A Comcast representative wouldn't tell senior citizens whether the company would provide a bill discount.
About 75 people attended a Holyoke public hearing on the city's next contract with Comcast cable television provider, at the Senior Center, 291 Pine St.
HOLYOKE — The city will seek a discount for senior citizens in negotiations on a new cable television contract with Comcast, Mayor Alex B. Morse said at a hearing Wednesday.
Good thing, said Phyllis Parlengas, of Cherry Street, one of about 75 mostly elderly people who attended the hearing at the Senior Center at 291 Pine St.
"Their rates, everything that they do is ridiculous," Parlengas said.
"I know we can't talk about what they charge, but my (monthly) bill just went up $6, from $79.80 to $85.37," said James G. Cartwright, of Knollwood Circle.
Other points at the hearing were that the next contract should be less than 10 years to try to hold Comcast more accountable; calls for Comast to fund a public access TV station here; why Turner Classic Movies now is available only in a sports package, and why Comcast stopped itemizing long-distance calls on the phone bill of Clifford Junkins, of South Street.
"That's what I was asking for and they said, 'Oh, we don't do that anymore,'" Junkins said.
The current, 10-year contract with Comcast expires in October. Comcast has about 12,000 customers in Holyoke.
James G. Cartwright, one of those asking Comast about a senior citizen discount.
Federal law prohibits the city from seeking better deals from Comcast on the biggest complaints at such hearings, monthly rates and programming choices.
Comcast representative Aaron L. Saunders attended the hearing but refused to discuss specifics, such as the senior citizen discount or a community access station.
"All these comments are going to be important as we negotiate the next cable license," Saunders.
But, Morse said he will push in talks to have the cable giant build a station for residents to produce their own cable television programs, as other communities have, and a bill discount for seniors.
"That is something we will be pursuing," Morse said.
A transcriber compiled testimony from the hearing for inclusion in city negotiations with Comcast, he said.
Cartwright and others complained that Comcast essentially has a monopoly on cable TV service and that competition would improve what viewers get for their money.
P. Al Williams, who is on the mayor's cable TV advisory committee and executive director of Northampton Community Television, said the lack of competition is tied to cost. Companies see little upside in taking on Comcast or any cable giant in a small market like Holyoke given the multimillion-dollar infrastructure investment required, he said.
Saunders shook his head yes after Morse asked him in front of the public hearing to help Anita Shea, of Ashley Road, get her TV remote control to work.