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City of Ithaca Cable Television Commission City Hall 108 East Green. Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sirs: Pik, ,^ CLlacc_ covamr35rc+� We, the undersigned residents of Titus Towers apartments, hereby state our strong objection to the amount of money being charged for television cable service by American.. Community Cablevision. Residents here are all -low-income elderly or persons with disabilities, and all are on fixed incomes, primarily Social Security. We cannot absorb multiple rate increases per year, even with an adjustment such as the senior citizen discount. In addition, there are 165 apartments in Titus Towers I with only one cable line into the building, and 70 apartments in Titus Towers II with only one line into that building, This setup is less costly to A,C,C, and should be reflected in our rates. We request that your commission review the rates ,that American Community Cablevision is currently chargingand try to have them brought more into line with what their customers can afford to pay. If rates continue to rise as quickly as they have been, many of us will no longer be able to afford to subscribe to cable services. This would be a major loss to us, as television viewing is for many of us our primary source of news and entertainment. It would also be a major loss of revenue for A,C,C, Thank you for your assistance in this matter. NAME ADDRESS (Street, Apt.#,City,State) )&e i ,�4 -4-a---4.— c-- 710_, 29-__ td .6pob zs./24,,„7U-. 7:,- 7- ,q0-2- _ _ E.AL, - ilSS P- - 7 7g. /-6,;-u--- 4 ,--_ - 1-Pel,r4 6 . ate, t�(0 /7 S, p ` '1i #iecliz, Opt, 7--1 7 9 . Elm ?-- g?Sd _J. .2e,,,,,i,. C-7-(4,-fi gi Ae:/' 4 g.c.,,,,ukiaml 'zst ,„1( y NA ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#..City,State) F.63/' -r41( et,a-(9,,o haSJA n2„„e,e. �rY T /7 7)76-ELe2 /7WebvyA.,7L 1g 197 c?o ai Qom, °'.1°4&, -%\vu(-4 ardiv- 73/1,4m-r41-A6/2 — 7e7 666 ( �fi 02o / 3 Ii ..�,e�liSt,,J7 C22q • 644,7;,, - 36 2,AV \ANk )4a0J2N T. Dv, Ys3 - au,/ i i gy.4. 4-t irtobv, - 4/- / / - 77xs ektt- 16?.3 33 35 3� 37 NAME ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#.,City,State) ,i, J,67_ o 7 7T S- Ci A.- ct so- 1,44.E . 2.'\,_p_4,,,L.m..z_e_— 1-444A 79g ,s. eg CL% -- 0,59 Ci -c4---0/".)-- /, ,, , , , , # �i:�5���a. a / ( , t, C( c l /-5? .,c/ ea.,,,,,„ (( � p( a- d S7 4?Amy -' , aliej ( . i ' '7 / -----4e.eh fiaere ,r (r „ 6e/-95- GC/A-7-2.,e-a-Le 12-e-Lta, WOO ;3'. -P -AL -7) ctiv._ 7 I A 0,1z-v\_N(10-vt./-7-- 7 9- s 1.,,-„, Si' 1 7,2! -- ✓c° cr, i?"/3- fr.„--_, ,r, 7v, — S, FLM ►nl 79S s .. 3359 t 3 1166., -79 j /60 >I.; ) f ''' 6t' 7 76 /.1,ik .77 .---X9 ,C)J lon-g-Af\--eL— (31 -it 1 LI g li,V-- zcrt ff/yva*J > Jam, s"L o4' /1, 798 -. egt.4 -rte ,a 5' . �� \ Gln „.1._ ���/" v %` i -1L0'\\/ Wu S Gietx-Y- s ��a►�, �4` „„Wt -- 0,51 „5-0 SY ‘0 6/ '3 67 NAME ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#.,City .State) xac,_ / _ . 1i' /J C lD\„d jaett deof'i 2 - t 06(0--6(._ 1 7 Lc.�—,'•--1 • 3-- II \t 'VJ,'\ 1—KU‘rov\A" e\r. frA c( S,,- V',C)Aex,\A - (, V V -&-e, ?9 P ';6 / ,if' AAti461-) avi '29.Sh9,/aJL-N-111Af3--- &()I-egarn ‹it 971/ 4,d Aa, --//42- 7 g4$ ,--g, i),--es-Yc--, _14a -A 5-6O - fil . 1 , 0 0 .61- ' --7-- -5- tgo-ef , , , /j'y't,...4 77T 21 `-16_ i 75- /9q eot, 5--e, Avc.(t, 36-7 ci4pt City of Ithaca Cable Television Commission City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sirs: We, the undersigned residents of Titus Towers apartments, hereby state our strong objection to the amount of money being charged for television cable service by American Community Cablevision. Residents here are all low-income elderly or persons with disabilities, and all are on fixed incomes, primarily Social Security. We cannot absorb multiple rate increases per year, even with an adjustment such as the senior citizen discount. In addition, there are 165 apartments in Titus Towers I with only one cable line into the building, and 70 apartments in Titus Towers II with only one line into that building. This setup is less costly to A.C.C. and should be reflected in our rates. We request that your commission review the rates that American Community Cablevision is currently charging and try to have them brought more into line with what their customers can afford to pay. If rates continue to rise as quickly as they have been, many of us will no longer be able to afford to subscribe to cable services. This would be a major loss to us, as .television viewing is for many of us our primary source of news and entertainment. It would also be a major loss of revenue for A.C.C. Thank you for -your assistance in this matter. NAME ADDRESS (Street, Apt.#,City,State) kn-del i Pd S, 6cri,v0, c'.7,Lcx_ 5/-7. t7,,..,t, zr-.1-d s, 63,,,,,,,z-__Iy1,0_, 8e6 oS7glifi/ IP , re? li--i' ,/ ,q‘.„//a, ge.dgi/ntA S o d, ti A.44 d aril 9,,? Dad AZI/ %,:,,e_iAili 17it a4Liti,kq d,Ct • NAME fl4 99 ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#.,City,State) .01 ai ,Ifi 4i?�?�-i,r°.;2-:�. arc/ ,{I 1.. e."�r.: J. IF%1 `2 /4-tc& r *r Yr 5 LO 7 yds, 06. KI 3 OP / /&;tj r n ..erQ'J�l�f l iYL Q_ / G U l �/(�j" D" -a --r1 4iu�,.c awn (/¢f p 6 ,f R_L_:, ) St_i_.__QA)_6_-"k d A/ 79r 5,P441,11 s7 4p7, - s_?' 1-- )_.:1„.4‘..i.L.... A_-_,- ?64631.,,,:„,, 4 *ILI, Ag , 4: P 1 /CrAl -61 Oa -sC° Pk �� X 7 .iP- -"- - _Q,!__L.„_.,,,, ),-1-1_7T ' ) 2 . (j --0 2-154 L 444"1_, 1,21,__atlet, 79V s 1' at °t-c-a6,ei (° /Jz(-z /4 60 S;/4.2-- q be' Ge9 574-Pc4)A ‘si%(--:1 a 6 • 0) / ' J-°6 C7L,(1) '-f_ -P-r nu.s Jicur 51 1112-k 16 a (.5' 14%4414, V34t; (-llb A Y'QC.cn1 L 1 t , 4,ucW1(1 )0A -c -kw Oos /ect-L-4.)65 d Se, 0,0.et-L 7-0 ,,/ " . moo© s " 'jC;4(21CZQ / /1, . J N6f'&1t/ 3riVH � S C, (04 -4-e, A, ,_' ' irojztd-- to6_11,,, 60 S, 6,4 / `itw s -1--4r2:6 1 5 16-01A-6•Wt ietA4-- -(50 5-, fa_4_,_k,,,„Si,g fol , - y'--c_E-z< Yu, va::\f tAxgo-tA -- Nt ,g,(, t.,),,c1,,A,A, w)t, ai ,Ifi 4i?