Now, as Comcast drags its feet toward resolving the contract issues, Trowbridge is struggling every month with outdated equipment, increased demands on the station and monthly expenses.
"We have been scraping by with the anticipation that we'd be signing a new contract before December 2008 and getting a new infusion of capital," said Trowbridge. "Now, here it is, and we are still waiting. We will continue to have to make choices between personnel and equipment as we go on."
Trowbridge was hesitant to say too much about how talks have progressed, adding that the negotiations are in a "delicate point."
She said it has been four years since the station received a check for capital purchases.
"Equipment gets old very quickly," she said. "Every time there is a large changeover in technology, these stations have to change over the whole way of operating and we are trying to do that."
Brattleboro's former contract lasted for eight years, and Trowbridge said the station is trying to be very deliberate with its demands.
"You get one chance to make it right because it is for an extended period of time," she said. "We have been planning this for so long. It never occurred to me that we would not have a new significant infusion of funding at this time."
Comcast spokeswoman Laura Brubaker said the company was working toward continuing the contract talks.
"Comcast is committed to ensuring that meaningful community access programming is provided for our customers in Windham County," Brubaker said. "Comcast contracts with individual access management organizations to run the day-to-day operations of our community access studios. We are currently in ongoing and active negotiations and are committed to reaching an agreement that meets the programming-related needs of the communities and protects our company's and customers' investment in community access."
One of the other sticking points in the contract talks is a proposal by Comcast to diminish the role the Vermont Public Service Board plays in resolving disputes between the PEGs and the company.
Cable companies are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, though the PSB does play a role in protecting consumers in the state as the franchise authority for public access stations. The board also has established minimum standards for the cable companies.
David O'Brien, the commissioner of the Department of Public Service, said it was important for the PSB to mediate disputes between the two parties.
The PSB does not always side with the stations, and he said the board's ruling usually leaves one side unhappy.
The board's role, O'Brien said, is to protect the consumer, and sometimes that works out to the benefit of the cable company and other times to the PEGs.
Still, he hoped the outcome from the contract talks retains a fair way for the two sides to work out their differences.
"There is a balance that has to be walked and if anything having a third party to mediate I think is important," said O'Brien. "The role of the regulator should be to look at the statute, look at the rule and mete out what is fair and equitable. At least at the end of the day, people know there is a way to resolve their conflict and differences."
Corey Chase, the acting commissioner of the telecommunications division at the Department of Public Service, said he is watching contract talks all over the state.
The PSB is ready to step in if the talks completely stall but he said he has not been surprised by the tone of the discussions.
"We know there are active disputes between the PEGs and Comcast," he said. "But I think that is the nature of the relationship. Comcast is responsible to oversee the operations and the way the system is set up it is bound to be somewhat antagonistic. I would expect it to be complicated."
Falls Area Community TV executive director Suzanne Groenwold said the proposed changes to how the cable companies are allowed to manage the stations could lead to the closing of some of the smaller PEGs in the state.
"Comcast is trying to overwrite the rule. They are trying to reduce the power of the Public Service Board by having this new contract supersede the protection we now have," she said. "In the past, if they wanted to shut us down, they would have to go to the Public Service Board and the board would act as the judiciary branch. Now they are saying in the contract that if you don't abide by every item, then we can terminate you at any time."
According to Groenwold, the company is also demanding more information on the proposed purchases by the stations.
"We have a board and they are elected and they are the ones who have decided in the past what we purchase," she said. "There is a lot more micromanaging going on now. The are getting a little nit-picky."
