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Minutes Cable Teleprogram 12 3MINUTES OF CABLE COMMUNITY TELEPROGRAMMING COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 3, 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 Franchise Administrator Mr. Kohl called the meeting to order at 5:40 P.M. 1. Acceptance of the Agenda. Upon a motion by Mr. Wilant, seconded by Sr. Hoverman, the agenda was accepted as published. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the November 12, 2002 Meeting. Upon a motion by Sr. Hoverman, seconded by Ms. Tigges, the Minutes of the November 12, 2002 Commission meeting were approved as distributed. 3. Public Comment. There was no one present to address the Commission. 4. Access Equipment Expenditures. Mr. Kohl noted the comments of a previous meeting of Craig Schaefer of Loras College regarding the condition of the mobile production unit, some of its equipment, and particularly camera cables. Mr. Barefoot led a discussion of the physical deterioration of the twenty-year-old vehicle, and the difficulties with equipment and camera cables. He reminded Commissioners of the approximately $60,000 remaining in the access equipment fund and the uncertainty as to how the City and Mediacom will agree to resolve the payment or expenditure of that money. He also told Commissioners he had sent several defective camera cables (also twenty years old) to the Mohawk repair facility for analysis of whether the cables can be repaired. Mr. Crawford reported on having found prices for several lengths of new camera cables that would connect the Hitachi FPC10 camera heads to their camera control units directly, eliminating the need for repair of the old cables and eliminating the need to use "pigtail" cable adapters on each one. The Commission discussed various interim options to meet needs until the long-term agreement regarding PEG access and equipment funding is reached in the franchise renewal process. It was moved by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Sr. Hoverman, that if needed for replacement, the Commission allocate $15,000 for cables for remote van use. Following further discussion, Mr. Wilant offered an amendment in the nature of replacement wording to that of the motion, as follows: "The Commission grants Mediacom x authorization to pay for new cables for the remote van, not to exceed the amount of $15,000." The proposed amendment was accepted by the mover and seconder of the original motion. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously. Mr. Barefoot and Mr. Craw~ord agreed to proceed within the authorization granted by the Commission, as soon as word was received from Mohawk regarding the feasibility and cost of repairing the old cables. Access Programming. Mr. Barefoot and Mr. Crawford noted there had been diminishing activity on the part of Dubuque Championship Wrestling (DCW) and a little bit of activity from the Dubuque Wrestling Federation (DWF), but that overall the backyard wrestling phenomenon as manifested on Dubuque's public access channels appears to be in a decline compared to this time last year. Mr. Crawford did report on a complaint received from a citizen regarding imported programming produced by Platform Productions advocating positions that the citizen viewed as pro-Iraqi and anti-American, to the extent of threatening national security. Mediacom Cable Franchise Renewal. Mr. Crawford reported to Commissioners on his review, editing, and return of preliminary draft components of the CBG Communications report identifying Dubuque's cable-related needs. One rather important technical component remains to be reviewed and returned, after which a full report should be generated by CBG and we can begin face-to-face negotiations with Mediacom in earnest. Also, Mr. Crawford informed the Commission that he and the City's attorneys were recommending an additional temporary franchise extension to March 31, 2003 to enable the remainder of the ascertainment process and face- to-face negotiations and public hearing to take place. Mediacom Cable Report. Mr. Barefoot told Commissioners that the hallway carpeting in the Mediacom facility was being replaced with tile and that during that work, access to certain facilities may not be possible. The Media 100 non-linear editing system has been delivered to ECS in Davenport for repair. Cable Franchise Administrator Report. Mr. Crawford answered questions about the request for proposals that the City has issued for a municipal cable/telecommunications feasibility study. 9. Future Agenda Items. The next regular meeting of the Commission is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2003. 10. Adjournment. Upon a motion by Ms. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Wilant, the meeting was adjourned at 6.40 P.M.