�?�-i,r°.;2-:�. arc/ ,{I 1.. e."�r.: J. IF%1 `2 /4-tc& r *r Yr 5 LO 7 yds, 06. KI 3 OP NAME 70 /�7 //( /(5- /77 /( /b A2 ADDRESS (Street,Apt.C,City,State) 10C3 c--POr/VVLI3 4:27---011-FY) ---,./( IS-- n -8 a I v 6 ' 1 1 ) ? 60 - j„,e:‘,,,i ct._ wi, e,(__L_a re --4,s', 7-&4t4 -Mol", Pe/ -1 .e5ro' -5 ' I 6 t AY1 C:cincUi q \ 1 H ffe,01,4 Ciovim., c-67 La' 764,6-7, j$0) ,, liv4W. , ‘ / r z _ ,,...,....._.- 76r , a44,71/Z---11-1- 1 6 7 d 2 frit -,W4__ 77J,Wea:C. aZa F t NAME ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#.,City,State) foo S e7,2 uz / / 38 /9 / /5 /5/ /C3 =r- rif ki..4,,,J1, Lvri„,_ .z.,L (yr _2, 1 , \ (4/-c r 4 '9 l'P i ' 1-.J- a // 11- - bi,s i,-)04.007- oi.5/0Avi'n 57 /3 /K r VA: - Foo 2 ,,f-a/i,,x&L-:16z,7--., c s ._, v 6 U go mCL 6/ -- K'l-e,.< ///ZQ%f '— / 'Od f / /pc . £19-,ea4 )gez,,,,Le-v )/' R" a o / fA.,,,,:1--/: cdioyt ev,,,V-herkivAl0/ ' v,(P/t041 �t,,A \ s o S(//-1 Y STf AePr 3 �. Zit- 4-a_ (MA-L-f1/t-- - pL.90 1. (LA -p. -7J !7 4t r n 7 (c) s 61 aL,t, I ,c,e.-9?4/Lle-e-- 8?P'SiP/ - &CI.. '- ) A. 69LE6.- -214 a d - 701/ ktiLe-e-- 71A -o -u-4--1- o o S, sP, D.; 6 �� % � l�rr,��-e- ,-/ ,_, , `x„, /- 7/ , ., _ _,-, ./�,--,-,-- ...., ____, , , %n/ 1,-, bfo 2_ 7? ) A I /6.7 /57 /6/ /66 NAME ADDRESS (Street,Apt.#.,City,State) CDU S�/c/ 7109 /7`Af1 / l / eo ' ell , ....'ait 4 1 ' A -AAA! ..., (IL__P2 •1'� /da -c -u Aky/ si 1 A '''-'1"-.4.1- ' ' <57 / Ii, c 7 / - 4 4 - .1 __AL. ett.6, 4,14, 1 F ---0e) S i „O \ --A AL1& ! A fr / 2( % 0 4. _ .._1r1. i J / c ,---::.1_) . t /tel 11 JJ�� ‘66wc.-Li 6....2iLlt..a 1 -.✓G/ / Q . ,7 / VGA • .. g as S . P 1 cc; A. A- - S o / l (&/"CLL - 7---/ ra -S3 7 Alef- . ,cto 1 o 519 W. STATE ST. • ITHACA, NY 14850 • (607) 272-7875 • (607) 277-5404 fax December 2, 1994 Mr. Jason Smitkin New York State Commission On Cable Televisi 5 Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12223-1552 0 n CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Re: #94-11-29-102201-SMITKIN Dear Mr. Smitkin: In response to your inquiry in the above referenced case: Time Warner Cable is not in a position to offer any action in this case. Time Warner Cable is required to provide Channel capacity and playback capability for Public, Educational and Government Access programming. Commission Rules (Section 595.4 b) Time Warner Cable is required by our Franchise with the City of, Ithaca to make available for Public use Access channels and a Access facility including Studio. (Ithaca Franchise Agreement Section 14) Time Warner Cable is prohibited from exercising editorial control or censorship over programming carried on Access Channels. Commission Rules (Section 595.4 c 8) NYS EXECUTIVE LAW Article 28 829) Please feel free to contact me should any further assistance be required. rely yours, GtiOW dCG RA OND McCABE AREA MANAGER cc: Myrtle Johns City of Ithaca 13.4 ACC shall provide free cable drops to locations already provided with free drops, and at any City designated locations in any new or renovated public, educational or public service offices or buildings designated by the City at the time of the rebuild up to a maximum of 50. After the rebuild, ACC shall provide additional drops as specified by the City at the time of building construction or renovation of existing or new public, educational or public service offices or buildings designated by 'the City. The City shall provide ACC with reasonable notice of such construction and renovation. The first tier of service, closed circuit channels, institutional, and applicable two-way channels shall be provided free of charge to all of these locations. 13.5 All closed -captioned programming retransmitted by the system shall include the closed -caption signal. 13.6 ACC will make VCRconnectionsavailable to customers and will provide training in the proper use of VCRs in connection with the cable system and equipment. XIV ACCESS CHANNELS AND SERVICES 14.1 In order to develop and promote public, educational and governmental access programming for the system's access channels and institutional services, ACC hereby agrees to provide the following: A. (1) Nine downstream channels shall be designated for public, governmental, and educational access. The access channels shall be available for use by New York State, local governments, educational institutions, or members of the general public for education and public service programming, municipal services and local expression. (2) The public, governmental, and educational access channels shall be available on a first-come, first- served basis at no charge to any individual, association, or organization desiring to utilize them. (3) Any PEG access channels unused by the City three years after the rebuild is complete shall revert to ACC, provided that if community needs subsequently require the use of any such channel, ACC will return said channel to the City six (6) months after receiving written notice if ACC has a use for the channel and immediately if there is no use for the channel. B. Upon the request of the City, ACC shall interconnect the access channels of the Cable Communications System with neighboring cable systems in Tompkins County. •-15- (1) Local Programming Equipment. In instances, as set forth in Appendix [DJ, where the use of local origination equipment is shared with access, this equipment shall be made available to access users free of charge at such times as the facilities are open and where the equipment is not being utilized for local origination productions. All local programming equipment shall ren•ain the property of ACC but shall be made available for access use by the City of Ithaca, local institutions and residents and surrounding ACC System residents. (2) Public, Governmental and Educational Access Equipment. New public, governmental and educational access equipment (PEG) with a purchase value �f $165,000 shall be purchased by ACC for additions to existing access equipment inventory listed in Appendix (E]. ACC shall prepare an equipment purchase list for City approval within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the Franchise. All equipment purchased shall be new and shall be purchased and installed by March 1, 1989. (3) Access Equipment Ownership and Availability. All access equipment shall remain the property of ACC but shall be made available for access use by the City of Ithaca, local institutions and residents and surrounding ACC system residents. On an average annual basis ACC has agreed to provide 2% of Gross City Revenues for capital PEG access equipment replacement and expansion.