[RP TownTalk] Cable TV Franchise Fees
James D. Holmes
jdholmes at comcast.net
Mon Mar 17 18:27:24 UTC 2014
Jeffrey
You are the one that injected your opinion into this discussion by
making the comment
*"For the life of me, I don't understand where you got that. He is
BEGGING you to participate. So do it!"**
*
I guess that you are not concerned about the cable TV franchise fees
because you are not a resident of Riverdale Park.
J. Holmes
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Re: Special Legislative Meeting Agenda:
March 17, 2014
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:43:24 -0400
From: Jeffrey Yorke <yorkedial at gmail.com>
To: James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net>
James,
I suspect you are not really trying to do good. I think you are guy
looking for a fight. Nothing you have written has been the least bit
productive or logical. In fact, you have wasted the people's money
sparing an unnecessary investigation into rates. You know, I know that
little towns don't set rates for the cable cabal. You are hiding behind
your keyboard, firing on people in public but not adding at all to the
betterment of the community. Shame on you.
I will have no further discussion with you.
Thanks for your understanding.
Jeffrey
On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 12:23 PM, James D. Holmes <jdholmes at comcast.net
<mailto:jdholmes at comcast.net>> wrote:
Jeffrey
You avoided answering my question! Just like the Mayor and Council
has!
*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)?*
As for reining in the cost for cable TV. Chapter 61-11 of the Town
Code gives the authority to do so.
*§ 61-11. Acts beneficial to subscribers.**
**The town shall be empowered to include as part of any franchise
such terms and conditions as it deems beneficial to the subscribers
in the franchise area, including the regulation of rates charged to
such subscribers*
Dwight Holmes has brought up another concern:
Personally, I'm much more concerned about the impending merger of
Comcast with Time-Warner and its impact on rates. I hope everyone
lets their representatives know what they think of that.
I disagree with you about the need to only discuss issues at the
Town Meetings. This web site is funded by the Town and is the
perfect place for discussion of Town business. If it was only used
to locate lost pets and advertise exercise classes, I would object
that Town funds be allocated for the web site.
*Does anyone have a copy of the proposed Ordinance 2014-OR-02?**
*
I hope the Council has not taken the position *You have to Pass the
Bill so that you can find out what's in it!*
J. Holmes
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Special Legislative Meeting Agenda:
March 17, 2014
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:24:01 -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>
James,
I am glad you are participating. But expecting Town Council to do
business on Town Talk betrays a certain lack of understanding of
what this medium is all about. Sure, you can initiate discussion
here, but the real questions, probing and discussion needs to be
done in a public town meeting -- TONIGHT. You need to be there, in
person, and participate.
Frankly, I don't there there are too many people who disagree with
you. Both Comcast, or Comcost as I like to call them, and Verizon
FiOS are way too expensive and are out of control. If there is
anyway that someone -- even government can rein them in, let's see
it happen. But it is hard.
I was a reporter covering communications on Capitol Hill when Sen.
John McCain (R-AZ) was ranking member of the Senate Commerce
Committee. He and the committee tried desperately to get the cable
cabal to offer ala carte programming to customers rather than huge,
expensive packages. The cable cats said it wasn't possible. When
Sirius Satellite Radio wanted to buy direct competitor XM Satellite
Radio, Sen. Kohl (D-WI) made the same request for ala carte
programming to Sirius Chairman Mel Karmazin. "No problem," said
Karmazin and by the next Senate hearing, the committee was presented
with an acceptable package. But it hasn't happened with cable yet
and Congress can't seem to get out of it's own way. And cable and
internet service aren't pressing issues nationally. That said, the
best weapon a Town like Riverdale Park has is not it's Town Council
but its citizens. Loud, focused, powerful citizens.
Tonight, be there. You will be surprised how members of the Council
would love to have your energy working on this problem. And I agree
with you -- it is a problem.
Jeffrey
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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For more information about Riverdale Park, visit
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--
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com <mailto:Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com>
301-502-1243 <tel:301-502-1243>
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TownTalk mailing list
To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
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TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org
<mailto:TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org> is for automated
subscription processing only
http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
For more information about Riverdale Park, visit
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
--
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
301-502-1243
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