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Cable Access Oversight Committee minutes Nov. 17, 2009 (as approved Dec. 8, 2009)
The Cable Access Oversight Committee (AOC) met at 4:45 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 17,
2009, in the PEGASYS studio.
Present: AOC members Wayles Browne, Mike Brutvan, Rich DePaolo, Wies van
Leuken; studio manager Lauren Stefanelli.
0. Notes by W. Browne as AOC secretary.
1. W. van Leuken called the meeting to order.
2. The minutes of the Oct. 13, 2009 meeting were approved with minor changes.
3. Comments from members of the public: none.
4. Member reports:
a. W. Browne received a "Survey regarding Various Boards and Committees of the City
of Ithaca" from City Council member Maria Coles, which sought feedback on each
body's suggestions and its "involvement in the functioning of the City of Ithaca." He
drafted replies in consultation with the other members [and submitted them to the City
Clerk, as requested, the next day].
b. W. van Leuken has received a further updated Quarterly Franchise Fee Report from the
Village of Cayuga Heights. R. DePaolo will seek information from the Town of Ithaca;
for the City of Ithaca, we still need updates.
5. Studio Manager's report: presented in writing. (See Appendix.)
Discussion:
a. Response to resolutions AOC passed Sept. 8 asking for an internet connection in the
studio for producers to use with appropriate safeguards, and two we passed at the August
4 meeting [(1) Recommendation to Time Warner Cable to Draft Contingency Plans for
PEGASYS Facility Closures, (2) Resolution Requesting Replacement and Scheduling of
Hours Lost Due to PEGASYS Closure].
Time Warner Cable manager Thomas Doheny had before the previous meeting told AOC
that responses would come via studio manager L. Stefanelli, but Stefanelli presently has
no response to pass on to AOC.
Can AOC justifiably call for changes in studio - opening hours? Let's try surveying
producers.
We still need a response to the resolution about establishing an alternate location in cases
of studio closure. R. DePaolo will ask T. Doheny again, with cc. to the municipalities.
b. Re maintenance and repair: 2 new timebase correctors are still to be installed.
The AOC asked Stefanelli to report back on accomplishments and on unfilled needs.
c. Updated Subscriber Fee Report (10.15 Subscriber Fee "): Stefanelli will get one for the
Dec. meeting.
d. Updated Income and Expense Statement of Usage Fees: Stefanelli will do it in 6-
month intervals (July, January). But next month AOC would like information on
payments to Mike Cederstrom for the time he replaced Stefanelli.
2
e. Report on uses of Studio & Portable Equipment: we'd like an annual report on hours of
usage. Stefanelli: a Jan. -to -Dec. report can be ready by the February meeting.
f. Number of producers with regular and occasional programs?
6. Old Business.
a. Revising the Cablecast Rules and the Producer's Handbook. Stefanelli will tell us
which sections from the old texts of these are proposed for replacement; we'll comment at
the Dec. meeting.
b. Date for R. DePaolo's workshop on audio recording: Jan. 12, 6 pm at the studio.
c. Communication with producers: Stefanelli uses e -mail more and more as the best way
to get producers' attention. Most but not all producers have e -mail. M. Brutvan will look
into using Survey Monkey for a survey of producers.
Stefanelli hopes to hold screenings at the studio, which will be a good way to bring
producers together. She has spoken to M. Brutvan and M. Cederstrom about 'curating' a
movie night.
7. New business: for next meeting.
8. Next meeting: Tuesday Dec. 8, 4:30. Place: PEGASYS studio.
9. Meeting adjourned 6:00.
Contact information for AOC members:
Jennifer Dotson, Common Council liaison <jdotsonkcityofithaca.org>
Wayles Browne, secretary <ewb2@cornell.edu>
Rich DePaolo <rd @richdepaolo.com>
Wies van Leuken <pmv4(kcornell.edu> and <WIESVL(cr,cityofithaca.org>
Michael Brutvan <noidea @lightlink.com >, <mbrutvan @mac.com>
Web site for the PEGASYS studio, with program schedules: http: / /www.pegasysaccesLgig/
studio location: 612 West Green Street, Ithaca, New York
mailing address: 519 West State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
phone (607) 272 -7272
fax (607) 277 -5404
PEGASYS staff:
Lauren Stefanelli lauren.stefanelli&twcable.com
Appendix: Access Coordinator Report
AOC November 17, 2009 Report
New Equipment
The video technician who will be doing the installation of the mini studio project visited
our facility this week and spent some time planning our install with me. He hopes to
schedule the mini studio install within the next couple weeks, and believes it should be a
1 -day install for his team. After installation and testing, I hope to open this facility up for
regular use in January.
Equipment Repair
- Camcorder #50 out for repair due to recording problems. They replaced the video heads
and returned the unit to service.
- 2 camcorder AC adapters were broken, due to excessive strain by users on the DC
cords. Both have been repaired.
- One tripod was repaired by incorporating parts from broken tripods. That gives us an
extra tripod beyond the number of cameras.
- One Telex headset was sent for repair and has been fixed and returned.
Legacy Equipment
2 producers [also AOC members] requested that we create a different dubbing capability
from the legacy U -Matic VCRs from the one that is set up now [U -Matic to DVD]. As
soon as they agree on what sort of dub chain they prefer, I will reconfigure a system for
them.
Institutions
The County informed us that they will no longer be able to do cablecasting playback for
City meetings, as they have for almost 10 years. Effective immediately, we will be doing
this from PEGASYS.
We are working with the City to plan an upgrade of their equipment.
Substitute Staff
Mike Cederstrom did a great job staffing PEGASYS in October, using funding from the
user fund. We received a number of producer compliments about his work and he seemed
to really enjoy the job.
Replacement Hours
The Friday replacement hours have been fairly popular so far. There are still 3 extra
Fridays available this fall.
Training
Classes continue to be fully enrolled. This month, we will be helping the CU Law School
with student presentations on consumer fraud, as part of our studio class exercise.
Lauren Stefanelli
Access Coordinator, P.E.G.A.S.Y.S. TV Center