• Any future access equipment replacement and expansion commitments that are made by ACC to municipalities served by the same headend as the City of Ithaca, will be deducted to a floor of one percent of gross City revenues. All access equipment shall be available to access users on a first priority basis before local origination users. (4) Equipment Maintenance. PEG, municipal access and local origination equipment will be maintained and/or replaced by ACC in a manner consistent with good operating practice. Maintenance of that equipment will be done on site, or at any ACC. facility, or at a manufacturer's repair facility in a reasonable timely manner. D. ACC shall maintain in its local programming studios in the City ofIthaca the equipment specified in (B) above. -16- ACC shall adopt business hours which shall provide for the use of the studio at a minimum of sixty (60) hours a week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., including some evening hours and some hours on Saturdays. ACC shall offer additional weekday or weekend hours as community needs dictate. 14.2 ACC shall establish rules to insure that the studio(s) and portable equipment are available equitably to. the governmental, educational and public sectors. Rules for public access should assure the availability of the studio(s) and portable equipment on a first-come,. first-served basis. Any changes to current access rules shall be established by ACC within three months of the Franchise award, and ACC shall file those rules with the New York State Commission on Cable Television. Any further changes thereafter shall also be filed with the New York State Commission on Cable Television. ,Such rules shall at all times include the following_ provisions. A. Procedures for scheduling the use of television production equipment and for scheduling the cablecasting of programming on the channel(s) designated for the purposes enumerated in paragraph A above; B. Procedures for registering and resolving. complaints regarding channel availability, priorities and usage. 14.3 ADDITIONAL ACCESS REQUIREMENTS. . The following requirements shall also apply to access use: A. Channel time shall be available on a first come, first serve nondiscriminatory basis, except as provided in the rules of the New York State Commission on Cable Television; B. No charges shall be paid for the use of production equipment facilities and personnel; • C. Records shall be maintained of the use of the designated television channels, including the names and addresses of persons and organizations providing programming for such channels; such record shall be available locally for public inspection and retained for a minimum of two years; D. Designated channels shall not be used for the promotion or sale of commercial prolucts or services, including advertising by or on behalf of candidates for public office. • 14.4 ACC shall provide adequate progra.runing and technical staffing for the maintenance and operation 'of the access channels, facilities, studio and equipment, and the provision of -17- access services as required in the franchise and as contained in'`'':- the franchise proposal. ACC shall provide, at a minimum, two', ''. full-time access staff people at the time of the Franchise award, - and an additional full-time access staff person at the completion of the rebuild (no later than March 1, 1989), and a fourth full- time access staff person at the beginning of year five of the Franchise, and a fifth full-time staff person at the beginning of year ten of the Franchise. ACC shall have the right to petition the Cable Commission in 1991 and 1996 to have the requirement to:. employ the fourth and/or fifth access staff person waived, which waiver shall not be granted in any event if community needs support the position. - 14.5 ACC shall provide adequate training for access users free of charge. At a minimum, ACC shall provide monthly access production and editing training classes, provided that community interest of five or more residents in any given month exists. -At no time will a resident be requested to wait over two months for training. The two training classes will each be approximately nine hours in duration. 14.6 ACC, at a minimum, shall provide each subscriber information on •the ' availability of the access .channels, production equipment, training and ACC's address and telephone number on a regular basis. Access programs shall be announced in the cable guide based on reasonable rules for timely submissions. ACC will also advertise programs and access services in newspapers of local circulation. ACC shall conduct facility. tours and maintain a speaker's bureau to provide informational presentations to local organizations and institutions. Additional outreach activities will be conducted as described in ACC's proposal. ACC shall ensure the development and propagation of public, governmental and educational access as a vital community resource. 