Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CABLECOMM-1996 APPROVED: Ithaca City Cable Commission February 1, 1996 Meeting Minutes Attachments: Pegasys Report to the ICCC 1/96 Capital Budget Committee 1996 Budget Proposal Wall St. Journal article Blizzard handout - questions Location: City Hall, 2nd Floor conference room Present: Jean Finley(Chair), Richard Entlich, Dick Cogger, Harvey Gitlin, Pauline Layton(GAC, Capital Budget Comm.), Tom Doheny(TWC), Rick Gray(Common Council Liaison), Jim Blizzard(GAC), Phil Smith(TWC), Lauren Stefanelli (TWC) 7:45 p.m. Call to Order Public Comment: none TWC Report: Pegasys report to ICCC of 1/96 submitted. Doheny reported that TWC's lawyers contend that the PEG fees charged to customers are "pass-through" charges and and therefore TWC will not be reducing them 10% as with the other cable fees. Doheny claimed that although TWC is not providing the number of Public Access Studio open hours that they are supposed to and had agreed to,this failure to provide services does not violate the franchise. This relates to the fact that TWC closes the studio during holidays but doesn't make up the hours as they are supposed to. TWC received the Resolution from Common Council yesterday, and they will be responding to it. Doheny reported that on the cable FM frequencies, TWC might get NPR from Oswego through New York Net. They are thinking of moving 4 premium channels off of FM to Music Choice, but this would take up more bandwith(3 for 4). TWC is thinking about dropping one other channel from the FM lineup and is willing to discuss this. Doheny reported that TWC will wire IPAC to the I-net. Phil Smith, the new General Manager of TWC, was introduced. He is formerly of the TWC Rochester -- Division. Agenda Changes: None. Minutes from the Previous Meeting: Minutes are not yet transcribed. • Chair's Report: A letter was received from TWC Advanced Newhouse in Syracuse to formally request the start of franchise renewal negotiations. A packet of producer warnings was received from Stefanelli. The producer warning issue was deferred to the Public Access Task Force. ICCC is still trying to get in touch with the NYSCC. A letter of resignation from the ICCC was received from Paige Anderson. The comment log was reviewed. Three items had been received since December 1995. Stefanelli pointed out that there is no mechanism for the ICCC to gather comments received by the TWC Customer Service desk. Doheny will discuss this matter with Entlich. Jerrold converter box complaints were received. One subscriber was promised that they would be able to tape and watch 2 channels at one time. Another subscriber was told that they would have to call Customer Service in order to not get Standard Tier(which they had not ordered). Doheny will check on these matters and report back to the ICCC. Complaints were received that the new fees for the Jerrold converter boxes were being charged early and subscribers were not receiving their 3 free months. Doheny offered to take the complaints immediately and report back to the ICCC next meeting. Announcements: Inter Municipal CC will meet at 7:00 pm on February 8, 1996, in the County Board Room, in the County Courthouse, to discuss the Jerrold converter boxes and complaints thereof. Cogger reported on a demonstration of telephone videoconferencing which he attended. Public Access Task Force will meet at 8:00 pm on February 15, 1996, in the 3rd floor conference room, City Hall. 2 Entlich reported that the 2nd Annual Tompkins Co. Networking Conf will be held on March 16, 1996. The ICCC has a 10-minute speaking slot and perhaps some panels. Blizzard suggests that the ICCC discuss the I-net. The theme of the conference is "Spreading the Net." Entlich reported that the Ithacanet organization has offered space on their web site for an ICCC web page. Entlich discussed the BYTE magazine article, "How the Internet Will Replace Broadcasting." Government Access Report: Layton reported that the next GAC meeting will be in April 1996. Finely reported that she spoke with Ben Curtis who says to make sure that equipment given to the County be made availble to other municipalities as well. A discussion on the availability of equipment given to the County and the usage of