[RP TownTalk] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014
James D. Holmes
jdholmes at comcast.net
Mon Mar 17 17:03:21 UTC 2014
Mayor Archer
The reason I keep bringing up this issue is because the lack of
leadership by you and the Council in addressing the need for a Cable TV
Franchise Committee. Prince George's County and several other
Municipalities have one. Over the past 10 years, the Town has collected
approximately $500.000 in franchise fees. What has the Town done with
this money.
If you believe that all my assertions are false, why has the Town
refused to provide financial documents that are not redacted (see
attachment). Was a report issued on my complaint. I would like to read
the findings.
You are misleading the residents about the 5% franchise fee. The 5%
franchise fee is not only on the subscriber's cable TV selection, it
includes other revenues, (see below) even if the resident did not select
or purchase the additional service.
Expanded Basic Video Services
Limited Basic Video Service
Digital Video Service
Pay
PPV/VOD
Video Equipment
Digital Video Equipment
Video Installation/Activation
Franchise Fee
PEG Fee
Other
Late Fee
Write-off/Recoveries
Add Sales
Home Shopping Commissions
When you add the fees from the listed services, the 5% franchise fee
could increase to 6.5% of the cable TV bill.
J. Holmes
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Special Legislative Meeting Agenda: March
17, 2014
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:18:10 -0400
From: Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com>
To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
James and anyone interested in rehashing this issue for the 5th or 6th time:
1. The Town Council acts as its own cable review body which is its
right. Most municipalities follow this model, and the three
administrations preceding my own lead by Mayors Ferguson, Herman and
Tiberio also followed this model. In my 9 years of service the only
documented complaint has come from you James. It therefore seems that
asking volunteers to staff a separate review board is not warranted.
Your assertion that residents don't have representation and a review
process is patently false.
2. As you know the town has investigated your assertion that Comcast is
over billing customers on franchise fee. Based on a lengthy and thorough
investigation of facts we are satisfied that Comcast is charging 5%
through the process defined by the Federal Communications Commission.
Your assertion that customers of Comcast and Verizon pay different rates
is false. Your assertion that Comcast customers pay more than 5% is also
false.
3. The town as franchise granter does not control rates. Just like
individual subscribers we can either say yes to the service and the
price presented or no. By saying yes to the cable provider, in this case
Comcast, then every resident in Riverdale Park gets to make up their own
mind whether to subscribe to a cable service or not.
Your assertion that the town can control or even significantly influence
cable rates is false.
Finally, your last statement asking the council to in effect hold
a discussion on an email list is highly inappropriate. The Maryland
Open Meetings Act clearly defines where and how public business is to be
discussed and acted upon. Such business is to be handled in an open
meeting not on a chat list.
In that vein the meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been
cancelled do to the weather and will be rescheduled. Official
announcement will be forthcoming as to the date and time after I hear
back about the availability of the council members, but I expect the
meeting will be held next Monday the 24th at 7:30 PM. The actual
discussion and vote on "Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02 to amend the
franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland" will likely take place on
March 31 in Special Legislative Meeting.
Sincerely,
Vernon Archer
On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 10:30 AM, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net
<mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>> wrote:
Jeffrey
I am participating. I have asked several questions that our elected
officials refuse to answer. I have requested that the Mayor create
a Riverdale Park Cable TV Franchise Committee to represent the
residents. He refuses! The Town collected approximately $50.000 in
franchise fees last year, yet the residents have no
representation/protection from the undue rate increases from the
cable TV companies.
Do you think it is fair that residents of Riverdale Park pay a
different amount for the Cable TV Franchise Fee depending on who
they subscribe to (Comcast or Verizon)?
This issue needs to be discussed.
Let's see if anyone from the Council will join in on this discussion.
J. Holmes
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Re: [RP Town Announce] Special
Legislative Meeting Agenda: March 17, 2014
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 19:07:00 -0400
From: Jeffrey Yorke <yorkedial at gmail.com> <mailto:yorkedial at gmail.com>
To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>
<mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>
For the life of me, I don't understand where you got that. He is
BEGGING you to participate.
So do it!