14.7 ACC will cablecast the monthly Common Council meetings and not less than two (2) of the five (5) Standing Committees. of Council meetings on a rotating monthly basis. 14.8 ACC shall provide access users with the following access damage waiver policy for negligent damage to equipment. Negligent damage shall not include ordinary wear and tear, and mechanical breakdown through causes not the fault of the operator. A. An annual payment of $15 will reduce the volunteer's total liability for equipment damage and repair to $250 for each individual use of the equipment. Such annual payment may be increased by ACC consistent with increases in the Consumer Price Index. -18- B. An annualpayment. of $25 will. reduce the volunteer's total liability for equipment damage and repair to $125 for each individual use. Such annual payment may be increased by ACC consistent with increases in the Consumer Price Index. C. ACC may require access users who do not elect the damage waiver policy to be fully liable for damage to equipment. 14.9 ACC shall support the creation and maintenance of an Access Advisory Board, to consist of nine (9) members: three (3) City residents (two to be appointed by the City, one to be appointed by ACC), two (2). non -City residents (one to be appointed by the City, one to be appointed by ACC), two (2) representatives of institutional access users- (both to be appointed by the. City), and one (1) ACC representative and one (1) City representative. The ACC representative and City representative will be non-voting members. The City Cable Commission shall designate one of the members of the Advisory - Board to serve as. Chair. The Board shall schedule regular meetings as it deems appropriate. Four (4) members shall constitute a quorum. ,The Advisory Board shall report regularly to the City Cable Commission. If at any time the City Cable Comimission determines that the Advisory Board is no longer effective or necessary, the Cable Commission may.dissolve the Board and its duties and responsibilities shall revert to the City Cable Commission. The Adbyg9ry Board shall review and monitor all access policies and procedures but will remain advisory in nature. ACC shall consult with the Advisory Board on the purchase of equipment, the studio hours available for access users, and access rules. ACC shall provide quarterly reports to the Board on the purchase and maintenance of equipment, the schedules of access staff, and the use of studio time. XV INSTITUTIONAL NETWORK 15.1 ACC will construct :and maintain a midsplit 300 megahertz institutional network that will connect- the following buildings: City Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca College, `4, Tompkins County Library, Ithaca High School, Boynton Junior High School, The Alternative School, Ithaca Youth Bureau, GIAC, Police Headquarters, Central Fire and the Bus Gara^e. The I -net shall be capable of being interconnected at the headend to the subscriber network. ACC will provide the City with eight upstream and eight downstream channels, free drops and necessary video converters to all aforementioned locations at no charge for the duration of the Franchise. For purposes of this section, an upstream channel shall be a channel which can transmit from institutional and other locations on the I -n.: to the headend and -19- crenae, env, in case or a continuing violation, every aays continuance thereof shall be a separate and distinct offense. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, any cable television companywhich (a) shall fail to makeand file ils annual report as and when required or within such adended time as the commission may allow, or (b) shall fail to make specific answers to any question within the period specified by the commission for the making andfifing of such answers, or (c) shall fail to submit such special reports as the commission may from time to time require. within the period specified by the commission for the submission thereof, shall forfeit to the state the sum of one hundred dollars for each and every day such company shall continue to be in default with respect to such annual report, answer, or special report. (3) An action to recover forfeiture under subdivisions one ortwo of this section may be brought at any time within one year after the cause of action accrues, in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state, in the name of the people of the state of New York, on the relation of the commission. In any such action all forfeitures incurred up to the time of commencing the same may be sued for and recovered therein, and the commencement of an action to recovera forfeiture shall not be, or be held tb be, a waivetof the right to recoverany other penalty or forfeiture. All monies recovered in any such action, together with the costs thereof, shall be paid into the state treasuryto the credit of the general fund. ' §828. Landlord -tenant relationship (1) No landlord shall a. interfere with the installation of cable television facilities upon his property or premises, except that a landlord may require: i. that the installation of cable television facilities conform to such reasonable conditions as are necessary to protect the safety, functioning and appearance of the premises, and the convenience and well-being of other tenants: ii. that the cable television company or the tenant or a combination thereof bear the entire cost of the installation, operation or removal of such facilities; and iii. that the cable television company agree to indemnify the landlord for any damage caused by the installation, operation or removal of such facilities. b. demand or accept payment from any tenant, in any form, in exchange for permitting cable television service on or within his property or premises, or from any cable television company in