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The Minutes From the Mt. Vernon Cable Television Advisory Committee Meeting on
April 2, 2026 (No quorum)
Summary: The meeting focused on resolving issues with Spectrum and Verizon regarding
public access TV and franchise fees. Spectrum has been paying franchise fees and is ready
to invest further. Verizon, which has not been paying franchise fees, should be pressured to
contribute. The group discussed the need for better communication and follow-up,
including reaching out to legal counsel and city officials. We emphasized the importance of
moving public access out of Mount Vernon High School and into a more accessible
commercial space. The next meeting is scheduled for May 7 to continue these discussions
and seek legal and financial resolutions. Committee member Jahi Lafayette’s term needs
to be renewed to help ensure the committee maintains a quorum at its next meeting.
Meeting Kickoff and Attendance Issues
• Thomas Umstead expresses interest in participating in a public access workshop and the
need to call the meeting to order.
• Michael Thompson discusses the Verizon rights issue, suggesting that Verizon is dodging
them. He also suggests looking up records from the time of previous Zoom meetings to get
the names of Verizon representatives.
Legal and Contractual Matters
• Jahi Lafayette asks about the ability to get someone from the city to present a contract
and suggests involving the city's law department and the mayor's office to command
respect.
• Jordan Riullano mentions that the council was supposed to be present but had a family
death.
• Jahi Lafayette questions how to put pressure on Charter and Verizon to get them to the
table.
• Karen Smith emphasizes the need for legal and/or mayor's office involvement to negotiate
effectively.
Pressure Tactics and Future Meetings
• Jahi Lafayette suggests contacting state and federal elected officials to put pressure on
Charter and Verizon.
• Michael Thompson mentions how the committee has worked on a framework with legal
counsel in the past.

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• Karen Smith highlights the importance of having a document that states the amount
owed to put pressure on Charter.
Public Access and Equipment Needs
• Michael Thompson discusses the need to get public access out of the high school and
into a commercial building. He also mentioned the importance of having a commercial
building with parking and accessibility.
• Jahi Lafayette suggests looking into spaces like 1 Park Avenue.
• Michael Thompson emphasizes the need for proper programming and broadcasting
equipment and talks about the potential of mimicking White Plains' public access setup.
Spectrum's Commitment and Future Plans
• Spectrum’s Rodney Capel via Zoom confirms that Spectrum has been paying the
franchise fees and is ready to move forward with a new arrangement.
• Karen Smith asks about the payment of franchise fees and the status of peg grants.
• Jahi Lafayette inquires about upcoming meetings with state, county, and federal elected
officials.
• Rodney Capel mentions the ongoing merger with Cox Communications and its impact on
the company.
Verizon's Role and Next Steps
• Karen Smith discusses the need to work with Verizon and bring them to the table.
• Rodney Capel expresses Spectrum’s readiness to move forward with the new
arrangement once everything is signed off.
• Jahi Lafayette suggests putting pressure on Verizon by making their non-participation
public.
• Michael Thompson emphasizes the importance of engaging with Spectrum and using
their commitment to pressure Verizon.
Meeting Adjournment and Future Plans
• Michael Thompson announces the next meeting scheduled for May 7 at 6 PM.
• Thomas Umstead expresses optimism about the meeting and the progress made.

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• Jahi Lafayette suggests inviting the comptroller and council representative to the next
meeting.
• Michael Thompson mentions the need to get the mayor's attention and involve the
comptroller in future meetings, and emphasizes the importance of having a quorum to vote
and operate effectively.