Minutes Cable TV Reg 1 14 04MINUTES OF CABLE TV REGULATORY COMMISSION MEETING
JANUARY 14, 2004
CARNEGIE STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY 3RD FLOOR ICN ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Charles Ellis, Chairman, Ron Tigges, Walt Webster, Michael
Pratt. One seat remains vacant on the Commission
OTHERS PRESENT:
Kathy McMullen, General Manager of Mediacom
Merdll Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
Mr. Ellis called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Pratt, the agenda was approved
as distributed.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the December 10, 2003 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Pratt, the Minutes of the
December 10, 2003 meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
Thero was no one present to address the Commission.
4. Rata Increase.
Ms. McMullen reported that the subscription rate for family cable would increase
effective February 1 by $3.55, due entirely to programming cost increases. The
new standard rate, before taxes, will be $45.50 per month. The new senior citizen
rate will be $40.95 per month. There will also be cost adjustments in some other
products including Internet service.
Ms. McMullen also told Commissioners that the Univision programming service,
emphasizing Hispanic language programming will be added to Channel 72
effective February 1.
5. System Upgrade.
Ms. McMullen reported that the distribution system upgrade in Dubuque is
completed and that a Showtime high definition television signal is being beta-tested
in employees' homes. A programming error has been detected in the Motorola set
top boxes used in the test. These boxes must be returned to the factory for
programming. Following testing, a package of several high definition cable
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channels plus local broadcasting high definition off-air signals will be introduced in
Dubuque. These will also include 5.1 surround sound for home theater equipment.
Video-On-Demand beta-testing will begin next month with the expectation of rolling
that service out to the public before the end of the second quarter.
Voice Over IP telephony will hopefully be introduced before the end of the year.
The existing cable modem service will double in speed effective February 1 for
existing customers and a new intermediate speed broadband service targeting the
telephone company's DSL product will be introduced for a monthly price around
$25.
The cable company will also begin introducing vadous changing packages of
programming and contracts designed to compete directly with offers of the direct
broadcast satellite companies.
Status of Telecom Projects in Dubuque.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners he had nothing new to report in this area.
Franchise Renewal.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that the long-awaited technical design detail from
Mediacom regarding the Institutional Network was disappointing in its lack of detail
and did not enable the City's consultants to determine whether the cable
company's offer could be negotiated to address the CK~j's future cable-related
needs. He reported on a meeting with Ms. McMullen and new regional Vice-
president Scott Westerman, whereby Mr. Westerman promised to get personally
involved and return in about a month with "granular" I-Net design information. In
the meantime, the City's attorneys and consultants will be arriving to bdef City
officials in small group sessions on Monday, January 26, regarding the status of
negotiations and other options the City should consider at this time. Mr. Crawford
told the Commission that frustration is growing with the length of time and lack of
clear reportable progress in franchise renewal negotiations.
Mediacom General Manager's Report.
Ms. McMu~len had nothing additional to report.
Cable Franchise Administrators Report,
Mr. Crawl:ord informed Commissioners that he had learned that Ms. McMullen had
reached her 35th anniversary es an employee in the local cable company (lES).
Commissioners congratulated Ms. McMullen on her tenure and experience to the
many changes of employers and other many changes in the industry.
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Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that the date of April 13, 2004 had been set for
this year's City Expo event at the Five Flags Center, and that he was requesting
their assistance in developing or locating easily understood, practical consumer
materials regarding high definition television, video-on-demand, voice-over IP, and
similar confusing issues that local consumers are or will soon be facing with the
new entertainment technologies.
10. Future Agenda Items.
No additional items were suggested.
11. Adjoumment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Webster, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:18 p.m.
MC/cj
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