exchange therefor in excess of any amount which the commission shall, by regulation, determine to be reasonable; or c. discriminate in rental charges, or otherwise, between tenants who receive cable television service and those who do not. (2) Rental agreements and leases executed prior to the effective date of this article may be .enforced notwithstanding this section. (3) No cable television company may enter into any agreement with the owners, lessees or persons controlling or managing buildings served by a cable television, or do orpermit any act, that would have the effect, directly or indirectly of diminishing or interfering with existing rights of any tenant or other occupant of such building to use or avail himself of master or individual antenna equipment. zrzt. •censorsnrppronibrted (1) The commission may not prohibit orlimitany program or any class or type of program or otherwise censor the communications or signals transmitted by any cable television company or over any cable television system, and may not promulgate any regulation or condition which would interfere with the right of free speech by means of cable television. (2) No municipality may prohibit orlimdany program orclass or type of program or impose discriminatory or preferential franchise fees in any manner that would tend to encourage or discourage programming of any particular nature, directly or indirectly. (3) No cable television company may prohibit or limit any program or class or type of program presented over a leased channel or any channel made available for public access or educational purposes. §829-a. Subscriber limitation on television reception (1) To the extent technologically feasible, every cable television company shall offer to each of its subscribers a locking program control device which enables the subscnberto limit the reception in the subscriber's residence, ofany channel which displays public access programs orforwhich a specific, optional premium charge is imposed. (2) Such program control devices need only be installed in cases where they are requested by the subscriber. Any subscriber requesting such a device may be charged by the cable television company, on a one-time or recurring basis, no more than fifteen percent above the actual cost to the company for the manufacture, purchase and installation of such device. (3) Every cable television company shall notify each of its subscribers, in writing, of the availability of the device described in subdivision one of this section. Such notice shall be printed in prominent type face and shall include information concerning the cost to the subscribers. Such notice may be included with other materials distributed by the company. Notice shall be given to all new subscribers at the time of initial subscription, to • each subscriber who requests a change in service, and to all subscribers annually thereafter. §830. Liability for obscenity, defamation and invasion of privacy Neither the cable television company whose facilities are used to transmit a program produced by a person other than such cable television company pursuant to the provisions of this article or of federal law or of applicable regulations, nor the officers, directors or employees of any such cable television company shall be liable for damages arising from any obscene or defamatory statements or actions or invasion of privacy occurring during any program when such company does not originate or produce such program. §831. Invalid provisions If any provision of this article or the application of such provision to any circumstance is held invalid for any reason whatsoever, the remainder of this article or the application of the provision to other circumstances shall not be affected thereby. (a) No cable television company may bill any subscriber for any service not affirmatively requested by the subscriber. (b) For purposes of this section, a subscriber's affirmative request need not be in writing, but any cable television company relying on an oral affirmative request shall keep accurate records of the date on which, and the employee to whom, the request was made. (c) For purposes of this section, a subscriber shall be deemed to have affirmatively requested a service if (1) the subscriber voluntarily makes payment for such service after an initial free trial period, and (2) there was included, in the notice or advertising material describing the service, a statement clearly advising the subscriber that he has incurred no obligation to pay for such service and that he need not take any action to avoid - incurring any such obligation. Historical Note Sec. filed March 23, 1976. 595.4 Minimum standards for public, educational and governmental (PEG) access. _ (a) Defindions. (1)The term "public access channel" means a channel designated for noncommercial use by the public on a first- come, first-served, nondiscriminatory basis. (2)The term "educational access channel" means a channel designated for use by school districts and not-for-profit educational institutions chartered or licensed by the New York State Department of Education or Board of Regents. (3)The term "govemment access channel "means a channel designated for use by municipal, county and State govemment, or agencies thereof. (4)The term "public, educational, or govemmental (PEG) access facilites" means (i) channel capacity designated for public, educational "or governmentaluse; and (11) facilities and equipment for the use of such channel capacity. (5)The term 'local use means noncommercial use by residents of the State of New York including school districts and not-for-profit educational institutions and municipal, county and State governments, or agencies thereof. (6)The term "access cablecast day" means a day or part thereof during which public, educational