Cable, Internet servicepasses to Patriot Media

Also, suspicious fire breaks out at offices

By:Alec Moore
   Connecticut-based Patriot Media took over RCN’s billing, cable television service and cable modem service at the stroke of midnight, May 1.
   Jim Holanda, president of Patriot Media, Hillsborough’s cable franchise and Internet provider, said that while there were some technical difficulties involved in making the transition, the problems were not uncommon given the changeover from one media provider to another.


Police investigating
suspicious brush fire


   Police and fire officials suspect arson is the cause of a fire that erupted at Patriot Media’s Amwell Road office complex during the late night hours of April 23.

   According to a police report, the size of the blaze — which engulfed 13 shrubs located along the southern side of the complex — and the fire’s sudden ignition, leads investigators to suspect arson is the cause of the blaze.

   Hillsborough Fire Official Chris Weniger said the severity and size of the fire, as evidenced by the accounts of a witness, are not conducive to the blaze being an accident or a brush fire.

   "The amount of fire and the sudden ignition points towards arson," said Mr. Weniger.

   A resident who lives across from the office complex reported the fire at approximately 10:20 p.m. The resident said he was initially alerted to the blaze after hearing a swift "whoosh" sound erupt from the complex.

   Upon seeing the 10-foot high flames engulfing the bushes outside the complex the resident immediately called police to report the fire and then began recording the blaze with a video camera. The resident showed the tape to investigators after the fire was extinguished.

   The resident did not see anyone in the vicinity after the blaze erupted.

   The fire, which remains under investigation, caused about $585 in damage to the RCN grounds.

   "Due to some technical issues cable modems were out for about six hours," he said. Mr. Holanda noted that the modem outage for the majority of the company’s customers lasted from midnight until about 6 a.m.
   A number of other customers in town experienced cable outages that lasted in excess of six hours, up to 24-hours in some parts of town.
   Mr. Holanda added that Patriot Media is planning to issue a credit to customers for the loss of service for the six hours they were without service. He further stated that while the exact amount of the credit has yet to be determined, cable modem customers can expect to see a credit for the outage on their next billing statement.
   "It was just a temporary glitch," said Mayor Tony Gwiazdowski, a Patriot Media cable modem customer whose service was also interrupted as a result of the changeover. "The next day though, we were back online and everything was working the way it should."
   Cable modem customers who may be experiencing a cable modem connection problem can find trouble-shooting tips and Patriot Media customer service assistance at www.patmedia.net.
   Patriot Media serves 22,000 customers in Hillsborough, Millstone and part of Franklin Township.