121 S 17th Street Mattoon, IL 61938 936.521.7721 936.521.7721 [email protected] Robert Koester Vice President

Michelle Radley Town Clerk Town of Ghent 2306 State Route 66 Ghent, NY 12075-0098

Dear Ms. Radley,

Pursuant to the requirements of 16 N.Y.C R.R Section 894.5, please find the enclosed application of Berkshire Cable Corp. d/b/a Consolidated Communications to the Town of Ghent for a television franchise.

Please contact me at (936)-521.7721 should you have any questions

Sincerely,

Robert Koester

Enclosures

CC: Ghent Board of Supervisors APPLICATION FOR A FRANCHISE BY

BERKSHIRE CABLE CORP.

Berkshire Cable Corp {"BCC") d/b/a "Consolidated Communications" respectfully submits this application form {"Application") and requests the award of a cable television franchise from the Town of Ghent {"Municipality"). In this application, BCC answers the questions set forth in Title 16, Chapter VIII, Part 894, Section 894.5, of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of , as amended.

(1) A description of the cable television system proposed to be constructed including information regarding (a) channel capacity, including both the total capability of the proposed system and the number of channels to be energized immediately; (b) television and radio broadcast signals which BCC intends to carry on its system initially; (c) the extent and type of any origination cable casting to be undertaken, and the facilities, equipment and staff to be employed therein; and (d) the system layout or design, including where applicable: (i) location of antennae and headends; (ii) plans for a two-way capability including a proposed schedule indication when two-way capability will become available from particular points; (iii) location or origination points and origination facilities; (iv) extent and type of automated services to be provided; and {v) number of channels to be utilized for access cablecasting and the facilities, equipment, staff and other support to be available to access users including access utilization or production costs.

In response to the information requested in subsections l(a) and (d)(i-ii), please see attached Exhibit 1, "Proposed Service Overview, Product Offers and Architecture." In response to the information requested in subsection l(b), please see the sample channel lineup set forth in Exhibit 2, "Consolidated Communications TV Channel Lineup."

In response to the information requested in subsection l(c) and l(d)(iii), BCC launched the capability for origination cablecasting in the Kinderhook, NY area in 2010.

In response to the information sought in subsection l(d)(v), upon request of the Municipality, BCC intends to provide capacity on its basic service tier for up to one (1) dedicated Public Access Channel, one (1) dedicated Educational Access Channel, and up to one (1) dedicated Government Access Channel. (2) The terms and conditions under which service is to be provided to educational and governmental entities.

BCC will provide channel capacity to educational and governmental entities under terms and conditions consistent with applicable law, and as may be required by the Municipality.

(3) The terms concerning rates and construction schedules.

BCC's current cable television service rates and available packages are attached as Exhibit 3.

BCC's Network currently passes a portion the current households in the Franchise Area of the Municipality that mirror those of the incumbent telephone subsidiary.

(4) An indication of whether BCC will provide service on the same terms and conditions as contained in the existing franchise in effect.

BCC will provide service on terms and conditions consistent with the needs and interests of the Municipality and the level playing field requirement set forth in Title 16, Chapter VIII, Part 895, Section 895.3, of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, as amended, in that the BCC's proposed franchise agreement is comparable in its totality with the incumbent cable television provider's agreement. BCC is applying for a cable television franchise in the Municipality in order to provide the residents of the Municipality with competitive choice.

(5) A statement of BCC's experience in the cable television field including, if applicable, the names and professional experience of the persons or organizations who will be responsible for the construction, installation and operation of the proposed system.

BCC and its predecessor entities have provided telecommunications services in the State of New York for over one hundred and twenty years. Consequently, BCC has extensive experience and expertise in the telecommunications field.

BCC currently provides franchised cable service in Columbia County to residents of Kinderhook, NY. BCC also provides cable television service in its Illinois service area pursuant to a Certificate of Video Franchise Authority granted by the Illinois Commerce Commission May 4, 2017.

Furthermore, other subsidiaries of Consolidated Communications Inc. provide cable service in California, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Florida. (6) A statement indicating whether BCC or any of its principals owns or operates any other cable television system, directly or indirectly, and a statement indicating the name of any such operations and the name and address of the chief executive officer of the franchising authority in which such system or station is located.