orgovemmental access facilities are available for PEG use. (b) Designation of channels. Every cable television franchisee shall designate channel capacity for PEG access as follows: (1)The franchisee of a cable television system with a channel capacity of twenty-one (21) or more channels shall designate (i) at least one full-time activated channel for public access use; (ii) at least one full-time activated channel for educational and govemmental use; and (iii) one additional full- time activated channel for educational/govemmental use whenever the first channel so designated shall have been used for such educational and govemmental programming on the average of at least twelve (12) hours per day during any ninety (90) day period; provided, however, that the calculation of such average shall not include any day when the unavailability of PEG access facilities precludes achieving such programming level. In the event that two channels for educational and governmental use are required by this subdivision, one channel shall be designated the educational access channel and one channel shall be designated the governmental access channel; provided, however, that either channel may be used for either purpose if necessary to satisfy the demand for channel time. (2)The franchisee of a cable television system with a channel capacity less than twenty-one (21) channels shall designate at least one full-time activated channel for public, educational and governmental use. (c) Administration and use. The useofthe channel capacityfor PEG access shall be administered as follows: (1)The public access channel shall be operated and administered by the entity designated by the municipality or, until such designation is made, by the cable television franchisee; provided, however, that the municipality may designate such entity at any time throughout the term of a franchise by a resolution duly adopted by the legislative body thereof.* (2)The educational and govemmental access channel shall be operated and administered by a committee ora commission appointed by local govemment and shall include appropriate representation of local school districts within the service area of the cable television system and may include for purposes of coordination an employee or representative of the cable television franchisee." (3)The entity responsible for administering and operating the public access -channel shall provide notice to the general public ofthe opportunity to use such channel which noticeshall include (1) a character -generated message transmitted at least hourly on such channel between the hours of p.m. and 10p.m. each day and (ii) written notice to subscribers at least annually. Notices shall include the name, address and telephone number of the entity to be contacted for use of the channel. All access programming shall be identified as such. (4)Channel time shall be scheduled on the public access channel by the entity responsible for the administration thereof on a first-come, first-served, nondiscriminatory basis. (5)Local use of educational and governmental access channels shall have preferred status in the event of competing requests for channel time. Priority may be afforded to local govemments within the service area of the system. (6)Channel time for PEG access programming shall be without charge to the user. (7)The designation of PEG access facilities shall include the provision by the cable television franchisee of the technical ability to play back prerecorded programming and to transmit programming information consistent with the designated uses of PEG access channels. (8)The cable television franchisee shall not exercise any editorial controlover any public, educational or govemmental use of channel capacity designated for PEG purposes. (9)A municipality shall not exercise any editorial control over any use by the public of a public access channel. (10) The entity responsible for the administration of a public access channel shall maintain a record of the use of such channel which shall include the names and addresses of all• persons using or requesting the use of any such channel and which record shall be available for public inspection for a minimum of two years. (11) Channels designated for PEG use shall be included in the lowest level of service offered by the cable television franchisee; where a system does not include sufficient unused channel capacity to accommodate a second educationall govemmental access channel resulting from the operation of subdivision (b) of this section, the cable television franchisee may elect one time to defer the obligation to provide such additional channel until additional channel capacity becomes available. (12) A cable television franchisee shall be permitted to use • If a single public access channel is shared by more than one municipality, a single entity shall be jointly designated by the local legislative bodies of each franchising municipality in the system. If agreement cannot be reached on a single entity, the commission shall arbitrate the issue. "Where an educational ora governmental channel is shared bymore than one school district or local govemmentorcombination thereof, administration of such channel(s) on a cooperative basis is encouraged. 101 rrE�w • COMMISf� A• ; LE TELEVISION ABLE TELEVISI( HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR'CABLE.COMPANY? 94 NOV .28 ;} ((: 57. PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS FORM. PLEASE PRINT -SUBSCRIBER _ ...._ . . YOUR NAME 1/4-7-64 rt! S J�'1 /61-1 g - - j/1/l - - LAST NAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE INITIAL YOUR HOME ADDRESS, 2, .f !L.W/c5. St• NO. & STREET c,9 ,e/4 5 - )il .5 -S -c CITY,_TOWN, VILLAGE.(circle_one) -.. _COUNTY - -STATE & ZIP CODE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER (6 67) .A73 -/ ! 