MediOne promises to improve service
Published on January 12th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham selectmen have echoed citizen complaints about MediaOne Cable's service, but a spokesperson for the company said by the end of January everything will be OK.
Town officials are tired of waiting for MediaOne, and they have discussed talking with RCN, a provider of cable and other Internet services.
MediaOne spokesperson Tim Murnane was the conduit between his company and the town during recent cable licensing negotiations.
With the license granted, agreed upon provisions such as proper staffing for the community studio on Montvale Avenue, training programs for volunteers, the government channel and discounts for elderly citizens were not in place as of the end of 1999.
Letters to the selectmen urged action, and at the board's request Town Counsel Bill Solomon lit a fire under Murnane.
"We now have new equipment and four and a half staff (four full-time and one part-time)," Murnane said.
The license calls for three and a half staff, but the extra staff person will stay on until at least April to make up for lost time, according to Murnane. He blamed delays on heavy employee turnover.
Training programs for volunteers will be available by the end of January, Murnane said.
"We understand community cable only works if volunteers get involved," Murnane said.
People like Paul McDonald and David Fournier are rearing to go. Paul talks about WWII and Dave educates citizens about the WWF.
The government channel equipment has been ordered, but Murnane could not promise a premier date.
"We just put the outlet in the selectmen's room this week," he said. "Training for municipal employees will follow."
Murnane said the bulletin board channel, Stoneham cable channel 9, should be running and accurate. He added that the availability of discounts to seniors would be clearly posted on this channel as well as on mailed rate cards.
Citizens age 65 or older are eligible for a five percent cable discount, and certain seniors meeting other criteria can receive discounts of up to 15 percent.
Murnane also said he planned to contact Stoneham Superintendent Joe Connelly about possible internship opportunities for Stoneham students in the MediaOne studio.
To find out more about internships, discounts, volunteer classes or anything at all about Media One's community access, call the Stoneham studio at 438-1342.
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