To the extent it may be considered another cable television system, BCC provides cable television service in its Illinois service area pursuant to a Certificate of Video Franchise Authority granted by the Illinois Commerce Commission on May 4, 2017. The Commission is located at 527 East Capitol Avenue, Springfield, IL 62701. Brian Sheahan is Chairman.

(7) A documented plan for financing the proposed system, which plan shall indicate specifically every significant anticipated source of capital and any and all limitations or conditions with respect to the availability of the indicated sources of capital.

Given the unique nature of the cable television franchise that BCC requests to be awarded by the Municipality, capital requirements are anticipated to be minimal. However, BCC intends to satisfy any remaining capital requirements for the proposed system through a variety of internally and externally generated funds. BCC is a financially stable company that has provided telecommunications services in New York State for more than a century. Its parent company, Consolidated Communications Inc., is publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol CNSL, which generated 2017 revenues in excess of $1.0 billion. A copy of Consolidated Communications lnc.'s 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders is available online at:

http://ir.consolidated.com/static-files/4261ac54-34a8-4753-8fe3-3de184b6d612

(8) A statement indicating whether BCC or any of its officers, directors and persons having a legal or equitable interest in 10% or more of the voting stock: (a) has ever been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude (including criminal fraud) or is presently under indictment charging such a crime; (b) has ever been held liable by any court of competent jurisdiction in any civil action based on fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; or (c) has ever been punished or censured in any jurisdiction for any violation or attempted violation of any law, rule or order relating to cable television operations.

BCC has no knowledge of any such finding of guilt toward BCC, any person controlling BCC, or any officer, director or major stockholder of BCC. PROPOSED SERVICE OVERVIEW, PRODUCT OFFERS AND ARCHITECTURE

• Service Overview

• Product Offer • Service Delivery/Connection Method

Service Overview

The all IP based Network will enable provision of a feature rich and fully competitive cable television offering. The major components of the cable television services which Verizon will offer to consumers will include:

• Basic tier, including local and Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels as requested by and as negotiated with the community

• Expanded Service tiers

• Premium channel tiers

• Pay Per View (PPV)

• HDTV channels

• Digital music channels

• Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

• Interactive programming guide (IPG)

• Inside installation with wireless capabilities

Product Offers

For residential customers, Verizon will initially offer Broadcast Television, High Definition TV (HDTV}, Digital Video Recorders (DVR}, Interactive Programming Guide (IPG} and Pay Per View (PPV} Movies and Events. The Broadcast Television offering will consist of both a Basic Service tier and an Expanded Service tier. The Basic Service tier will include local, public and educational/government (PEG} channels and select cable channels. The Expanded Service tier will include all channels carried on the Basic Service tier as well as additional cable channels, premium cable channels, Spanish language channels., international channels, digital music channels, an interactive program guide (IPG), HDTV programming (for subscribers with an HD 5TB) and PPV programming. Customers will be charged a monthly recurring fee for each set top box (STB) based upon model. The customer will be offered the option to upgrade STBs to include support for HDTV, or a combined HD DVR STB for additional monthly fees. In addition to organizing and informing the customer of the programming line-up, the system is designed from its outset to be an active two-way system for subscriber interaction, if any, required for the selection or use of cable service. The IPG will support on-screen program control, parental controls, timers, search, and ordering of PPV services. Pay Per View allows subscribers to pay for and watch prescheduled programming events on an on-demand basis. PPV movies or events will be selected from the IPG. Authorization for billing will occur at the time of purchase. Events begin at pre-scheduled intervals (i.e., programming is not immediately available). Customers will purchase PPV either as discrete events or in pre-defined packages.

Service Delivery

Connection Method

At initial deployment, an installation and maintenance (l&M) technician will connect the Network Interface Device (NID) to a central point of demarcation where a television l&M technician will make final connections to provide the television service. After the installation of the NID, a television field technician will test the existing in-home connection to determine if it is technically acceptable and will connect the service. If no sufficient cable exists or the cable is unacceptable, the technician will install wiring to the first cable outlet, and will use wireless devices for other locations identified by the customer.

