By ARIELLA MONTI
"This is just not a service that Cablevision is prepared to offer," said Peter Bee an attorney from the law firm Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter and Donovan in Mineola, which is acting as outside council to Cablevision. He added that Cablevision is not prepared to go outside village boundaries.
As a compromise, Cablevision offered to air tapes provided by the school district on its regional channel, which would be seen throughout the Town of Hempstead, including the affected area in South Hempstead.
Cablevision was encouraged by the board to reach out to the school district at the last meeting on Nov. 4, 2008 and according to Bee a letter was sent to the superintendent and all board of education members on Dec. 22 which was then followed by a phone call.
"We have not heard from anyone from the school district, so we do not have any indication from the school district to this point in time," said Bee.
Rockville Centre School Superintendent, Dr. William Johnson who spoke on behalf of the district, l did not confirm or deny Cablevision's attempts to contact the district, however he did say "We just want to work with Cablevision."
Johnson added, "It's been a great service to the community. I don't understand why if it's such a great thing we can provide to the residents of both the Rockville Centre community as well as the school district - we consider them an extension of the Rockville Centre community. Why that can't happen it is a mystery to me."
During the hearing it was made clear by residents and the board that there were houses in South Hempstead that do receive the school channel and Cablevision was questioned as to why service cannot continue to that area.
"This just flies in the face of your argument and there has to be a rational explanation before we are going vote on the franchise," said Mayor Mary Bossart of the service in South Hempstead.
It was decided by the board that discussions regarding the franchise agreement would be continued at a later date that has yet to be determined.
Cablevision did agree to provide insertion points at Molloy College and Skelos Field and volunteered to increase the grant to buy equipment for those insertion points by $10,000.
Bee also said that any disruption to the government and education channels to those within the village is being worked on.
