07-25-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NSCC Executive Summary CBG Communications, Inc. minimum specifications required by the FCC, the picture and sound quality on analog channels should be acceptable to subscribers. In addition to reviewing the previous POP results, CBG accompanied Comcast personnel who performed objective testing of 10 locations within the NSCC service area - one location per member city. Test results were at least at or better than the Federal Communication Commission's FCC minimum requirements at 8 out of the 10 locations. In Arden Hills, the system's Carrier to Noise (CN or C /N) tests were below the FCC's threshold of y 43 dB. Carrier to Noise is a measurement of the ratio of noise on a given channel compared to the channel's video carrier strength. As this ratio decreases, the picture on analog channels will display more noise or have a snowy appearance. As would be expected, when FCC carrier to noise specifications are not met, the picture quality on the analog channels at these locations was significantly below acceptable levels. A lower than desired Carrier -to -Noise ratio can impact digital channels as well, but the results at this location were not severe enough to impact the digital channels. Comcast performed maintenance activities to balance the plant feeding the testpoint shortly after our testing. Subsequent testing found results well with FCC specifications and the picture quality improved on the analog channels. The New Brighton testpoint also showed test results outside the requirements of the FCC's minimum technical standards. We observed C/N results below the minimum required by the FCC. Comcast performed trouble shooting activities shortly after our testing was complete. It was determined that a section of coaxial cable was likely damaged during road construction which caused deterioration of the cable over time and ultimately led to the poor performance we measured and witnessed. Comcast replaced the suspect cable. We then retested and found performance had improved and was now within specification. CBG also accompanied Comcast in performing tests of representative digital channels on the system. This testing found that Comcast's system, at all 10 testpoint locations, is operating well within the specifications adopted as standards by the FCC. v 18