Set Top Box

The technician will have a set top box that will need to be installed near the TV. The technician will connect a cable from the wall outlet or wireless device to the set top and another cable from the set top box to the TV. The technician will also connect the customer's VCR and/or DVD device and check for proper operation. A fee may be charged for non-standard installations involving multiple components such as surround sound systems or other electronic equipment. This process will be followed for any boxes installed. When a set top box is installed the technician will activate the customer's service by registering the customer's account number with each identified set top box. A remote command will be issued to the set top box in real time to turn the purchased service(s) on. System Architecture

Figure 1 describes the process by which video signals are delivered across the network to the end user subscriber. In the instance of Ghent, NY the video content will be provided via a super-regional head end located in Gibsonia, PA with backup headends located in Charleston, IL and Conroe, TX. Local television signals will be provided from BCC's analog headend located in Kinderhook, NY. Network transport is provided by BCC's own fiber and augmented by leased facilities where required. All core network video related transport facilities are provisioned on self healing fiber network rings.

Additional detail regarding the detail of video service delivery is available upon request.

Video Platform Components

Digital Transport Access Home Headend Network Network

DSLA!\I / Fiber Splitter

Backbone Transpol1

Middleware - Program Guide

Figure 1 BASIC PACKAGE STANDARD PACKAGE , I '!J.i8JJJ-W~ fnc!11dcs thP fol!owmq Includes Basic plus the following· 1· " 253 653 ! i?portsman Channel i 162 562: ~CEasy.~stening 812 100 500 · Science Channel 267 667 I TBS 255 655·; I MC Gosp_el______813 Channel/Network SD HD Channel/Network SD HD ESPN Oassic 103 .1 ·SEC Network . 142 542 rT~~nis Channel MC Hip.!!._op_&_R&_B____ 81i_._ ~-·-----~ ··---'- 131 531 ! ABC(WTEN) 2 _402_j '- D~~':'Y Channel 200 600 i ESPN2 101 501 , ·-·-·-··-·i ::ports New York 113 513 Travel Channel 202_6E_7_, MC Hip_ Hop Classics 815 Bounce (WXXA) 50 Hallmark Channel 192 592_, Food Network 273 ~ Jyfy Channel '300 100: Turner Classic Movies ~4~_ I MC Hit List 816 . i ~allm_ark M~vies &_ri]ysteri_es __ 328 !~~J FOX Business News ~---~~ BYUTV Teen Nick 227 627' ~Kids 228 6281 MClndie 817 . -,~8£ ~~~J INSP 298 698 FOX News Chai:i~I _ . ___ ~2. .6? __ TNT 252 652 'Viceland . _____ 301 101, MC Jazz 818 CBS(WRGB) 3 403, 1 hwestigation Discovery 264 66_4~ JQ~_Sports l . !04 ?Q'I; 1Toku __ ·-·--·-··· _ 235 -622J YouToo America .3J?L __, ,·:MC Kidz Only 819 Charge (WCWN) 46 _l_EiO 5§Cl_J FQX_Sp~~ 2 105 05,. I ?.. USA Network 190 590 820 RFD TV 208 i Freefom1 232 632 . ---1 Comet (WRGB) 44 821 - .... -,_ ·I VHl 315 715 ( ~~~::~~~~t TLC 268 668:; 'LFX______~,~5.Q; CSPAN 80 480 j YES 116 516 ~ MC Max .822 TruTV ~03 ___ , [ FXX . _3_?_1_651 ; CSPAN2 ·-~;_4a1_I Add to any package TV Land 191 IGottch;;i --____ I~~- 52~ 1 CW (WCWN) 21 421 WETV 287 687 ' r.