to about 58% no was 38% and then don't know was about three. If you answered.

A

Yes to the previous question as to whether you've contacted customer service, how satisfied were you.

A

With the customer service response you received, and that was on a sliding scale of 1 to five and.

A

The average was 2.3 which remind me that five was the highs and I believe five was the high.

A

Yep um so you know yeah average 2.3, so we will share that um and then are you satisfied with.

A

Your current um cable tv channels package and uh again we see low numbers, um so the I was looking.

A

To see if it has the doesn't have the bar chart, it didn't do the um what that average is. Hang on6.

A

Oh 2.3 so looks like it was 2 point. Sorry 2.6. Where were you satisfied with customer service.

A

2.3, are you satisfied with the cable tv channels package so again a you know below yeah, so on the.

A

One to five scale: 2.3 is not real right; okay, yes, very disappointing. Okay, um the one that.

A

We've had a lot of interest in. um Do you plan to renew your comcast xfinity cable tv, a not.

A

Internet subscription, when it is time- and so we had yes, was about 28% no was about 20%- maybe was.

A

32% and then we had a fairly high, don't know that looks like %., it's nine or 19. It's a really small.

A

Num 8.4 you want me to read, I can read. Oh, is your yeah, I mean if you want me to read the instead.

B

Like well all of them, if you want yeah, just give me the rest of on the back page, sorry that anybody.

B

Else but okay so see, um then is your comcast xfinity, cable tv, bundled with other services.

B

The vast majority 83% said yes, so um then comcast guer services, reed reloc to the xfinity store, have.

B

You used that new location, um 32% said yes and 66% said no so again that that would be obviously.

B

There that they are maybe need to be better at letting people know, or maybe they haven't needed.

A

To go yet they haven't needed to go yet, which is, which is a good point um if you answered yes,.

B

To the previous question, how satisfied were you with the service you received at the store um and.

B

And the I'd say it looks like about the average is about a four. So that's positive, yep so uh and then.

B

How satisfied are you with comcast xinity overall uh and let's see the average is 24 so pretty well.

B

Yeah, um let's see, do you think you, you may drop cable tv service, not internet. um I covered that.

F

One that was the 2.3 okay, all right y, all right and then after that, there's a large number of.

B

Public comments and then the very I'd say: half the packet is actually uh names of those that chose to.

B

Include their names, so um how much of this is we going to be putting making public knowledge? um I.

A

Think we, I think it would be good if we summarize the results, I'd like to give them to um comcast.

A

So that they could look at them but stripped of the names right. That was what I was wonder like.

B

How anonymizing are we going to be like yeah? I think that would definitely be both helpful and.

B

I I guess I'm wondering too, like with the survey information. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to.

B

Make it public yeah? I think we can find a way to package this up and describe it more yeah, okay y.

A

I think what I will do is um because this format needs some tweaking. Yes, um like I said things.

B

I would imagine you'll be able to to parse the information, because, obviously that's just and.

B

And putting a much more a better report form so definitely we'd be happy to. I will ask her.

B

To she'd be willing to do obviously she's in the driver's seat with as far as amount of time. But.

B

That would be yeah. I think we can easily um put together something simple, simple report. That's a.

A

Little easier than than the font we've been given here, but again it was an unexpected. Thank you for.

B

For you know reflexing with the with the problem, but the good news is, I think we got some useful.

A

Data right, it's a good start and we'll get it cleaned up and um distributed to you in advance.

A

Of the next meeting and see, what's the best way to to share that, you know we're right now, um monty.

A

uh Our new uh communications, public engagement person, okay um in the city manager's office, he's.

A

Working on updating all of the committee pages and commission pages so they're just a little.

A

Easier to access and a little easier to find resources, so once we get that, we, in addition.

A

To you know the agreement, which is already there, the franchise agreement which we keep up um we'll.

A

Be able to put some results and g of build that out a little bit, so that's coming that'd be nice.

B

Yeah I mean it's one thing to have it available, but if people can find it yep that that was eye.

D

Opening I mean exped yeah, but I think that the yeah data, though yeah I was expecting higher.

B

Results, and admittedly, I feel like at times to you, may need to take the results with the.

B

Grain of salt, because people that are happy are you know, sort of mishmash on it may not take the.

B

Time to respond to it, but um yeah the numbers are definitely low, yeah and and historically comcast.

A

Has done its own surveys, and so generally we we share survey results so to speak, yeah. um They.

A

Usually deliver theirs to us confidentially, but you know I have no problem with these results so.

B

So like to see how theirs mesh with ours yeah, I don't know if they've done one recently, but.

A

Often they will do one I would imag just. I would imagine, because that's something that is sort of.

B

Discussed during the franchise renegotiation correct um that we will be getting something.

B

Hopefully I don't, would it be possible to I'm going to ask them fraud them on that if they're.

A

Planning to do one if they have one in process as well as, admittedly, we haven't seen any other.

B

Data like that, we have asked we can talk about that in the nonp, okay y sure, section, okay, other.

A

Items we might be looking okay, yeah. It's very interesting, definitely uh reaffirms a lot of.

E

Sort of the suspicions um just going through the you know know, unfortunately, the uh it's almost.

E

Like the comments are the best data here and it's not quantifiable by by any means, um but.

E

The there's general trends and patterns and, and you know the same type of complaints about.

E

Prices increasing over time just the general high price of these things, um the different packages.

E

That people are purchasing, um the it seems like, although and we saw have the comcast store, got.

E

Great, I mean compared to the rest of the you know, got great reviews at a four um there's, a very.

E

You know, as one person described it, they would rather get a root canal than call 1800 comcast.

E

um The phone support is definitely, you know, so, there's definitely at least some really.

