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MINUTES Access Oversight Committee (AOC) (as approved Dec. 7, 2021) Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 5 PM
The AOC held its meeting by ZOOM conferencing. Present: chair Rich DePaolo, secretary Wayles Browne, vice chair Wies van Leuken; Access Studio Coordinator Lauren Stefanelli; member of the public Patrick Pinney; excused, Common Council liaison Rob Gearhart.
01. Call to Order 5:06 by DePaolo. 02. Agenda Additions and/or Deletions: none.
03. Public Comments. Pinney: update. With Jim Blizzard, we created a feed to
YouTube of the PEG video signal, but YouTube accused us of copyright violation and issued a "strike." Three strikes and you're out. Blizzard thought YouTube might have detected a copyrighted song. We're trying other platforms, such as Twitch, which might not be so sensitive to copyright. Blizzard had previously created the channel primarily
for Channel 15. Stefanelli: Is Twitch free? Pinney: Yes, I think so; we're looking into it.
04. Comments by AOC members. Van Leuken and DePaolo both thank Pinney and Blizzard for their efforts.
05. Approval of Minutes of the September 7, 2021 Meeting. Moved by DePaolo,
seconded by van Leuken. Approved without change 3-0-0.
06. Access Studio Coordinator Report: submitted by e-mail by Mike Montesano. DePaolo asks about the bullet point “PEG Rules and Guidelines: no changes from last
month”. Since AOC sets rules for the studio and Charter makes suggestions that AOC reviews, why is this a bullet point in the report? Stefanelli: The template was set up by Charter. DePaolo finds the report cursory, only marginally informative. Previous such reports from Stefanelli were more informative. Van Leuken agrees that those reports informed
the AOC on what was happening in the studio and notes that the Studio Coordinator is not copied to the report. The report says "No meetings submitted by the City for cablecast in October." Stefanelli clarifies: The City has returned to meeting via Zoom, per Governor Hochul's order; the City has not yet uploaded files from the Zoom meetings, so I cannot cablecast them.
The AOC will ask Gerhardt to discuss this with the City Clerk.
07. Member Reports a. Usage Fees - annual review of collection and use of fees. There's a running tally of the fund’s balance in the monthly Coordinator’s Reports. The AOC resolved not to make
changes in fee structure and usage. b. Staffing Levels and Business Hours - annual review. DePaolo: we're 16 hours open to the public per week. Do these hours work for producers? Stefanelli: We are open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the evening and Wednesday in the afternoon and these hours seem to be working. (Wed. evening is saved for telecasting City
meetings, which is separately funded). The AOC notes that payroll data for staffing is
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not provided by Charter and that the participating municipalities provide more than $30,000 for PEG staff every year.
c. AOC Vacancy. Is the vacancy published on the City Website? At least one
producer reportedly has applied. AOC asks Gearhart to work with the City to put the vacancy in a prominent spot on the website and to quickly fill the vacancy. The City’s website still lists former member Gossa Tsegaye as a member, and still mentions "Time Warner Cable."
d. Communications with City Attorney’s office. DePaolo has written the City
Attorney again. We understand that his office has hired additional staff. e. Equipment purchases. Is equipment needed now? Stefanelli: All is running well. Jim Blizzard’s equipment purchase has been completed. DePaolo: cost sharing issues must be resolved first before equipment with dual uses can be purchased.
f. Annual review of PEGASYS' Access Rules – resolution.
DePaolo screenshares a proposed resolution to amend Sections V-1 and V-2 of the PEGASYS Policies and Procedures Manual. Van Leuken: the added language formalizes existent practices. DePaolo asks: is MPEG-2 the only format that could be uploaded? Stefanelli: No, but it's the only one that our Nexus can cablecast. The newer
Nexus (being discussed for purchase) can accept many formats and convert them
automatically. Charter does not allow downloads from other systems. DePaolo: we're articulating and codifying our wishes concerning that and will reconcile differences down the road.
DePaolo moves and Browne seconds a resolution to amend Sections V-1 and V-2 of
the PEGASYS Policies and Procedures Manual WHEREAS, the current Policies and Procedures Manual (“Manual") for the PEGASYS Community Media Center (“PEGASYS”) was approved by the Access Oversight Committee
(“AOC”) on January 5, 2021 and amended on May 4, 2021 and September 7; and WHEREAS, the AOC wishes to amend certain sections of the Manual; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the AOC approves amending sections V-1 and V-2 of the Manual, as described further in the attached documents; and be it further RESOLVED, that this amended Manual will from now on be referred to as the PEGASYS’ Policies and Procedures Manual of November 2, 2021.
Attachments V.1 Cablecast Requests d. Series programs are multiple programs with the same title. A Series may be live or pre-
recorded, locally produced or syndicated and may be scheduled weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Series are scheduled for a 12-month Calendar Year. Requests for new Series made during that period will be scheduled for its remainder. Series may be renewed, although the same timeslots cannot be guaranteed from one year to another. Renewal applications are mailed during December. Series applications include the option to reserve
equipment and production time for the same period. As series reservations are made in advance of receiving, or production, of episodes, it is important that media are delivered by
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the deadlines of Section V.2 -b. If this proves not possible, programs will be scheduled upon media delivery only.
V.2 Program Submission Rules a. Media Formats accepted: A variety of media formats are accepted, including DVD and MPEG-2. DVDs and MPG-2 files must be tested for compatibility. Links to dedicated media websites and YouTube are accepted for file conversion after prior consultation with Staff.
