Brunswick cable committee reviews studio upgrade, weighs new name

The Brunswick Cable TV Advisory Committee met October 14 with three members present and heard staff reports on a completed studio and council chambers upgrade, a budget update, and Comcast news. The committee approved last month's minutes once a quorum arrived and discussed renaming itself, but members agreed to hold off on a change and gather input from students first.

Key points

• The committee approved the prior meeting's minutes by motion after a quorum arrived; the vote was unanimous by voice.
• Staff reported the council chambers and studio upgrade is complete, including new speakers, microphones, a laser projector, and a TriCaster switcher replacing older failing equipment.
• Trey Switzer reported the budget is on track at about 24 percent used past the first quarter, and that the upgrade was funded as a capital improvement rather than operating costs.
• Jim Nealon reported growing student involvement, including six Region 10 students touring the studio and a student-produced video of the fire department open house.
• The committee discussed renaming itself, with suggestions including Brunswick Media Advisory Committee, but members agreed not to act immediately and to seek input from young people first.
• Comcast representative Brian Christensen noted expanded 4K box availability, sports packages, streaming price increases, and an extended military deployment hold on mobile numbers.

Next steps

• Staff will locate the model cable ordinance documents and forward them to the town manager for review.
• The chair and staff will work together on the renaming topic and gather input from students before proposing a permanent name.
• The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9 at 5 p.m.

Read the full transcript The agenda