Minutes Cable TV Reg 1 10 01MINUTES OF CABLE TV REGULATORY COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2001
CITY HALL ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM # 2, 1300 MAIN ST.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Charles Ellis, Chairman, Ron Tigges, Craig Schaefer
Michael Pratt, Walt Webster
Merrill Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
Chairman Ellis called the meeting to order at 5:32 P.M.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Schaefer, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the agenda was
accepted as published.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the November S, 2000 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Schaefer, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the Minutes of the
November 8, 2000 Commission meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
The Chairman noted there was no one present to address the Commission.
4. Status of Telecom Projects in Dubuque.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that Illinois PCS was still interested in
putting up a cellular transmission tower near Four Mounds, along Roosevelt
Road, but it was not clear if the company at this time would appeal the Zoning
Board's denial of the requested site, or challenge the denial in court, or return
with an alternate proposal. He also reported indications that McLeodUSA has
finished beta testing of their digital telephone switch and is ready to offer DSL
service and ISDN-PRI service to general customers in Dubuque by using
Qwest's existing telephone lines.
5. Franchise Renewal.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners of a number of developments regarding AT &
T Broadband which would have some impact on franchise renewal. First he
told them of the reorganization and restructuring of the company which has
resulted in the termination of all AT & T local system general man'agers~an'd the
consolidation of customer service and technical management into regions. The
Dubuque system will be serviced and managed out of the eastern Iowa region
from an office in Moline, Illinois, although franchising activities will still be
handled by Jori Koebrick out of Cedar Rapids. He also told Commissioners that
although Kathy McMullen's general manager days in Dubuque ended at the end
of the calendar year, she had accepted another position regarding customer
service for the area including Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Iowa City, but not
including Dubuque and the Mississippi River valley systems.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that there were reports in the trade
magazines that AT & T might be entertaining offers to purchase many of its
systems in rural states such as Iowa and that several other cable companies
have been looking at the Dubuque physical plant.
The City will be meeting with a consultant from River Oaks Communications
Corporation in the next week regarding community cable and telecom needs
assessment, not only for cable franchise renewal purposes, but also for
community development and stimulating the entry of new players to deliver
communication services in Dubuque.
Commissioners expressed some concern whether a change in ownership of the
local cable system would impact the continuation of the @ Home cable modem
service.
6. AT & T Broadband General Manager's Report.
In the absence of an AT & T general manager, Mr. Crawford distributed copies
of Kathy McMullen's written report for the Commission meeting in December
which had been canceled due to bad weather.
It was moved by Mr. Schaefer, seconded by Mr. Tigges, that the Commission
Chair send a letter to Kathy McMullen's new immediate supervisor at AT & T,
expressing compliments and gratitude on the part of the Commission for her
past service to the community as an employee of the local cable system. The
motion passed unanimously.
In reviewing Ms. McMullen's written report, the Commissioners expressed
confusion over the term "genre tier" as no one around the table was able to
offer a convincing theory as to what the term means. Mr. Crawford will ask
the cable company and provide translation at the next meeting.
7. Cable Franchise Administrator Report.
Mr. Crawford distributed copies of the notice he had received from AT & T
regarding the 5% increase in basic service rates scheduled to be implemented
February 1st. The Commissioners discussed the rate increase and the rapidly
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changing promotional package offers which benefit subscribers who
periodically call the cable company to check on the latest special deals.
He told Commissioners of the first instances of cable companies declining to
pay franchise fees on revenue from cable modem service, on the west coast.
Mr~ Ellis led a discussion regarding the funding of certain City of Dubuque
operations outside the Cable TV Division with cable franchise fees, and
directed that an item be placed on the agenda of the next Commission meeting
pertaining the non-cable-related uses of franchise fees.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that the final draft of the RFP for the City
government website was being reviewed by the City Manager and that he
hoped the RFP should be released to interested vendors within the next few
weeks. He distributed copies of the current draft and invited comments or
corrections from Commissioners.
Mr. Schaefer led a discussion inquiring as to the role of the two cable
commissions in the franchise renewal process.
Future Agenda Items.
The topic of the use of franchise fee revenues in the City of Dubuque budget
will be added to the next meeting agenda.
Adjournment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Schaefer, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:26 P.M.
MC/cj
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