~-~_;;:~~~~~- - ;: . 1 I MC Musica Urbana 825 · Weather Channel 70 470] Escape (WTEN) 43 -: IB!tdlin_~~ews_ - _;~ _;: Channel/Network I::..'.- SD HD MC Party Favorites 826 · WGNAmerica 257 i HGTV 272 672 , Eternal Word TV Network 177 577 ~---·~~~~-- ---··- ·-· AXSTV 71 8 MC~lay 827 . 2~~-~65~ Crime & lnvesti~ation 704 Evine 37 437; MC Pop_~iO~i!!_ry 828 Justice Central 305 705' ------< , HDNet Movies 724 829 FOX(WXXA) MC l'lJp Hits ---· 4 404! Lifetime 283 683 t MavTV ·567 •rn·•••-----i MC Pop Latino 830 GetTV (WTEN) 41 Lifetime Movie Network 327 727 I MTV Live ,719 ,Boomerang 231, MC R&B Classics 831 Lifetime Real Women '"iii.j" ! Velocity -659 Home Shopping Network 35 :C:oo~~ni0~nel 270 670 MC R&BSoul 832 IMLB Network ____ .. 121 521 i ION 23 423; :_Disnev_ Jr 221 621 MC Rap 833.., .. _. MSG Network -----~---] ,_A&E Network 261 661_i • -- w,_, ___ •·-· 110 510; Jewelry TV 'Disney XD 222 622i MC R~g-~ae 834 36 436 i AMC 254 654 · MSNBC 64 464 DIGITAL MUSIC CHANNELS 835·--, -·---·-, ····-··········------· ---1 :DIV MC Rock MTV 271 671 Included with Standard, Sefect I Justice (WTEN) 42 , · American Heroes Channel 262 662 i 310 710 MC Rock Hits ,--·------L-.,~--j 1 'ESPN News 1102 502 ( and EYpandcd packog€'s 836 t°An~_al Planet 203 603 i MTV Classic 312 112 ! L~~(WXXA) __ 51 __ .! :ESPNU MC Romances 837 MTV2 311 711 140 ·540 : ; My Network (WNYA) MC Singers & Swing ______838 .--· 22 422 j \ ::EN~t;~~-k-----···- .. ~f!!~~ •Fox Co!lege Sports Atlantic 148 ~~JI ····'· ·J i!'l.~~o~~I G~o~raphic giaf!!l~! .. 3~4- ~~: 'NBC(WNYT) : Fox College Sports Central MC70s ~-J MC Smooth Jazz ___B~- --' 5 405 j iw- 2ao wo' [f.!BC_Sports .!06_5_!l?., 149 I MC Soft Rock 840 On Demand Previews 'B;..;;····- ... ·---- 816 ~~~etwork______!3L.5EJ ~.~~~~e Jports Pacific 150 MC80S ~-·--: ,...... 2 81_, >MC90s ~0?_, i MC Solid Gold Oldies 841 ! Cartoon Network 230 •630 [ NHL NellV_l!_k______!?~~i FUSE 314 714 PBS (WMHT Schenectady) 25 425 • ~CAdultAltemative _____ ~~03..' MC Sounds of the Seasons 842 CMT :iiii 7161 I Nick Jr 224 624 i -'Fusion 296 696 : =l Public Access 30 MC Sounds~apes ______.. 843 ,_ ___ . I Nick Music · 226 i FX Movie Channel 325 725 : CNBC 60 460. ::~:ative --- --,~~ QVC r~~ .I MC Stage & S_creen 845 18 418 · r6.iN___ ... -~_61=4~il Nick~o~eo~ 223 623 . ,FYI 269 669 1 ! MC Classic Country .806 : : MC Teen Beats·-·--- ~46 _; QVC Plus 19 • C_9_~edy Cen!_a! _ _ _ -~ 6~~. INicktoons • . ~~5_ 62~: ' Great American Country 317 717 0 MC Cl~ssic Masterpieces_____ 807j _j MC Throwback Jamz 847 I Destination America 263 663 1 10lympics Channel 132 532 ilFC 326 726 i Shop LC 38 ,438 i TIK_ Classic Rock sos; .. I MCfoday's Colllltry 848 ---- - J rLlis~~~.;;;,;:~mily ·201-601! ]_i:ie Americ~ews Network ' National Geographic Wild 1 (WCWN) 48 . 66 .. 466, 205 605 1 MCContemp~ry_Christian 809...:_ __ -J MC Toddler Tunes 849 : -~is~~~ery Lil~- 202 i 'OWN 285 I !ovation 299 699' MC Country Hits 810 . ·-··------. ---·-- Trinity Broadcasting MCTropicales 850 176 i Dis~E:.l'. Channel 220 620 i 286 686;' :Smithsonian -----~ ~~en 206 606 IMCDance &EDM 811 MCY2K Lineup Notes, Requirements PREMIUM CHANNELS ChanncVNetwork SO HD ------Seled Padl.age includes Basic and Standard Package /ldd to any packaq<' STARz'' Elpanded Padlqe includes Basic, Standard and Starz , 370 770 I Select Package Channel/Network SD HD ~ia~z:ci~e~a. . 