Guemes Island Internet/TV Advisory Committee Minutes April 12, 2009

The Guemes Island Internet/TV Advisory Committee (GIITAC), which was appointed in October 2008 at a public meeting to discuss Index Cable’s future, met Sunday, April 12. The full committee was present.

In a frank and open discussion, Forrest Nelson and Edith Walden detailed the complications and challenges they have experienced during the past five months in working with Index Cable. They described a pattern of unreturned phone calls, unanswered email, delays in completing necessary tasks, missed opportunities, and miscommunication.

Members of the committee expressed dismay and frustration, especially at the decision to install an additional T1 (a high-speed digital telephone line). The committee had requested in November 2008 that Index Cable cancel its contract to install this third T1 in favor of a system that would provide substantially more bandwidth and reduce costs by 50-66%. Installing the third T1 required the installation of utility poles around the “S” curve of South Shore Road, where all other wiring was underground (more information is available at this link).

Members were particularly annoyed that they had been counseling patience to numbers of unhappy Index Cable customers, believing that a system of greatly improved capacity and performance would soon be implemented.

Index Cable has indicated in email that they believe the T1 upgrade provides sufficient service to islanders and that they need no further input from GIITAC. They expect to adjust rates as soon as the digital TV conversion is complete. They are accepting new customers.

Committee members believe the upgrade is too limited for our current and growing bandwidth requirements. Members agreed that the committee has a responsibility to represent the interests of island internet customers and to assure adequate service.

Mike Stamper will set up monitors at various locations around the island to measure bandwidth speed on individual computers. Forrest Nelson will research the franchise agreement between Index Cable and Skagit County. Further efforts to educate island consumers will be initiated by the committee.

The committee will meet again in two weeks.