8' 3 ( too k_ - .y ad in /j/9,y_c (DAYTIME) • - ACCOUNT NUMBER ('d known) CABLE COMPANY DATE YOU FIRST CONTACTED THE CABLE COMPANY ,Q.rarua2 644.��. NAME OF COMPANY STREET st. -7'`i.1-cam >v CITY * STAT t ZIP NATURE OF COMPLAINT (Please check) BIWNG a 11 '- IfOGRAMMING PROPERTY DAMAGE 14 CABLE INSTALLATION OTHER a,a.4t,,,d) , „ e...ay/fl-� / SERVICE PROBLEM RATE INCREASE Qac-,•c�.� . i What form of relief are you seeking? (For example: new converter box, correction in bill, service, etc.) Have you contacted this Commission before? If so: When Telephone Case number Written Case number PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RETURNING THIS FORM: PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM PHOTOCOPIES of any bills, cancelled checks, correspondence, work orders, contracts, warranties or other papers relating to your complaint. DO N SE D ORIGINALS !!! SIGNATU NOTE: APR DRESSED R DATE //1 �_ /99 c,L RN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSEO.FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CORNING TOWER BLDG. - 21st FLOOR ALBANY, NY 12223 1-800-342-3330 216 Highgate Road Ithaca, New York 14850 March 2, 1991 Barbara L. Lukens General Manager ACC 518 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: i M@IEoe1E MAR 61991 I've waited two weeks to give the new "Marketplace" a trial and want to report to you that I find it a totally worthless service channel. Of the 12 channels ostensibly available to me as a basic service subscriber, only 10 are now functional channels (channel 13 being the other, with its linear bulletin board on most of the time). Like cereal packagers who leave the box the same size but reduce the contents, you leave me with the feeling that I am being cheated. Your pre -switch promises that the marketplace channel would carry weather information was only the "technical truth". Weather forecasts which are not updated all weekend are not very useful since they tend to become incorrect, especially in winter. The lack of regional and national weather maps is also a major information loss when one is about to embark on either a weekend trip or a cross-country business trip. Two points about your January 24 "pitch" letter bother me. One is your assertion that the availability of the weather channel on your standard service was duplication; for those of us with only basic service, it was not duplication. Second, neither your letter nor your on -air announcements informed subscribers in advance that the weather channel would be scrambled after it was moved. There was speculation among us that, if one had a TV set with the additional channels, we could still tune in the weather channel. That was an error of omission on your part; I assume it was deliberate. Your pitch that standard service including channel 23 "is available for less that an additional 26 cents a day" is beside the point. My personal objection is not economic, although for those who can only afford basic service I do believe you should be obligated as a public utility to provide basic utilitarian channels such as 24-hour weather (e.g., the weather channel) and 24-hour news (e.g., CNN) as well as the basic educational and entertainment channels. My objection is that I neither want nor need 39 television channels in my life and I resent your attempt to strong-arm me into the extra channels by moving a very useful, basic information service such as the weather channel to the higher tier service. My suggestion to you is that you return the weather channel to channel 7 and, if the Ithaca Cable Commission agrees that you need additional revenue, you move the "marketplace" channel to the community billboard times (i.e., non programming times) of channel 13. The community billboard can become a segment of the marketplace channel, so that service, if it's of value to anyone, will not be lost. Sincerely yours, Donald F. Schwartz cc: Mayor Nichols (Ithaca Cable Commission APR 1 1991 Honorable Edward Markey US House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Congressman, 426 Chestnut Street Ithaca, New York 14850 March 21, 1991 G C 711 7 I"am writing this letter after watching the television coverage of the House Subcommittee Hearings regarding Cable Television Consumer Protection that you chair. 1/ I was impressed with the witnesses that appeared before the committee, and their testimony regarding problems they and their constituents have experienced with cable television providers. My purpose in writing this letter is to inform you that the experiences testified to by the witnesses I listened to is not unique to their areas. I am a resident of Ithaca, New York, that unfortunately is an area where normal broadcast signals are too weak to be picked up, and The American Community Cablevision is the exclusive cable television provider. A number of years ago, the Ithaca City Counsel and The American Community Cablevision were involved in negotiations that lasted a protracted period of time. The main contention on the part of the City was that the rates were too high, service was poor, and in some locations the cable signal was less that adequate. During the negotiations, the cable television providers informed the committee that they had made a survey in the area and found that Ithaca was a "Hot Bed" of hockey enthusiasts. That because of the desire for their subscribers to see more sports related programs, they (ACC) had contracted with Sports Channel to provide the kind of programming that the subscribers requested. Shortly thereafter, and prior to the conclusion of negotiations, Sports Channel was provided to the subscribers who requested the channel at a cost of $7.50 per month. The American Community Cablevision and the City of Ithaca later came to agreement and a multi-year