E

Nice reportable items here that I think can be quantified um and sort of just how many times.

E

They've been brought up um and then as well. You know some very specific cases which I think are.

E

Also worth looking at um in particular, I I read a couple that might be sort of specific location.

E

Based things that that maybe something that we can look into a little deeper too, so that's yeah, I'm.

E

Pretty I'm pretty satisfied again the comment section being, I think, the the sort of biggest.

E

Source of sort of that sort of granular data and information that we we might be looking.

E

For good, so I'll bring back for the next meeting. Hopefully uh a draft kind of report.

A

That we could put up on the website and I'll get you a package um I'll just see. If I can.

A

Get like I said, formatted differently, like I said it, it just got great abended today.

A

Yeah any else [music] ash on. Okay. All right uh next item is uh coverage issues and our.

B

Next steps, yep, and so that's still pending with me, um so I would like to have originally jason.

A

Was oh, I think you and jason came to the last meeting so now that he is no longer um on the.

A

Committee, I didn't know, does someone else want to be part of that, or should we just leave that.

A

With rob to, if we can schedule a conversation yeah I mean neither I'm sure, I'd be included.

E

But what so sorry? What was this scheduling? Competition with, so I actually didn't get to.

B

The meeting but we had uh at&t. Oh that's right. No, it was verizon verizon who came by who they.

B

They sent a representative and they came to meet with the city, and so it was really a meeting with.

B

The city, okay, but we but jason, was able to attend as well just to sort of discuss. You know some of.

B

The things they're planning on in the future as far as expanding coverage is what and expanding.

B

Service and where their you know, current issues and how they're dealing with their current.

B

Issues where they do have some areas that are the service is not optimum right and what we're.

B

Hoping was that we could get other providers in as well, but it's difficult sometimes to get them in.

B

Unless you know, I think, having the city make the request in us being attending as well is.

B

Helpful yeah and we what we found when we had our discussion with verizon, um is that there were some.

A

They were willing to share in that non-public meeting because it wasn't a public meeting.

A

You know very specifics about some issues and and where they were going to put their emphasis.

A

um And then not all of that information they wanted to discuss publicly. So when we talked.

A

About the meeting with verizon, we kind of had a list of kind of like this is this is the stuff.

A

We can safely discuss in a public setting like this one, and then there was a a some information.

A

Was asked to be maintained, confidentiality, so that's why it's kind of easier if we're.

A

Just having one representative or or two because it's only three that makes a quorum that attends.

A

A meeting like that, just so we can kind of vet, is you know, where's that line in terms of what.

A

We can talk about publicly versus confidentially and we get the maximum information and then figure.

A

Out what is appropriate to bring to the full form, you probably have better chance in making it than.

E

I do I have so, um could you share publicly some of the findings with g& or have to be not public.

A

um The next step is so I would try and schedule a a meeting with the other vendors I' actually.

A

Like an update from verizon, because they gave us a whole kind of list of things that they anticipated.

A

Doing to improve coverage in some areas, and it's been long enough that I've been curious. How far.

A

Are so I see two really two meetings right now, one with verizon to see how they're doing on what they.

A

Told us they as well as like I don't. I don't know the specific to what's going on under the.

B

Hood but t-mobile is a complete separate they on a complet sear network as well yeah. We, we talked.

A

About including them as well yeah y, so but it's so you've got a bandwidth issue here. Right now,.

B

Right, no, no, no, and- and we appreciate that because suzanne has m multiple wears multiple hats. So yes,.

B

It's as much as we can get, that would be great and if you need any help with that, I don't know.

B

If it will carry weight but technically we can't speak on behalf of the city. So right well, and I.

B

Think it's it's obviously at least I know with with at&t at least the feeling I got was that.

B

It carried a lot more weight to have the city request the meeting than for us so but, like I.

A

Said, that's that's on my list. I figured we we take off what we can survey results so that'll.

A

Be ongoing y um under other business. um Just so you're aware, we've been having conversations with.

A

Ppm tv um and I don't want to say too much, um but just so you know that the city's been.

A

Having conversations with them, um their lease was recently renewed on a month-to-month basis.

A

At the south meeting house- okay, um but they are looking for other space and so we've been.

A

Trying to help them with that um and there is a meeting ash I believe, you're all set up for that.

A

Y to talk with them there's a process by which they um get their distribution from the cable.

A

Television trust and so the meeting that ash is going to attend on behalf of the cable commission,.

A

He's the cable commission representative that um yeah, so that they can get their.

A

The money that is in the trust out of the trust for purposes of their continuing operations next.

D

Thursday, so that's just kind of under the other business just to know that that has.

A

Been happening on on on our side, yeah so and then at some point they will. Are they going.

B

To provide a presentation to us at some point, I think the answer is they would.

A

Be willing to, I think, right now, there's a lot of they don't know where they're going.

A

Yet, okay, and so it's been a little', been concentrating on that not a problem. Yeah.

F

Okay, right any other.

F

Business than no one else on the zoom all right, so at this point we are going to close this public.

B

Meeting to nonpublic meeting to discuss other items, thank you for for coming to visit. Can I.

F

Ask one quick question before sure: are you able to tell how many surveys you received in the last.

F

Week or so yeah I I can't write now, but I could ask. I know we got 50 since april. I know that at.

E

Least, because I had a copy of april's report that I was able to see and I had 458 and you.

E

Guys had about 506, so since april we've gotten about 50 additional responses. If that kind, I.

F

Mentioned the survey in the newsletter to 144 f. They only got that late last week and I just.

C

Wondered how many, if any responded, but thank you very much. Thank you very much have a good.

C

Evening so someone would like to make a motion to.

A

Move us into non-public session for discussion with legal counsel motion.

D