IDOC'S NEW SATELLITE TV CONTRACT IS A BUST - GETTING TO THE 'CORE' OF THE MATTER: Part 1 of 3

On March 21, 2024, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) entered into a contract with a local company to provide satellite and over-the-air (OTA) television channels to the prison facilities located in the area just south of Boise (see the post SOUTH BOISE COMPLEX GETS NEW TV CHANNEL PACKAGE - A PRELIMINARY REVIEW on this site). This endeavor has not gone well, so it might be a good time to look into the chronic problems and possible solutions.

Issue 1: THE CORE PROGRAMMING PACKAGE PROBLEM

First, the definition of the word CORE (as related to the satellite TV channel content package) in the contract seems to have been viewed differently by the new contractor than by most anyone else. In communication with other [unsuccessful] bidders on this specific contract, and former IDOC TV system contractor (Mood Media), a satellite TV Core package [an industry defined standard] are the channel offerings in a specific [base] package offered for subscription by the satellite television content vendor (in this instance, Dish Network).

Currently, and at the time of the IDOC contract bidding, the Core packages offered by Dish Network (Business/Bulk Programming) - from whom the new IDOC contractor subscribes on behalf of the IDOC - are: America's Top 120, (120 Plus, 200, or 250), Essentials, Premier, International Basic and Latino Clasico. At least one Core package must be subscribed to in order to receive additional or premium programming packages (such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc.) or services, known in the industry as ADD-ONS.

According to Caleb Hansen, owner of Praxis Limited Co. (dba) A+ Satellite headquartered in Meridian, Idaho, his company is a "private cable operator", and have created their own Core package programming for the IDOC - the "A+ Extreme Economy Pack". Many who are investigating this matter consider this an attempt to pull an end-run around the IDOC contract requirements, and Dish Network representatives are now looking into violations of their contractual relationship with A+.

The channels that make up the A+ Extreme Economy Pack (used exclusively in the IDOC) are limited to what is contained within Dish Network's [Hospitality Plus] Add-on [service]. A+'s IDOC package also contains a couple of Dish's Free-to-guest channels. Notably, the A+ Extreme Economy Pack is not listed on the A+ Satellite website, or otherwise offered to the general public. Even basic satellite channels such as CNN, Fox News, Discovery and others are not included in the "package".

Based on information from various sources, including Dish Network representatives, it seems that A+ Satellite's [self described] Extreme Economy pack is nothing more than Dish Network Add-On and Free-to-Guest channels that A+ has siphoned off and rebranded as their own Core package. Indeed, none of the Dish Network's Core packages are being made available to the IDOC, despite the IDOC Invitation to Bid (ITB) and contract requiring the Core package to made available to all of the nearly 5,000 IDOC cable customers or "drops".

"I was wondering how A+ could have underbid us by more than $150,000 a year for the same services," said a representative from another company who bid on the same IDOC Satellite Television Services contract during a April, 2024 telephone interview. "Everyone knew they [A+ Satellite] had something up their sleeve, as the overall cost of the Essentials [Dish] Core package alone cost around $190k per year for the number of drops required". (NOTE: The IDOC provided the "Essentials" Dish Core package immediately prior to the implementation of the new contract.)

In a public records request regarding the contract between A+ Satellite and the IDOC, the IDOC included in its response a nine (9) page document describing the Bulk Programming and Channel Lineup - including Dish's Core Package [channel] contents. It is clear the IDOC expected the new contractor to provide traditional (Dish) Core package satellite TV services based on these documents, on past contracts, the amount of [inmate generated] monies expended for these services and the language of the contract. For A+ to create its own package of Dish Network Add-on and Free-to-Guest channels and call it a CORE package is unconscionable, and possibly creates civil and/or criminal liabilities.

According to state records, A+ Satellite actually received $263,918.04 for a single year of service and one-time costs for installation of new equipment. The contract has a two (2) year term, with three (3) additional years of options. According to these records, A+ can also negotiate price adjustments with the IDOC once per year after the date of the contract.

Hundreds of complaints about the content of the "Core" channel package made available by A+ have been lodged with prison (facility) administrators in just over a month. Further, official complaints and requests to the Idaho Attorney General's office and consumer fraud agencies to begin an investigation into the contract are being prepared.

As it stands, the only real fix to the Core package issue as described is to immediately provide the IDOC with a standard [Dish or Direct TV] Core programming package as contemplated by the Idaho Department of Administration (Division of Purchasing) and make any price adjustments as might be necessary.

Unfortunately, the Core matter is not the only issue...

See Part 2 of this article soon!