Minutes Cable Telepro 11 12 02MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING
NOVEMBER 12, 2002
CITY HALL ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM # 2
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sr. Carol Hoverman, Paul Kohl, Jennifer Tigges, Dan Wilant
MEMBERS ABSENT: Three seats remain vacant on the Commission
OTHERS PRESENT:
Jim Barefoot, Mediacom
Merrill Crawford, Cable Frenchise Administretor
Sr. Hoverman called the meeting to order at 5:36 P.M
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kohl, seconded by Mr. Wilant, the agenda was accepted
as published.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the October 1, 2002 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Kohl, seconded by Ms. Tigges, the Minutes of the October
1, 2002 Commission meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
There was no one present to address the Commission.
4. Access Equipment Expenditures.
Mr. Barefoot told Commissionere that scarcity of multi-pin camera cables for use
with the mobile van was getting more critical. Commissionere discussed
possible options or sources for used cables to cover the interim while franchise
renewal negotiations take place.
5. Access Programming.
Mr. Barefoot told Commissionere there had been little activity and few comments
or complaints recently regarding Dubuque Championship Wrestling (DCW),
although two new groups, the Dubuque Wrestling Federetion (DWF) and
Extreme Dubuque Wrestling had produced their vereions of theatrical wrestling
progrems. Mr. Crawford mentioned a recent episode of the 20~20 network news
magazine progrem dealing with the related phenomenon of youth backyard
wrestling activities, youth stunts patterned after the "Jackass" show on the MTV
network, and the phenomenon of paying homeless street people to perform
dangerous stunts or to fight each other for the purpose of videotaping and selling
the tapes. This is a nationwide phenomenon.
Mr. Barefoot and Commissionere briefly discussed imported religious
programming in two series: "It Is Written" and "Amazing Facts", which recently
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had begun actively promoting materials for sale. Mr. Barefoot reported that the
local individuals submitting these programs are taking steps to eliminate the
commercial content.
Mr. Barefoot reported that a lot of educational programming is being submitted
by Dubuque Community Schools at the present time. He also told
Commissioners about various video components of programming recently aired
in tribute to Iongtime arts and PEG access activitist Ruth Nash.
Mediacom Cable Franchise Renewal.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that the long awaited I-Net section of the
consultant reports regarding future cable-related needs had just arrived and was
being marked up and sent back to the consultant.
In light of the recent discontinuing of local news by the Fox broadcast affiliate
serving Dubuque, Commissioners discussed the level of community need for
local newscast, perhaps produced by or on the cable system.
Commissioners also discussed the concept of an area-wide PEG access
operation, conforming more closely to the expanding geographic footprint of
Mediacom's cable system fed from the Dubuque headend. Elements of multiple
jurisdiction franchise language, selective trapping of programming in different
communities and inserting of local programs, etc. were discussed.
Mediacom Cable Report.
Mr. Barefoot distributed written copies of the October report for community
access and highlighted a couple of the items.
Cable Franchise Administrator Report.
Mr. Crawford distributed copies of articles from Portland, Oregon regarding
public access, and additional articles regarding a sedes of court cases centered
around local communities' attempts to censure or eliminate public access
programs or channels.
Future Agenda Items.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, December 3, 2002.
102. Adjournment.
Upon a motion by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Wilant, the meeting was
adjourned at 6.27 P.M.