Minutes Cable TV Teleprogramming Commission 9 1 08
MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING
September 2, 2008
CITY HALL ANNEX – 2nd FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM #2
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Al Vincent, Tom McDonough, Jennifer Tigges, Sr. Carol Hoverman,
George Herrig. Burton Everist arrived at 4:14 p.m.
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Pauline Maloney.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Jim Barefoot, Mediacom
Craig Nowack, City of Dubuque Cable TV Coordinator
Sr. Hoverman called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda
Upon a motion by Mr. McDonough, seconded by Mr. Herrig, the agenda was accepted as
published unanimously.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the July 1, 2008, and August 5, 2008, Meetings
Upon a motion by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Vincent, approval of the Minutes of the
July 1, 2008, and August 5, 2008, Commission meetings were tabled unanimously.
3. Public Comment
Mr. Nowack passed along a note of thanks from the students of Hempstead High School
instructor Boyd Card thanking the Commission for funding some equipment purchases at
the school.
Sr. Hoverman asked about the possibility of the Telegraph-Herald at least giving the web
address where local PEG listings could be found since they no longer include the listings in
the TV Times supplement. Mr. Barefoot stated that once he is up and running with his new
automation system, people will be able to log into the server and access listings. Mr.
Nowack noted that where the TH is using his online listings, they put the information up
after it has expired. He also noted that the main TH web site does not even have a link to
their online TV listings. Ms. Tigges said that individual producers can enter their own
program information on the Access Dubuque website.
At this point Mr. Everist joined the meeting.
4. Using Access Equipment
A. Football games
B. Chamber of Commerce program
Mr. Barefoot noted the various people or entities behind each of the PEG channels in
Dubuque: Gary Olsen for the school district channel, Becky Specht and Craig Schaefer for
the shared educational channel, and Mr. Nowack for the government channel. He said
that Mediacom’s role is to facilitate the production and airing of programming for the two
public access channels.
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Mr. Barefoot wanted to make sure that the Commission had no problem with Mediacom
initiating production of and using access equipment for programming that is not being
covered in Dubuque, such as high school football. In addition, the Dubuque Chamber of
Commerce has approached Mediacom to produce an “I Love Dubuque” show that
promotes living and working in Dubuque. He said no money would be changing hands for
this programming other than the Chamber, for instance, providing money to hire an intern
to work their project. The programs produced would air on the access channels and VOD
and perhaps statewide on the Mediacom Connections channel.
Sr. Hoverman recalled a request by Mediacom a year ago to use access equipment to
televise high school football games because Mediacom did not have the proper equipment
to do so. Her recollection was that the local Mediacom office had requested company
funding for such equipment but had not received it. Mr. Barefoot explained that the money
went instead to furnish a new control room elsewhere in the company.
Mr. Everist questioned the use of Mediacom staff to be the actual producers of access
programming, wondering if this violated any policies previously set up in the community. A
concern he had is how much time this will absorb and if it will ultimately count against the
57 hours per week that Mediacom must have the facilities open. Beyond that, Mr. Everist
commended the Chamber for making use of the access community as a means for “getting
the word out.” He believes that using the equipment for the projects Mr. Barefoot
described is perfectly all right.
Mr. Everist moved to commend Mediacom for developing additional use by non-profit
groups and for taking the lead in producing high school football telecasts and a program for
the Chamber of Commerce. The motion was seconded by Mr. Vincent. The motion
passed by a vote of 5-1, with Ms. Tigges voting against.
5. Access Facilities Schedule
Mr. Barefoot raised again for discussion the issue of the cable franchise agreement-
mandated 57 hours per week that the public access facilities must be open to the public
and if he can count some of the hours that he and his assistant are assisting other access
producers on location against those 57 hours. Ms. Tigges stated that she would like to see
consistency in the hours that the facilities are open so access producers know when they
can drop off or edit programming. Mr. Everist expressed a concern for the amount of time
a relatively small number of organizations are requiring of Mr. Barefoot and his assistant.
He suggested that perhaps these organizations need to get their own equipment or figure
out a way to do more themselves. Mr. Barefoot said that he has had conversations with
Loras College about approaching the Commission to get additional equipment.
Mr. Everist suggested that Mr. Barefoot return next month with a proposed schedule for the
facilities. He recalled Mediacom’s help on a production he worked on for NICC and would
hate to think that other groups like NICC could not be accommodated because time is
booked so far in advance.
Mr. Everist moved to ask Mr. Barefoot to some to the next meeting with a proposal for
open hours for the access facilities and hours set aside for flex time to work with other
groups. The motion was not seconded.
6. Access Equipment Expenditures
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Mr. Nowack reported a problem with the Roosevelt Middle School grant for a Newtek
Tricaster unit and some other equipment. Tom DeGree at Roosevelt had called him last
week saying that the Tricaster he had received from ECS was a demo unit. Mr. Nowack
then called Rex Lawrence at ECS and left a voice mail message saying that ECS is
welcome to quote us for demo products but that we need to know we are being quoted on
a demo. Mr. Lawrence returned that call the next day and apologized and said he thought
the fact that it was a demo unit had been communicated to us.
In order to rectify this mistake, Mr. Lawrence offered to include at no extra charge $787
worth of connectors that Mr. DeGree needed for his auditorium wiring project. Mr. Nowack
said he would communicate that offer to Mr. DeGree and that it would be Mr. DeGree’s
decision. Mr. DeGree responded to that offer by saying that throwing in the connectors
may not be acceptable. The demo unit does not have the latest software and may not
have the larger hard drive that comes with newer units. Mr. Nowack forwarded that
response to Mr. Lawrence and as of now this matter is still unresolved.
7. Grant Application Threshold (tabled on July 1, 2008)
This item was not removed from the table.
8. Access Programming and Promotion
Mr. Barefoot reported having a conversation with Allen Garfield of the University of
Dubuque Graphics Art program about getting them to submit more programming to the
educational access channel. He will bring some students to the Mediacom facilities to see
what new equipment is there. NICC recently checked out a camera to produce a summer
graduation program.
At this point Mr. Vincent left the meeting.
9. Mediacom Cable Report
Mr. Barefoot reported missing a step in using the new automation system and has asked
for Mr. Nowack’s help in troubleshooting the situation. He added he hopes to begin using
the system shortly after that problem is resolved.
10. Cable TV Division Report
Mr. Nowack stated that with the help of ECS and Tightrope Media Systems, the
communication issue he had been having between the Cablecast computer and the on-air
Kramer routing switcher has been resolved.
The City has just finished producing a series of Green Pledge spots featuring ten different
things local residents can do to help Dubuque become sustainable. A wide variety of
voices were used to build a sense of community with these spots.
Mr. Nowack reported that he is just about ready to have the contract signed with Granicus
for the City’s web streaming solution that will be featured in the new City website in
November. Onsite training will occur on October 20 and that night’s Council meeting will
be the first one encoded for the Internet.
11. Future Agenda Items
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No new items were discussed.
12. Adjournment
Upon a motion by Mr. Herrig, seconded by Mr. McDonough, the meeting was adjourned at
5:26 p.m.
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