Minutes Cable TV RegulatoryMINUTES OF CABLE TV REGULATORY COMMISSION MEETING
September 12, 2007
CITY HALL ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM #2
MEMBERS PRESENT: Charles Ellis, Chairman, Walt Webster, Ron Tigges, Kevin
Stevens.
MEMBERS ABSENT: One seat remains vacant on the Commission.
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig Nowack, City of Dubuque Cable TV Coordinator
Kathy McMullen, Mediacom
Mr. Ellis called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.
1. Acceptance of the Agenda.
Upon a motion by Mr. Stevens, seconded by Mr. Webster, the agenda was
approved unanimously as distributed.
2. Approval of the Minutes of the July 11, 2007, Meeting.
Upon a motion by Mr. Stevens, seconded by Mr. Webster, the Minutes of the July
11, 2007, meeting were approved unanimously as distributed.
3. Public Comment.
No one was present to address the Commission.
4. Status of Telecom Projects in Dubuque.
No one had anything to discuss on this topic.
5. Franchise.
Mr. Nowack had nothing new to report on the cable television franchise agreement.
6. Legislation
Although it is not legislation per se, Mr. Nowack reported that in the last day or two
the FCC issued some rules regarding the upcoming digital television transition in
which it will require cable operators to continue providing an analog signal until
2012 so analog television sets will continue to work for three years beyond the
2009 transition date. Mr. Tigges noted that this will save people money, in that
they will not need to purchase a converter right away.
Mr. Ellis wondered if the FCC was still considering rules regarding making a la
carte channel selection. Mr. Nowack responded that a la carte would be helpful in
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cases like the Big Ten Network, but that a tremendous number of contracts
involving channel availability would have to be undone to make that a reality.
7. Mediacom General Manager's Report
Ms. McMullen addressed the a la carte situation briefly. She said Mediacom is
trying to achieve that now with the Big Ten Network by making it available on a
separate sports package. She would hate to charge everyone for this channel
when the majority of them do not want it. She reported that Mediacom conducted
a survey to determine subscriber interest in the Big Ten Network. Some said no
right away, and others asked how much it would cost. Ultimately, about two per
cent of the people said they wanted it. Corporate determined the best way to offer
this channel was to put it on the digital tier or offer it a la carte. The trouble with
this approach was that the Big Ten Network would not allow it. This brought up a
dilemma: Does Mediacom offer it on their basic service and anger most of their
customers, or do they not offer it at all and anger just a few. They chose the latter.
Negotiations have not stopped and she hopes ultimately that they will be able to
carry it on their digital tier.
The reality of a la carte programming is that the majority of cable networks will go
away because their financing will disappear.
Mr. Nowack wondered if small specialty networks like the Big Ten Network are the
wave of the future and how will they be made available? Mr. Ellis reported a
general dissatisfaction with organized sports in general of which the Big Ten
Network situation is reflective. Ms. McMullen thinks the way of the future for sports
on television is that none of it will be free.
Ms. McMullen also reported that Mediacom's digital transition will occur sometime
next year, and they will run a digital signal side-by-side with an analog signal. She
also said that two new HD channels will be added to Dubuque's line-up, probably in
the next month or two. Also, the RFD Channel is now available on channel 211.
Mr. Tigges wondered about outages as Mediacom makes its digital transition. Ms.
McMullen said that this occurred in Des Moines this year and it was not without
events. She hopes they have learned from this transition to make Dubuque's go
smoother.
8. Staff Report
Mr. Nowack reported an intensive effort at the Federal Building to get things ready
for Monday's City Council meeting and the upcoming Iowa League of Cities
conference. He would like to have a future meeting there to show the commission
the room and facilities. Ms. McMullen asked if City Hall offices were moving down
there as well and Mr. Nowack responded that only the Housing and Community
Development Department is going, to the third floor where the Social Security
offices were. The Cable TV Division has a nice control room there, and he hopes it
can double as a small interview studio once drapes are purchased.
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Mr. Nowack also said that he received a phone call from Ms. McMullen on Friday
regarding a problem with Mediacom's accounting system which affects the
franchise fee and PEG fund payments due the City. Two previous quarterly
adjustments that were made were based on estimates of gross revenues rather
than actual gross revenues. Mediacom owes more on the PEG fund but has
overpaid on the franchise fee.
Mr. Stevens wondered if the City had been approached by other companies
wanting to offer video service in Dubuque. Mr. Nowack said no inquiries have
been received. Mr. Webster reported that Alpine is putting a lot of conduit in the
ground up in Guttenburg.
9. Future Agenda Items/Comments 8~ Concerns
There was no discussion.
10. Adjournment.
Upon a motion by Mr. Webster, seconded by Mr. Tigges, the meeting was
adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
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