The Great Neck/North Shore Cable Commission's Dec. 20 public hearing has yet to produce the 15 required signatures for the commission's franchise agreement with Verizon. The 15 villages --- Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Thomaston, Flower Hill, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome, Plandome Heights and Plandome Manor --- all had quorums at the public hearing, but at this time, all 15 villages must approve the franchise agreement before it is finalized and some villages held over their hearings until their January meetings.

Alice Fishman, Russell Garden's commissioner and chair of the commission, opened the hearing, explaining that the hearing was being held jointly by all 15 villages, allowing the villages to hear comments and ask questions. "This has been a very lengthy process," she said.

The proposed Verizon franchise agreement (detailed in the Dec. 20 issue of the Manhasset Press) has been a long time in coming. Up to this point only Cablevision has a franchise agreement in both the unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead and in the villages. Several months ago the town finalized its agreement with Verizon and that service is now available in the unincorporated areas.

The cable commission's attorney Tom Levin noted that there had also been a public hearing this past May.

Presenting for Verizon, Mac Kirby explained that the proposed franchise agreement was a culmination of three years of negotiations. The proposal they were presenting addressed issues raised at the May hearing, he said. Mr. Kirby said that the issue now is "competition ... price stabilization, better service, a wider range of services."

Mr. Kirby acknowledged that the agreement "is not perfect ... but it's a good agreement."

A lawyer for Verizon spoke about the need for a "level playing field" with no advantages for either side in the agreements, and the desire for "a truly competitive marketplace."

A lawyer for Cablevision also spoke, explaining that the Public Service Commission allows for comment from the incumbent provider. He explained that Cablevision was not there to stop competition, but to address the competition and the process. He also stated that Verizon had not addressed all of the residents' concerns and he outlined three issues.

First, Cablevision broached the subject of funding for PATC (public access television), and how Verizon will use a "per subscriber" method, which, he said, will produce an unpredictable income. Cablevision, he said, "would be unlikely to do this."

Cablevision also raised the issue of interconnection, stating that Verizon only wants to pay the costs to "plug in," to interconnect, and does not want to pay for what Cablevision already has in place.

And Cablevision also said that there is no "enforceable commitment" from Verizon regarding the "build-out," actually providing lines to provide the service. The process is slated as taking up to five years, with no exact timetable for any areas.

Several residents spoke, many simply asking that the villages, and the commission, OK the Verizon franchise, allowing everyone a choice when it comes to cable television programming. Some raised the sticking issue of allowing town and village residents the same programming, which, at present, is not possible. While the villages have a host of channels providing programs such as those from the schools, the unincorporated areas (under the town contract) has very limited programming.

Cablevision's news channel, Channel 12, was also discussed. This popular 24-hour local news channel is owned by Cablevision and there is no indication that Cablevision would allow this channel on Verizon, should Verizon ask.

Attorney Steve Limmer, representing Kings Point, addressed some legal issues, including language that would allow the villages to give up "home rule." This, he said, cannot be done legally. Mr. Limmer also raised the issue of some language that he termed "discriminatory."

Following the audience questions, Verizon representatives spoke again, first stating that the "build-out" would be done as fast as possible. One representative did state that, for multiple-family units such as the many in the Great Neck Plaza, it might take time for them to gain the required access to each building.

Turning to the issue of paying Cablevision for work that has already been done, Verizon representatives said that they should not have to pay for 20 years of work. They also said that they would give funding to the commission (the villages) to allow them to provide training or anything else that is necessary. Verizon also emphasized that they would be using "new technology."

The question of the interconnect rose once more. While Verizon said that the Public Service Commission requires Cablevision to permit Verizon to interconnect, Cablevision representatives stated that the PSC cannot order an interconnection.

The public hearing was closed and mayors and trustees of all 15 villages formed groups to discuss the franchise agreement.

By Dec. 31, 2007, Verizon reported that 12 of the 15 villages had already voted in favor of the Verizon franchise.