Last month we rolled out a survey to gauge community feedback regarding Cablevision of Hamilton—now known globally as Optimum/Altice USA—and its cable television service because that franchise renewal agreement with Robbinsville Township expires later this year.
The key term here is “cable television.”
Neither the franchise agreement, nor the survey, applies to Internet access, telecommunications policy, or cable pricing. The Communications Policy Act of 1934, passed by Congress, and the New Jersey Cable Television Act of 1972, state that the parameters of the franchise agreement must relate only to construction and maintenance of a cable television system, cable television services and other programming services, including public, education and government access channels.
We understand many of you already have, or are contemplating, “cutting the cable” in favor of increasingly popular streaming services. However, in order to examine the cable provider’s past performance and help identify the potential future cable-related needs of the Township, we distributed the survey on our website (robbinsville.net), the Monday Newsfeed and our social media platforms. The survey allows for the public to have a say (and perhaps vent its frustrations) prior to the April 10 public hearing on the matter. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
In short, a cable television franchise agreement offers a local franchising authority—the Township of Robbinsville in this case—the opportunity to identify the cable-related needs of the community in exchange for the cable provider’s use of public rights of way (ROWs) to deliver services to its customers.
Franchise agreements are non-exclusive and strictly regulated by federal and state law, and franchising authorities are limited in what they can request of a cable television provider under the process. I underscore this point because some individuals will likely continue to weigh in about a range of issues that are important but unfortunately fall outside the federally prescribed parameters of the franchise-renewal process.
The Township negotiates and executes these franchise agreements, which grant the provider the right to use the public ROWs for the installation, maintenance, and repair of their facilities, which are typically underground pipes and conduits or above-ground cables on poles. A franchise typically covers a wide range of topics, such as permitting procedures, notice requirements prior to installation, insurance and indemnification, length of the franchise, and any applicable costs, fees, or tax arrangements.
In the near future, Township Council will hold a public hearing on the franchise application to create a record of the cable operator’s compliance with any current franchise agreement(s), document the community’s evaluation of the quality of service provided by the cable operator and directly ask the community what its cable-television related needs are.
Again, this franchise agreement conversation does not pertain to internet services. Remember, we are on your side here. We have gone after utility companies, including Optimum/Altice USA, for many years when we felt that they were not living up to their responsibilities in providing services. Although my ire and testimony before the state Senate Committee on Law & Public Safety in October of 2020 was mainly directed at First Energy/JCP&L, I certainly did not spare Cablevision of Hamilton/Optimum/Altice USA and JCP&L in my remarks that afternoon.
Our communications team, led by Public Information Officer John Nalbone, has done an outstanding job making sure information regarding public hearings, even those notices not required to be posted by Robbinsville, appear prominently on our website and in the Newsfeed. His office will most assuredly keep residents updated as we move forward.
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Council voted to pass a Resolution on Feb. 27 supporting Senate Bill No. S-4008/Assembly Bill No. 5275. The bills, championed by Sen. Linda M. Greenstein, D-14 Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo and D-14 Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy, would prohibit the N.J. Cemetery Board from approving the construction applications of crematories if the nearest boundary of the proposed site is located within 1,000 feet of a) a public school or private school; b) an area zoned primarily or exclusively for residential use, c) A park, playground, picnic area, square, monument, beach, waterfront, recreation area, conservation area, or similar place or property.
A public hearing on the NJDEP draft permit is scheduled to be held March 4 at the Trenton Ancient Order of Hibernians at 2419 Kuser Road between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Dave Fried is the mayor and director of public safety for Robbinsville Township
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