Minutes Cable TV Reg. 6 28 05
MINUTES OF CABLE TV REGULATORY COMMISSION MEETING
JUNE 28, 2005
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, Mediacom
Randy Gehl, City of Dubuque Public Information Officer
Merrill Crawford, Cable Franchise Administrator
Mr. Ellis called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the agenda was
approved as distributed.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the May 11, 2005 Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the Minutes of the May
11, 2005 meeting were approved as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
Mr. Gehl told Commissioners that a slightly reformed job description had been
completed and that advertising would begin over the coming weekend to hire a
new Cable Television Coordinator for the City of Dubuque. The job would not
entail the current telephone and voice mail responsibilities or City Hall Annex
management responsibilities of Mr. Crawford's position, but all other aspects would
be included, with renewed emphasis on television programming and new focus
upon managing the dark fiber Institutional Network.
4. Status of Telecom Projects in Dubuque.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that the City was constructing additional lengths
of its own conduit and fiber to the new Municipal Services Center on Kerper Court
and up 14th Street to near the West 3rd Street hub site. Also, the City is
negotiating with the owners of the monopole communication tower in Murphy Park
to mount two-way radio equipment for remote telemetry and control of sewage lift
stations. The cellular facilities (and therefore leases for the monopole tower in
Murphy Park and for a cellular facility on the West 3rd Street water tower) owned
by Telecorp are being merged or transferred to Cingular, which will affect eventual
changes in the leases.
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5. New Franchise.
Mr. Crawford distributed a list of significant dates and deadlines associated with
the new franchise, and discussed the franchise fee and PEG access capital grant
funds, the efforts of the Cable Community Teleprogramming Commission in
cooperation with the City and Mediacom and Mr. Ellis to prioritize the first list of
PEG access equipment to be purchased under the new franchise, and discussed
the first steps which need to be accomplished as Mediacom builds the new dark
fiber I nstitutional Network.
6. Mediacom General Manager's Report.
Ms. McMullen told Commissioners that Mediacom would be adding security
products to its cable modem service, including anti-virus, anti-spam, and anti-
spyware. She also talked about the preparation of payments to the City of
Dubuque for the franchise fee, the PEG access capital grant fund, and the lease
for the West 3rd Street hub site, as well as Mediacom's plans to launch the second
educational channel, upgrade and begin transmission of full-time Dubuque
Community School's programming, and the possible move of the TV Guide
channel to make room for the educational channel. Limited basic cable service will
become available in Dubuque effective July 1, 2005. There have been many
inquiries, but relatively few actual orders for the product within the last few weeks.
To reflect the franchise agreement that the 10% senior citizen discount will apply to
the family cable service, but not to the limited basic tier only. Voice-over IP
telephone service will not be launched as early as hoped, due to delays on the part
of Sprint.
7. Cable Franchise Administrator Report.
Mr. Crawford told Commissioners that he had notified Mediacom of the City's
position that the disputed annexation of property to the west side of the city is now
in effect and that all benefits and protections of the Dubuque Cable Franchise
apply to cable subscribers in that area. Ms. McMullen told Commissioners of the
challenges Mediacom faces in converting records, bills, etc. for those properties
while the disputed annexation remains subject to appeal.
Mr. Ellis noted that this was Mr. Crawford's last Cable TV Regulatory Commission
meeting due to his pending retirement on June 30, 2005. He commended and
thanked Mr. Crawford for his many years of service and compliments were
exchanged among all parties at the table.
8. Future Agenda Items.
There were no additional items offered for the next agenda, the next regularly
scheduled Commission meeting will be July 13, 2005.
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9. Adjournment.
Upon a motion by both Mr. Tigges and Mr. Webster, seconded by both Mr.
Webster and Mr. Tigges, the meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
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