HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CABLECOMM-1989-01-10 •
CITY OF ITHACA CABLE COMMISSION I SCAN N ED
Minutes of Commission Meeting January 10, 1989
Present: William Demo, Richard Herskowitz, Tom Terrizzi
Ben Nichols representing City Council
Call to Order: 7:42 pm
(1) Ben Nichols announced that William Demo was acting Chairman.
(2) The Commission announced that they would select members of
the Access Advisory Board at its February meeting. Appropriate
announcements and notices would be posted.
(3) Ben Nichols reported that he was submitting new enabling
legislation for the Cable Commission to the City Charter and Ordinance
Committee in light of the lack of reference to the Commission in the City
Cable Ordinance.
(4) The Commission reconsidered its resolution from the December
meeting to find ACC in violation of the franchise agreement because of the
shutdown of the access facility. They asked for a report on the status of
the studio.
Mike Withiam for ACC reported that the new space would be ready
for occupancy by Jan. 23, 1989. ACC will go in that week to set up. A
partial studio will be set up by the end of the month. The editing suite is
now functional.
Ben Nichols asked when More Than The News could produce a show
from .the new partial studio. Mr. Withiam responded the first week in
February.
Mr. Withiam stated that the building would be completed in mid to
late March. The studio equipment would be installed and functioning six
weeks later. He will give the Commission an update at each monthly
meeting.
The Commission deferred consideration of the violation question
until its February meeting.
(5) The Commission discussed concerns raised by William McCormick
about the money set aside for purchase of new equipment but took no
action.
(6) The Commission, acting on a complaint it received, asked Mr.
Witiam for the reason why a classical music station from Chicago was
dropped. He explained that there was a 25 fold increase in rates for that
station. Since there were other classical music stations avaiable to cable
subscribers ACC decided to drop the Chicago station.
V
• (7) Alderperson Sean Killean urged the Commission to take a broad
approach and handle other than just television complaints. He suggested
the convening of a county wide cable meeting to coordinate the activities
of the various cable franchise holders.
(8) ACC Report: Mr. Withiam reported that there would be no
difficulty in meeting the June 1st deadline for the system rebuild. New
service would be phased in starting Feb.1 st. The other renovation work is
on schedule; Feb.1 st, the middle of the building will be done with the
whole project completed by March 31 .
Mr. Withiam urged the Commission to encourage the I-net site users
to deveop a plan for its use.
WBNG, Binghamton received a license to put a transmitter tower in
Ithaca and is negotiating with ACC to put it on top of their building. ACC
has had conversations with other interested channels. Mr. Withiam noted
that rates in the City of Ithaca would be de-regulated if three stations
can be received here without a cable connection.
(9) Public Comment: Brian Gollands, an access producer, suggested
that the public be permitted to comment after the ACC report to the
Commission. The Commission adopted that format for future meetings.
Sean Killean suggested that the Commission sponser a forum on I-net use
along with Cornell and the City.
The meeting was adjorned at 9:45 pm.
85-092 '
STATE OF NEW YORK
COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION
In the Matter of
Delegation of Authority to investigate , ) DOCKET NO.. 90182-B
hear and resolve subscriber complaints )
regarding lost , stolen or damaged )
converters )
ORDER DELEGATING AUTHORITY
(Adopted: March 13 , 1985 ; Released : April 26 , 1985)
This order shall constitute notice of the delegation of
authority by the Commission to its Executive Director and to j
such Commission employees as the Executive Director may , from I
time to time , designate in writing. The authority delegated shall
include the authority to investigate , hear and resolve any disputes
between a cable television subscriber and a cable television company
concerning lost , stolen or damaged converters provided that the
amount in controversy does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) .
The authority hereby delegated shall be exercised in accordance
with the provisions of section 590. 5 (c) (l) of the Commission' s Rules .
The monetary limit on authority now delegated by said section is
hereby suspended to the extent necessary to permit resolution of
complaints concerning converters if the value in dispute does not
exceed five hundred dollars ($500) .
. THE COMMISSION ORDERS :
Pursuant to section 816 of the Executive Law, sections 593 . 1 and
590 . 22 of the Commission' s Rules , the Commission hereby delegates
to its Executive Director and to such Commission employees as the
Executive Director may , from time to time , designate in writing,
the authority to investigate , hear and resolve disputes concerning
lost , stolen :or damaged converters where the amount in controversy
does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500 . 00) .
1
Commissioners Participating: William B. Finneran, Chairman ;
John A. Gussow, Brian A . Luddv , Theodore E . Mulford,
Barbara T. Rochman , Commissioners .
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31 CA 1-
American Community Cablevision
519 W. State Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
To Whom It May concern:
I am writing to voice my concern over A.C.C. 's decision not to exercise
greater discretion in their public access programming. I find the decision
to continue to air interviews produced by Michael Hoffman, extremely offensive
and insensitive.
By sending a copy of this letter to the City Television Cable Commission,
I am registering my disapproval of your performance on this matter, and urging
them to re-consider the portion of their contract with you which governs your
public access programming.
In consideration of my concerns, and those of others in the community, I
hope you will re-think this serious matter.
Sincerely,
CC: Ithaca City Television Cable Commission
City Hall
108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, New York 14850
r - 1 1581 Slaterville Road
•- • Ithaca, NY 14850
April 18, 1985
Ms. Georgia Griffith
American Community Cablevision
519 West State Street RECENEY APR 2 198
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Griffith:
On or about April 10, I received an unsigned and undated mailing from
American Community Cablevision (hereafter ACC) announcing a so-called
"Community Contact Program" as a new, "FREE community service for
everyone." Please be on notice that I reject this "service."
Perhaps it was the incredibly arrogant tone of the letter, asserting a
right to enter everyone's home, whether they are a subscriber or not, that
really rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the reference to the brown
uniforms on this anniversary of the Nazi brown shirts entering and raping
at their pleasure, and my joy at living in a free country in which there are
legal protections against such things. Certainly there is a residual anger
at my having to spend three working days (27 hours total) waiting for your
technician to install my cable -- a loss at the rates I charge for my time
of roughly $750-$1 000 to me without even an apology on your part.
But my reasons are immaterial. I- - • - - , I • •
/14 t+llIE ' II • • ,• !• 1 " • • '" *if
expressly forbid you and your agents uninvited entrance to my property in
general and my home in specific. You are, to put it mildly, not welcome.
As I see it, there are three groups of persons who can legally enter an
American household: those specifically invited, firemen (in a case of a
threat to life), and those with a legal court order overriding the default
constitutional protections this country provides. American Community
Cablevision falls into none of those categories for me.
I look forward to a dated and signed response from you indicating
receipt of this letter and either your agreement, or some further
explanation of your position in this matter.
Yours truly,
R4
R. Wade Schuette
cc: R. Fletcher, Cable Commission