Producers working with Zoom recordings should check with staff on how to record on Zoom
for TV cablecast. Media in MPEG-2 format can be uploaded through Charter’s PEG file upload system (“the PEG Server”) using the Ithaca PEG File Uploading Instructions found at Appendix VIII and as further instructed by Staff. Media not uploaded must be delivered or mailed to PEGASYS.
b. Media Delivery and Deadlines: Media must be delivered in person, by mail or through Charter’s PEG file upload system by these deadlines: 1. MPEG-2 files must be on the PEG Server by 7 PM on the PEGASYS business day prior to the day of scheduled cablecast, unless other arrangements have been made with
staff.
2. Media not uploaded on the PEG Server must be delivered to PEGASYS during its business hours by 7 PM 2 PEGASYS business days prior to the day of scheduled cablecast, unless other arrangements have been made with staff. 3. When PEGASYS is closed for holidays or vacation, media must be delivered at
least 2 weeks in advance to allow for media conversion and programming.
c. The Producer’s name must be identified in a credit at the end of each locally produced program. Producers using PEGASYS equipment are strongly encouraged to tag their program with an acknowledgement such as: “Produced for (or “at” or “with equipment
from”) the PEGASYS Community Media Center, Ithaca, NY.” d. Media submitted to PEGASYS must be labeled with the name and contact information listed on the Producer Responsibility Contract and Cablecast Agreement, the name of program, episode number for Series, and exact running time.
Approved 3-0-0. g. PEGASYS’ operations and Covid-19 Guidelines – resolution. Last October 19, all PEGASYS producers received an Email that “For all requests,
please contact the PEG coordinator at: PEG.NY@charter.com”. This new address has also been posted on the PEGASYS website. It is a general address to be used by all PEG studios in New York State working under Charter. Van Leuken proposes to address this in a resolution. DePaolo: I don't know if we have authority to tell Charter which e-mail addresses to use; we have control over production, not over e-mail
communications. Van Leuken: the Franchise Agreement is silent on the use of Email, but with this new Email rule, producers have to send their communications to an unknown entity and the coordinator has to sift through an untold number of messages to find the ones meant for PEGASYS. DePaolo: Let's table this and for the next meeting research the extent of our authority. Van Leuken: would like to have input from an
attorney.
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Van Leuken: Are AOC meetings no longer listed on the website? [Inspection shows they are not listed.] DePaolo: It is a free website. It's not Charter's website. Who at
Charter has access? Stefanelli: Charter determines what goes on it. I'm updating it
only once a month. DePaolo: We need to consider whose brand it is, ours or Charter's. AOC could put up its own independent website, raising our visibility. Let's put this on next month's agenda.
Van Leuken re Covid: I saw Charter staff coming into the building without masks and
without signing in. DePaolo: we must put on the record that employees are seen to contravene rules that are applicable to the public. Van Leuken: proposes that a mask requirement be posted on all 3 doors. I am also concerned that doors have to remain unlocked during hours of operation. I also note that the sign to the left of the entrance
door doesn't indicate the opening hours.
08. Old Business
a. Franchise Agreement negotiations. No reports b. Franchise agreement non-compliance letter. No reports
c. Inclusion of PEG Channels on Spectrum App. No reports
d. I-Net “end equipment” maintenance cost shift. No reports 08 a, b, c, and d are all contingent on communications with the City Attorney. e. Charter’s disclaimer – review of Charter’s report: for next month. f. Bulletin Board, TBA and Archive Programs: for next month.
g. Publicity and Outreach: for next month
09. New Business. Stefanelli: Charter has asked that AOC copy its communications to Lauren Kelley and Mike Montesano as well as to her. DePaolo: I will do so when my communications relate to the departments they represent.
Van Leuken: Stefanelli is an ex-officio non-voting member of AOC (Franchise Agreement Section and City Code §18.2 A) and recorded as such with the City. 10. Next meeting: December 7, 2021.
11. Adjournment 6:31. ================ Authority: City of Ithaca code Chapter 18, "Cable Access Oversight Committee". Adopted by the Common Council
of the City of Ithaca 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-17. Available at https://ecode360.com/8386207. Contact information for AOC members: City of Ithaca: Wayles Browne, secretary <ewb2@cornell.edu>. City of Ithaca: Rob Gearhart, Common Council liaison 2019- <rgearhart@cityofithaca.org>. Town of Ithaca: Rich DePaolo, chair <rd@richdepaolo.com>, <RDePaolo@town.ithaca.ny.us>. Village of Cayuga Heights: Wies van Leuken, vice chair <pmv4@cornell.edu>.
Web site for the PEGASYS Community Media Center studio, with program schedules: https://pegasys.webstarts.com/index.html 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: studio manager Lauren Stefanelli Lauren.Stefanelli@charter.com
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Lauren Stefanelli
COMMUNICATIONS PEG Coordinator
Access Oversight Committee Meeting
Ithaca, NY
Coordinator Report 11/2/2021
Equipment Maintenance/Repair Issues:
No issues this month
Equipment Recommendations:
No new recommendations this month
PEG Rules and Guidelines:
No changes from last month
Cablecast Common Council/Other Meetings Monthly Summary:
No meetings submitted by the City for cablecast in October.
Non-Resident Summary:
Current balance for PEG Usage Fees as of 11/1/2021
2021 Equipment Purchase Report:
519 W. State St. | Ithaca, NY P (607) 272-7272 Lauren.Stefanelli@charter.com
PEGASYS Fees Report
Name Municipality Description Fee/Cost Amount Total
2020 Total $479.00
Ndjombe Titi Newfield Membership Jan - Jun 2021 Fee $20.00 $20.00
Andy Finkle Dryden Membership Jan - Jun 2021 Fee $20.00 $20.00
Andy Finkle Dryden Membership Jul -Dec 2021 Fee $20.00 $20.00
Jim Blizzard N/A Game Capture card Cost -$97.19 ($97.19)
Current Total $441.81
Ithaca 2021 Equipment Purchase Report
Vendor Quantity Item Individual Cost Total
Total 0