Minutes Cable Telepro 10 2 01MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 2, 2001
CITY HALL ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM ftt
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Sr. Carol Hoverman, Paul Kohl, Jennifer Tigges, David
Wanamaker
MEMBERS ABSENT: Anthony Allen, two seats remain vacant on the Commission
OTHERS PRESENT:
Jim Barefoot, Mediacom
Merrill Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
Mr. Wanamaker celled the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
It was moved by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Mr. Kohl, the agenda be accepted
as published with one correction, that the Minutes of the March 6, 2001 meeting
would be considered for approval instead of the Minutes of April 3, 2001 as
printed on the tentative agenda.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the March 6, 2001 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Ms. Tigges, the Minutes of the
March 6, 2001 Commission meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
Mr. Barefoot informed Commissioners of several letters to the editor, which had
been recently published in the Telegraph Herald supporting public access, as
well as a positive Telegraph Herald front-page article, which was published
August 15, 2001.
4. Promotion.
Sr. Hoverman and Mr. Barefoot led a discussion regarding the gathering of
photos and articles for an issue of the newsletter, which should soon be ready to
publish.
5. Acoess Equipment Expenditures and Disposal of Old Equipment.
Mr. Barefoot and Mr. Crawford reported on the ordedng and arrival of many
items of equipment, which had been authorized for purchase in the current fiscal
year. This time, due to the pending transfer of the franchise and sale of AT & T
Broadband systems to Mediacom, AT & T had paid $40,000 in cesh to the City
earlier in the year, and the City was issuing purchase orders and completing
payment from that fund for access equipment and for repair of video cemera
cables. Mr. Barefoot also reported that ancient access equipment, which had
been appraised to have no value, had been disposed of. Certain other items
such as Winsted cebinets and racks, though old, were judged to still have value,
and have been therefore retained.
6. Mediacom Franchise Renewal.
Mr. Crawford reported on the several stages which had taken place to date,
including the transfer of the Dubuque cable franchise from AT & T Broadband to
Mediacom in late June 2001, the completion of the sale of all AT & T Broadband
Iowa cable systems to Mediacom in July 2001, and the extension of the
Mediacom franchise and all related side agreements and obligations under
existing terms and conditions, until a new deadline of June 30, 2002. This will
permit CBG Communications to complete a futura cable-related needs
ascertainment and for franchise renewal negotiations to continue in detail.
7. Mediacom Cable Report.
Mr. Barefoot distributed copies of monthly usage reports for the past several
months and told Commissioners that usage numbers show a noticeable increase
over these months. He also reported on increased usage of the educational
access channel, including on nights and weekends. He noted production and
cable casting activity of the University of Dubuque and of Loras College. He
also reported on an opportunity to install some additional telecommunications
conduit along a special route within the Five Flags Center to enable easier use
of existing and new cabling for television production events. The route extends
through a storage area that would be open and available for only a short period
of time.
It was moved by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Kohl, that the Commission
approve the equipment expenditures and the installation of the conduit for this
purpose at Five Flags. Motion passed unanimously.
8, Cable Franchise Administrator Report.
Mr. Crawford distributed copies of an article from Cable TV Law Reporter
regarding a court case which determined that under certain situations, the
offering of a transcript or copy of an access program in the closing credits of the
program itself should not be considered a prohibited commemial use of the
access channel, but rather a reasonable attempt to further extend the viewpoints
expressed on the channel to a larger audience. The court stressed that the
determination of which side of this rather fuzzy line a particular program might
fall would still be made at the local level.
Mr. Crawford also told Commissioners that with the franchise extension, it had
been determined that approximately $60,000 remains to be spent from the
$660,000 access equipment franchise commitment. He would be discussing
with Mediacom officials the preferable method for meeting this commitment.
Future Agenda Items.
No additional items were suggested.
10. Adjournment.
Upon a motion by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Ms. Tigges, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:29 P.M.
MC/cj