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Partners
Yorkedial at gmail.com <mailto:Yorkedial at gmail.com>
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com <mailto:Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com>
(301) 502-1243 <tel:%28301%29%20502-1243>
On Mar 16, 2014, at 7:01 PM, "James D. Holmes" <jdholmes at comcast.net
<mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>> wrote:
> Mayor Archer
>
> Are you stating that my listed concerns will not be addressed by
> the Council unless I appear at the meeting tomorrow night?
>
>
> J. Holmes
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [RP Town Announce] Special Legislative Meeting
> Agenda: March 17, 2014
> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 18:51:05 -0400
> From: Vernon Archer <varcher at gmail.com> <mailto:varcher at gmail.com>
> To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>
> <mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>
> CC: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
> <mailto:towntalk at riverdale-park.org> <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> <mailto:towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>
>
>
> Greetings James,
>
> The emergency ordinance is being introduced to extend the existing
> franchise agreement until the ongoing negotiations are completed.
> The town is acting in good faith to insure that all cable
> customers are able to continue their existing service. It
> is expected that the results of the ongoing negotiations will
> produce a new agreement that will maintain or improve the existing
> service.
>
> We will be discussing this matter tomorrow night at the council
> meeting and I as always welcome you and all residents to bring
> your questions and comments to the council.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Vern
>
> On Sunday, March 16, 2014, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net
> <mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> Mayor Archer
>
> I am reading the agenda for Special Legislative Meeting for
> Monday March 17, 2014 and noticed that the following
> Legislative Action Item.
>
> 3. Introduction of *Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02* to
> amend the franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland.
>
>
> Why is the Town introducing an *Emergency Ordinance* to amend
> the franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland? The Town
> had posted a notice in March 2012 under Resolution 2012-R-02
> to participate in joint negotiations with other Prince
> George's County and municipalities for the renewal of the
> Town's cable franchise with Comcast.
>
> If you had appointed a Riverdale Park Cable TV Franchise
> Committee to oversee the renewal of this contract, there would
> be no need to introduce an *Emergency Ordinance* to prevent
> the current contract from expiring on April 5, 2014.
>
> Additionally, is the Town planning to correct a problem with
> the unequal franchise fees being collected between Comcast and
> Verizon?
>
> Comcast has collected up to *6.5%* of the Cable TV Bill vs.
> Verizon collecting *5% *.
>
> The Riverdale Park Franchise Fee should be set at a maximum 5%
> flat fee for the Cable TV portion of the monthly bill. No
> other fees should be added.
>
> Over the past 10 years, Comcast has increased the Cable TV
> charges over *88%*. What has the Town done to protect the
> residents from these unjustified increases?
>
>
> J. Holmes
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda:
> March 17, 2014
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:10:25 -0400
> From: Jessica Barnes <jbarnes at riverdaleparkmd.gov>
> To: <townannounce at riverdale-park.org>,
> <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>
>
>
> *Town of Riverdale Park*
>
> *Special Legislative Meeting *
>
> *March 17, 2014*
>
> *8:00 p.m.*
>
> **
>
> *AGENDA*
>
> **
>
> *Call to Order*
>
> *Approval of Agenda*
>
> *Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items*
>
> **
>
> *Legislative Action Items:*
>
> 1. Motion to reject bid response to the Town of Riverdale
> Park RFP for the Town Hall Addition project
>
> 2. Motion to waive bid requirements and award a contract to
> McInturff Architects in the amount of $127,000 for
> schematic design of Town Hall
>
> 3. Introduction of Emergency Ordinance 2014-OR-02 to amend
> the franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland
>
> *New Business *
>
> *Unfinished Business *
>
> *Adjournment *
>
> Jessica
>
> Jessica E. Barnes
>
> Town Clerk
>
> Riverdale Park
>
> 5008 Queensbury Road
>
> Riverdale Park, MD 20737
>
> www.riverdaleparkmd.info <http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/>
>
> 301-927-6381 <tel:301-927-6381>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Vernon Archer, Mayor
> Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
>
>
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--
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
--
Vernon Archer, Mayor
Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland
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