the proposed computer ensued. Educational Access Report: Layton reported that the EAC might meet this month. Interruption for: Access Budget: Discussed was the BOCES satellite dish, old JVC decks, possible tax-exempt status for production equipment. Stefanelli reported that the audio for City Hall productions was bad because the City engineers would not allow TWC to adjust the audio equipment. Layton introduced Greg Bowman's ideas for possible City Hall modifications to be considered for the next budget. Layton reported that the EAC and GAC had okayed the budget. The PAC approved of the budget but had questions about the Governmental Access proposed computer purchase and deferred to the ICCC. The ICCC said the computer would be okay as long as it was accepted with a rider that other municipalities would be allowed to use it and that if it falls into dis-use, that it will revert back to Public Access. Educational Access Report (cont'd): Layton reported that someone had received a letter from Bill Deemo of Ithaca College saying that IC was not interested in renewing their co-subscription to SCOLA and was asking for other co-subscribers and support from TWC. TWC says they are looking at public input on this subject. It was reported that no one had actually seen this letter from Ithaca College. 3 Old Business: Electronic Futures Report: Gray introduced last year's draft report. Public Right-of-way: Finley reported that she is looking for examples of other municipalities'public right-of-way agreements. Social Contract Entlich reported that he received a telephone call from DUIT, a consortium of other municipalities who are appealing the Social Contract before the Court of Appeals. A review of the comments was sent. Entlich and the City Attorney will investigate this. Public Access Task Force: New rules were referred to the Task Force. They challenge the Memorandum of Understanding. It was reported that IPAC was interested in providing space for an off-site studio and had 3 possible sites. A resolution relating to the establishment of an off-site studio to allow non-profit organizations to more easily use Public Access. In response to the discussion about ICCC's concerns regarding non-profit organizations, Doheny announced that any non-profit organization can now call the studio to reserve a time during the morning or afternoon and have a show produced with TWC providing all technical support, camera crew, etc. Doheny admitted that if there were a flip-on-switch studio, more people would use it. Stefanelli will attend the next Public Access Task Force meeting to discuss this issue of non-profit access and off-site studios. New Business: Finley will contact the Mayor to set up a meeting with the ICCC. Next Meeting of ICCC will be on March 7, 1996, 7:30 p.m., City Hall, 2nd floor conference room. 10:29 p.m. Adjourned to Executive Session for franchise renegotiation discussion. End of Minutes 6/06/96 MINUTES ITHACA CITY CABLE COMMISSION MEETING 2nd floor conference room, City Hall Present: Jean Finley (Chair) , Richard Entlich, Harvey Gitlin, Dick Cogger, Jill Brantley, Rick Gray (Common Council liaison) , Phil Smith (TWC) , Pauline Layton, Margie Hodges. Attachments: PEGASYS Report to ICCC 4/26/96-5/30/96, PEGboard newsletter 6/96, 1996 PEGASYS Cablecast statistics, Agenda, Temporary Guidelines for Educational Access Spending. Call to Order: 7:34 pm. Public Comment: Pauline Layton-- noted that 1996 Capital Budget purchases have been delayed and requested that ICCC make a resolution to have TWC carry through with these purchases. Doria Higgins-- noted that a program was cablecast on Channel 57 without any producer information contrary to PEGASYS guidelines and requested that the ICCC stop this practice. Finely will bring this up at the PATF meeting. TWC Report: Smith submitted the PEGASYS Report and Statistics. Smith reported that he had not received the final copies of ICCC resolutions passed at the previous meeting and requested that .these be sent to him. Smith responded to Layton's public comment and will try to get the purchasing of equipment moving again. Finley reported that Lauren Stefanelli is waiting for the ICCC to decide on the Ithaca High School computer purchase issue. It was unanimously