HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CABLE-2006-01-17Cable Access Oversight Committee Minutes
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 4:30 -6pm P.1
AOC Members Present: Wayles Browne, Wies van Leuken, Will Burbank [ch], Shane Seger,
Lauren Stefanelli [ex officio]. Public: none
1. Approve December 20,
Several changes suggested by Wies
seconded by Shane. Passed [4 — 0].
2. Public Comment
None.
2005 minutes
Approve minutes with corrections: moved by Wayles,
3. Vote for 2006 Officers
MOVED by Wies, seconded by Wayles. Votes for officers shall be by consensus. Carried 4 — 0.
By consensus, the following officers were appointed: Will Burbank, chair; Shane Seger, vice - chair;
Wayles Browne, secretary.
4. Capital Timetable
Lauren reported that TWC had instructed her that PEGASYS current capital timeline, in which a
plan is made and spending done in the same calendar year, is not in compliance with the franchise
capital timetable. She was asked by TWC to use this year to move the process into compliance.
Accordingly, Lauren will provide a capital plan for 2006 and 2007 at the April 2006 meeting. All
funds for 2006 must be approved [or not] at that time and spent by the end of June 2006. Funds for
2007 must be approved by June 30 2006 for spending in early 2007.
In planning capital spending, there remain differences of opinion between Time Warner [TWC] and
the AOC about whether building improvements /renovation are appropriate uses of access capital
funds. TWC has suggested it may remove the ripped carpet at PEGASYS as a hazard because the
AOC refuses to allow access capital funds to be used to replace it.
5. Access Manager Report
Lauren was asked how the new hours and fees are affecting producers.
The new season is up and running. All existing producers are continuing, and classes are fully
enrolled. The fees do not seem to be burdensome to anyone. Since PEGASYS hours were
reduced from 30 to 20 hours per week, there is now greater demand than available supply for
studio time. Therefore, studio allocations have been reduced [2 hours per producer per week
instead of 3] this season. Even so, not all those wanting studio time can be accommodated without
a wait of several weeks.
Lauren also described her work organizing the upcoming PEGASYS Awards, a juried video
competition for public and educational access producers. She distributed a flyer about the awards
ceremony on February 17 and invited AOC members to attend.
6. Member Issues
Shane brought up a concern about how the AOC could respond to inaccuracies in an Ithaca Journal
article and a negative editorial comment in an Ithaca Times article on PEG access user fees.
7. Reports and Actions Requested
Wies is still waiting for an approved copy of the Ithaca Franchise from the Public Service
Commission.
Wies is trying to get copies of TWC's quarterly financial reports to the City. Will was seeking these
reports from the Town. So far, information is incomplete.
Lauren was asked to produce a 5 to 8- minute video for showing at town and village boards to
supplement a presentation on PEG access.
8. Next AOC meeting
Tuesday, February 28, 4:30pm at PEGASYS
Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm.
Respectfully submitted, Wayles Browne, AOC secretary