371 Sports and Enlertalnment Tier - r Requires a subscription to a Select or CINE MAX'' Starz Comedy _. 372 · 772 ; Expanded package 341 · sta~z Edg~ _____ 380. 780 i Premium Channels - Can be added 5 StarMax to any package ActionMax 342 ~~~o~---- __ 373 773 , PPY event rental requires Standard Cinemax 340 740 , Starz En_c_~~~ Act_i~'.1_ . _ ~74_ _ _ . Package subscription TV On Demand access included with corresponding Max Latino 343 Starz Encore Black 375 package subscrtption MoreMax 344 Starz Encore Classic 377 To receive the equivalent HD channel a subscription to HD is requited MovieMax 345 _Starz _~ncore ~a_!Tli~ 376 , Starz Encore Suspens078. _.... ·~equircs a subscription, available on the , OuterMax 346 Standard, Select and Expanded TV Plans . Starz Encore Westerns 379 ThrillerMax 347 '-- .. ------·· ·~HD channel ooly : Starz in ~lack ___ 381 __ HBO" SD St.1ndard Definition Channel Starz Kids & Fa!f1ily 38~ ?82 . HD High Oefinn;on Channel ,.HBO 330 730 332 HBO c~'!ledy PAY-PER-VIEW" This channel lineup is subject to change. HBO Family 333 · Movies/Events For the most current linetJ? visi1 consolidated.com. '. HBO Latino 334 •(Pay:per-view)** · HBO Signature 335 ,-HBO-Zone 336 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT HB02 331 ------11 d d to Sclrrt or SHOWTIME" l xpandcd park.ogC' Rix 360 Showtime 350 750 · Channel/Network SO HO Showtime 2 351 751 i · sii;~~iey~nd 352 152·1 ; ~C?_X ~11-~ge Sports_Atlan~c_. 1~ i-·· ··- -·- - · ,. ·--- - ·---·\ . FOXCollegeSportsCentral .149 ___ Showtime Extreme 353 753 · ------. i FOXCollegeSportsPacific -~-- Showtime Family Zone . 354 Plus · 129 : ~howtime Next • -~~?.J_'.>5_: ~ MLB StrikeZo-ne_ _ .1225U Showtime Showcase 356 756 ... --- ~-- -- · NFL Red Zone 124 524 Showtime Women 357 757 ; ~ac 12 151 551 The Movie Channel 358 ; 758 1 Revolt 313 . 713 . --, lhe Movie Channel Ext@ .• 359 759 _: . Spmtsman Channel .. 162 . 562 J NEW YORK t} \Consolidated" fl j Consolidated" 844.YOUR.CCI consolidated.com ~ communications ~ communications Pricing and Packaging

Residential Packages - includes popular channels1 plus video on demand1 pay per view and first set top box/DVR

Package Monthly Rate Basic Video Package $35.80 Standard Digital Video Package $72.90 Select Digital Video Package $132.44 Expanded Digital Video Package $138.44

Additional Products I Services High Definition Tier $6.99 Additional Set Top Box $7.99 Installation Charge - one-time charge $50.00 per set top box

Business Packages - includes popular channels1 plus first set top box

Package Monthly Rate Basic Video Package $26.81 Standard Digital Video Package $63.91 Select Digital Video Package $123.45 Expanded Digital Video Package $129.45

Additional Products I Services High Definition Tier $6.99 Additional Set Top Box $7.99 Installation Charge - one-time charge $50.00 per set top box