Minutes Cable TV Regula 5 12 04
MINUTES OF CABLE TV REGULATORY COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 12, 2004
CITY HALL ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM # 2
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Charles Ellis, Chairman, Ron Tigges, Walt Webster
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Michael Pratt. One seat remains vacant on the Commission.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Kathy McMullen, General Manager, Mediacom
Merrill Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
Mr. Ellis called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.
1.
Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Webster, the agenda was
approved as distributed.
2.
Approval of the Minutes of the March 10, 2004 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Tigges, seconded by Mr. Webster, the Minutes of the March
10,2004 meeting were approved as distributed.
3.
Public Comment.
There was no one present to address the Commission.
4.
Status of Telecom Projects in Dubuque.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners he had no new information to report on this item.
5.
Franchise Renewal.
Mr. Crawford reported on meetings which had taken place between representatives
of the City and Mediacom pertaining to educational access equipment needs, the
Institutional Network, and meetings between attorneys regarding the overall
financial commitment (the "business deal") elements of the franchise renewal. He
also told Commissioners that the franchise fee payment analysis and technical
audit had begun as part of the formal franchise renewal process, and that
indications are that Mediacom is cooperating in providing the requested information
for those tasks.
6.
Mediacom General Manager's Report.
Ms. McMullen told Commissioners that Mediacom was temporarily suspending, in
the Dubuque Franchise, their practice of billing subscribers who wish to terminate
1
7.
8.
9.
MC/cj
service for an additional seven days of that service, while Mediacom attorneys
review the City's concerns. When Mediacom has completed its review, the City will
be notified in writing of their position.
She also told Commissioners that beginning next week a new package of high
definition programming with new HD converter boxes and digital recorders would
be introduced and promoted. She discussed the prices and contents of these
packages with Commissioners.
She also told Commissioners of a new $49.95 promotion package including basic
service, STARZ and Encore, plus 128 megabit service at $49.95 per month for
twelve months.
Cable Franchise Administrator Report.
Mr. Crawford distributed copies of a letter he had sent to Mediacom regarding the
seven-day extra service billing issue discussed earlier by Ms. McMullen and which
had been the topic of citizen complaint at the prior Commission meeting. The letter
notified Mediacom that the City found the billing practice to be in violation of two
sections of the Franchise Ordinance.
Mr. Crawford also distributed an article from Business Week "Why Your Cable Bill
is Soaring", and indices of agenda topics for both cable commissions from 1981 to
the present.
He told Commissioners that the visit of President Bush to Dubuque had gone
smoothly and that the Secret Service had commended local public safety officials
on the quality of their response in preparing for the event.
Ms. McMullen told Commissioners that UHF TV station KFXB was going to stop
broadcasting the Fox Network and that Mediacom was moving to import the signal
of sister station KFXA from Cedar Rapids.
Future Agenda Items.
There were no additional items were suggested for the next meeting agenda..
Adjournment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
2