By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Consumer complaints about service and program blocking dominated the Monday evening meeting for nearly one hour as town councilors expressed concerns lodged by residents who had contacted them about persisting cable service problems.
And, despite presentation of a check by Polaris Cable’s general manager, Cathy Donovan, for $39,257 in franchise fees along with her assurances about forthcoming improved service packages for cable and phone service, there was no immediate resolution to what has been irking residents longing for their favorite programs at the scheduled times.
Councilors Sue Tortello and Paul Romanelli led the charge saying they had received numerous complaints from residents about program blocking and news coverage. Tortello said rate increases, program blocking and repetition of the same news stories on WAGM were a “bitter pill to swallow” as she cited specific complaints by one elderly couple unable to attend the meeting.
Bigger than taxes
Councilor John Fitzpatrick stated his disappointment with cable transmission of WLBZ, channel 2, and particularly the noon newscast. He said he had also received complaints from residents that it comes on while already in progress, possibly “due to a computer glitch.” He added that in his six years on the council, TV blocking and poor transmission “has been more of an issue than putting taxes up two mils. People are adamant about watching their favorite TV shows.”
Romanelli said he and other residents were “very upset” about not getting news and programs on WABI, channel 5, out of Bangor. He added that this is an era when there were tremendous options to get programming from other sources. “I would think you would bend over backwards to please subscribers. It’s very disturbing,” said Romanelli. “They’re paying for [channel] 5 give them 5. They’re paying for 8. Give them 8,” exhorted Romanelli.
When it comes to blocking, Donovan explained WAGM has the right of non-duplication of a network signal and no other station can bring it in. In this case, said Donovan, blocking is specifically done “to protect WAGM’s CBS programming and two specific syndications — Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres and another station cannot bring it in.”
Romanelli responded saying “unless Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres are on 16 hours a day, they’re protecting a lot more than that. You are quite delayed on your switching and I wonder if someone is asleep at the switch. It is quite irritating and I am one of those irritated customers.”
Romanelli also pointed to residents’ interests in commercials, news and weather coming out of Bangor. He said: “WAGM and Polaris Cable are part of the same family is it not? So, you’re switching to protect yourself from whom, the cable subscribers?” He added that he and viewers may want to hear about a garden show in Bangor, for example, which they cannot due to imprecise blocking for which subscribers are paying in the monthly cable bill. “I feel subscribers have a right to what we are paying for. I feel this is a little bit disingenuous if you own the station and you are the point person for that process,” said Romanelli in another reference to rising rates and customer complaints he had fielded as a councilor.
Donovan explained that in the past, WAGM had done blocking with a series of radio frequencies, tones and switches which is now done by Polaris Cable and new technology. Viewers, Donovan said, should be able to view local news on channel 5. During network news, she said, a slate will come up referring viewers to channel 8. She also said efforts would be made to improve service and rectify switching issues.
Phil Bernaiche, the only private citizen to speak during public comments, also said he “had his share of people calling about switching and it should be straightened out.”
Other business
The councilors approved the following: a three-year note from Machias Savings Bank at the rate of 3.92 percent for $30,000 to purchase a pick-up truck for the Public Works Department; a permit for a private developer to name Swallow Lane, a private street, for 9-1-1 purposes without any maintenance by the town; acceptance of the low bid of $24,896 from York’s of Houlton for a 2010 Ford F-150, budgeted for the Public Works Department; renewal of a liquor license for Shiretown Health Club; and, appointments of William W. Phillips and Robert Hannigan to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Proposed zoning changes to define land use for code enforcement were distributed to the councilors for review and future discussions.
Following adjournment of the council meeting the Shiretown Development Corporation held its election of officers by the directors. The officers are: Walter Goodrich, president; Sue Tortello, vice president; Nancy Ketch, treasurer; and Severson Hand & Nelson, clerk.
The next meeting of the town council is scheduled for Monday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 21 Water St.