decided that the 1996 Capital Budget has already 1 been passed and will not be reconsidered. [text attached] Chair's Report: A TWC/Turner Broadcasting System buyout proposal was received. It was decided that the proposal be given to the City Attorney for examination for a possible franchise transfer. Finley will bring it to the City Attorney for an opinion. The ICCC's comments on PSC cable regulation was sent to the NYSPSC. Software for Finley's e-mail access has been requested from the software company. $1140 was requested from the Law and Governance Committee for the ICCC's budget. $500 of that amount had been granted. Gitlin reported that the City had granted $840 to pay for the Alliance for Community Media conference. The ICCC received a copy of a letter from the City Director of Planning and Development supporting the hiring of a consultant for the refranchising process. The City has approved sending out RFP's to possible consultants. A copy of a letter of complaint from D.J. Goldberg was received objecting to the PEG Access fee and requesting that a discount for disabled persons be provided in compliance with the ADA. Finley will ask the Finger Lakes Independence Group for advice regarding the ADA issues. Educational Access Committee: Finley reported on the last EAC meeting. Old Business: The ICCC voted to send out RFP's to possible refranchising consultants. Brantley-Entlich P. unan. Smith reported that he is having another TWC attorney look 2 at ICCC's resolution regarding expanded use of the I-Net. The ICCC is now waiting for the TWC attorney's findings. Smith reported that TWC's attorneys have told him not to proceed with the I-Net usage expansions. The ICCC voted to contact the PSC to get their opinion on the I-Net matter. Finley-Gitlin P. unan. Cogger and Hodges will write the letter to the PSC. Finley presented a sample of suggested guidelines for EAC spending. Officers were elected. Benjamin Fan was appointed as Recording Secretary. Finley-Brantley P. unan. Jean Finley was elected as Chair of the ICCC, and Richard Entlich was elected as Vice-Chair. Brantley-Gitlin P. unan. Announcements: The next Public Access Task Force meeting is on 6/20/96 at 8:00 pm at City Hall , 3rd floor conference room. Governmental Access Committee: No report. It was reported that the GAC has not been meeting. Inter-Municipal Cable Commission: No report. Gitlin reported that with the ICCC's okay, he would be appointed as Town of Caroline's representative to the IMCC. It was suggested that the ICCC have a joint meeting with the IMCC. Meeting Adjourned: 9:21 pm. The next ICCC meeting will be on 7/11/96 at 7:30 pm at City Hall . This meeting was moved a week forward due to the July 4th holiday. [text attachments] WHEREAS, the Ithaca City Cable Commission passed the final 1996 Capital Budget four months ago at its February 1996 3 meeting, and WHEREAS, it is already halfway through the 1996 budget year, NOW, THEREFORE be it RESOLVED, that the Ithaca City Cable Commission reaffirms that the final 1996 Capital Budget has already been passed and will not be reconsidered. Be it further RESOLVED, that the Ithaca City Cable Commission requests that Time Warner Cable proceed with the purchase of the equipment as listed in the Budget as soon as possible. The Ithaca City Cable Commission will work with the Governmental and Educational Access Committees to help them assess their needs for next year's Capital Budget. 9 ICCC Meeting November 7, 1996 City Hall , 2nd Fl . Conf. Rm. Present: Richard Entlich (Acting Chair) , Harvey Gitlin, Dick Cogger, Lauren Stefanelli (TWC) . Rick Gray (Common Council liaison) . Attachments: PEGASYS Report to ICCC 9/26-11/7 1996. Call to Order: 7:44 pm. An Agenda was drawn. Public Comment: Bill McCormick: Notes that EAC and GAC are committees separate from the ICCC and suggests that the PAC should be independent as well . Suggested that the Cable Commission should not be spending sa..much time handling complaints and that a separate complaint committee should be formed. Business: Finley's e-mail access was discussed. Minutes were approved as amended. TWC Report: The PEGASYS Report to ICCC 9/26-11/7 1996 (attached) was submitted. Stefanelli requested another copy of the previously passed Producer