Bernard Suggests North Adams May Hold Spectrum Meeting

North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard is suggesting that a community meeting, similar to that held in Pittsfield, be scheduled with Charter Spectrum.

iBerkshires.com reports complaints have been rife as frustrated cable customers have dealt with poor customer service, slow or interrupted internet connections, pricey new digital boxes and dropped channels since Charter's takeover of Time-Warner — the area's only cable service.

The cable provider has also kicked Northern Berkshire Community Television's channels into the higher numbers (1301, 1302 and 1303) making them more difficult to find.

The mayor said he has also been in contact with the state's Department of Telecommunications and Cable, which has offered some assistance. He said his office working with DTC officials to set a date for an initial regional hearing of issuing authorities that he's offered to host.

The city is in the early years of a 10-year contract with Spectrum.