Sanction resolution and Producer Identification resolution. Entlich will send another copy to Phil Smith. Capital Equipment Budget Committee report: McCormick reported that the committee met with the Access Coordinator twice. The Access coordinator will send a special PEGASYS newsletter to 2 dozen groups with questionnaires to ask about what equipment they generally use. At one of the meetings Linda Robinson (ICSD) raised the issue of equitability and separate appropriations for Educational and Governmental Access. She pointed out that the 612 W. Green St. facility is not open during the day when Educational and Governmental people can use it. She reported that the Superintendent said there was a lot of interest now in Educational use and that Educational use needs a staffed facility, not just equipment. Because of this, the ICSD is now considering the idea of not having its own equipment and facility. The committee will be meeting with the Mayor regarding City use of Access equipment. Discussion ensued on how to use the budget and the Access Studio, how to divide these up among all users, and problems with dividing the Capital Budget vs. dividing the pool of equipment. Business: Gitlin reported that in a memo, the GOA committe of the County Board of Representatives recommended: 1) an archive, 2) comminity standards, and 3) a separate Governmental access budget. This memo was distributed to the Tompkins County Intermunicipal Cable Commission. Gitlin will copy and distribute this GOA memo. The Tompkins County Electronic Futures Committee requested that they be able to give input into the model franchise regarding technical issues. Cogger will work with the TCEFC on this. The RFP will be discussed in Executive Session at the end of today's meeting. - RFP - Refranchising process: It was reported that Tays Van Court gave comments on the RFP to Rick Gray who then distributed it to others. The ICCC will meet with the Mayor regarding refranchising, city staff support, and 2 ICCC positions. Entlich will contact Jean Finley regarding the RFP. ========== _-T- - Next ICCC meeting: 12/5/96, 7:30 pm, City Hall 2nd Fl . conf. Meeting Adjourned: 9:58 pm. • ICCC Meeting December 5. 1996 City Hall , 2nd Fl . Conf. Rm. Present: Jean Finley (Chair) , Richard Entlich, Harvey Gitlin, Dick Cogger, Phil Smith (TWC) , Rick Gray (Common Council liaison) , Jim Blizzard (Tompkins County) . Attachments: PEGASYS Report to ICCC 11/7-11/23 1996, TWC Rate Increase pamphlet. Agenda. • Call to Order: 7:50 pm. ca. - --- ---========= ox—_= Public Comment: None. TWC Comments: The PEGASYS Report to ICCC 11/7-11/23 1996 (attached) was submitted. TWC received a letter from the Ithaca Youth Bureau requesting an I-net hookup. TWC informed subscribers about rate and service changes. Rates will increase $.55 in the City and the county for Basic service. TWC will be adding WTBS and WNYS (UPN, Syracuse) and removing WTVH (CBS, Syracuse). The E! channel will be added to the Standard Tier. Chair's Report: TWC is searching for a new playback operator for PEGASYS. Finley spoke with the Youth Bureau. Finley spoke with Steven Shea of the NYPSC regarding the illegality of requiring producer identification. A complaint was received (see Agenda). Finley attended a Common Council meeting regarding the RFP consultant fee not being in the budget. Finley spoke with John Efromson regarding who should receive the RFP replies. Finley will go in front of the Law and Governance Committee on Tuesday. Page 2 Finley will contact County officials to give them a copy of the RFP. Finley will meet with Linda Robinson to discuss ICSD needs in terms of access purchasing and budget. It was reported that Pauline Layton volunteered to work out an alternate budget. Rate and Programming Changes: There was discussion regarding the rate and programming changes. It was found that there was no mention of the senior citizen discount or cable FM radio in the TWC Rate Increase pamphlet. Smith will check into ways of putting this information in later billings. Smith will respond to Cogger's Movie Marquee question. Business: TWC is now including the video tag between programs on Channel 13 on how to find producer information. They are working on this for Channel 57. End of minutes. •