contract was signed. The cable provided initiated a upgrading of its service shortly thereafter, and greatly improved the quality of the television signal that was being sent out, as was agreed to in the contract. Shortly after the signing of the contract, it appears that there was a mass exodus of hockey fans and sports viewers from the area. The cable provided informed the subscribers that due to the lack of interest in the Sports Channel, the company was discontinuing the program. Sports Channel was in fact stopped, in April of that year, and immediately thereafter the Cable Provided offered a special $49.50 sports package to the subscribers who wished to view the Stanley Cup Hockey games that Sports Channel had exclusive coverage rights over. Needless to say, many letters were sent to the local newspaper by subscribers who were outraged by actions of the provided. Since that time the provider has moved other programs that have a general appeal to the subscribers to the upper scrambled tier that requires a higher subscriber fee to receive, and these programs have been replaced with advertising and shopping programs- — In conclusion I would just like to say that I am in favor, as you can see of any legislation that would encourage competition, and/or regulations that would have some control over cable television providers. Sincerely yours, Charles K. Porter c.c. American Community Cablevision Ithaca City TV Cable Commission ACC AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION For Immediate Release 272-7875 June 1st, 1990 Contact:Chris Doyle ACC ANNOUNCES EXPANDED WORLD CUP SOCCER COVERAGE In response to numerous customer requests for expanded soccer coverage American Community cablevision is increasing the total number of World Cup Soccer matches available to ACC customers with the temporary addition of Univision Network on channel 44. Univision will be added to ACC's llineup just prior to the Opening Ceremonies scheduled for Friday, June 8 and the network will be removed following the World Cup Soccer final on .Sunday July 8,1990. TNT, Turner Network Television, had previously announced their schedule of matches, but some local soccer fans requested more coverage. Chris Doyle, ACC Marketing/Operations Manager, said, " Many of the matches scheduled to be cablecast by Univision are already scheduled on TNT. Univision is however cablecasting some different matches as well as half-hour wrap-up programs and five minute updates. Viewers should be aware that Univision is a Spanish speaking network, therefor the audio portion of the soccer matches will be in Spanish." -more- 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 ACC Soccer continued Doyle added, "We would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the management of Univision in making these games available free to our customers. Without their assistance we would not have been able to respond to our customers requests." [ sidebar attached: TNT/Univision World Cup Soccer schedule] -30- * 1990 WORLD CUP TELEVISION SCHEDULE * The following is the television broadcast schedule of matches to be shown in the United States. All times Eastern daylight. All TNT and Univision broadcasts are live except Univision's repeat of the opening ceremonies and game. Univision will precede each match with a pregame show, starting 15 minutes before the hour. Univision highlight shows will run 30 minutes. Univision will also air five-minute updates at either 9:55pm or 10:35pm on selected dates. * FIRST ROUND * Game No. Date Match Network Time 1 June 8 Opening Ceremonies Univision 11:OOam Argentina vs. Cameroon Univision 11:45am TNT 12:OOpm Repeat Univision 8:OOpm 2 June 9 USSR vs. Romania Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam 3 UAE vs. Colombia Univision 2:45pm 4. Italy vs. Austria TNT " 3:OOpm 5 June 10 USA vs. Czechoslovakia Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam 6 Brazil vs. Sweden . Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm 9 June 11 England vs. Ireland TNT. 3:OOpm 'Highlights Univision . 10:00pm June 12Highlights Univision 10:OOpm 13 June 13 Argentina vs. USSR Highlights Univision Univision 2:45pm 10:OOpm 15 .June 14 Italy vs. USA Highlights Univision TNT Univision 2:45pm 3:OOpm 10:OOpm June 15 Highlights .'Univision' 10:00pm 19 June 16 Brazil vs. Costa Rica Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam England vs. Netherlands . Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm 22 June 17 Ireland vs. Egypt Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam 23 Belgium vs. Unguay Univision 2:45pm 24 ' ' South Korea vs. Spain TNT 3:OOpm * FIRST ROUND CONT. * Game No. Date Match Network Time 25 June 18 Argentian vs. Romania Univision 2:45pm 27 June 19 West Germany vs. Columbia Univision 10:45am Austria vs. USA Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm 31 June 20 Brazil vs. Scotland Univision 2:45pm 33 June 21 Belgium vs. Spain Ireland vs. Netherlands Univision Univision 10:45am 2:45pm * SECOND ROUND * 37 June 23 Winner B vs. No.3.A/C/D Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam 38 No.2 A vs. No.2 C Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm 39 .June 24 Winner C vs. No.3 A/B/F Univision 10:45am TNT 11:OOam 40 Winner D vs. No.3 B/E/F Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm 41 June 25 No.2 F vs. No.2 B Univision 10:45am 42 Winner A vs. No.3 C/D/E Univision 2:45pm 43 June 26 Winner E vs. No.2 D Univision 10:45am 44 Winner F vs. No.2 E Univision 2:45pm * QUARTERFINALS * 45 June 30 Winner 39 vs. Winner 43 Univision 10:45am TNT 11:O0am 46 Winner 41 vs. Winner 42 Univision 2:45pm TNT 3:OOpm • 47 July 1 Winner 30 vs. Winner 40 Winner 37 vs. Winner 44 Univision TNT Univision TNT 10:45am 11:OOam 2:45pm 3:OOpm * SEMIFINALS * 49 July 3 Winner 45 vs. Winner 46 Univision 1:45pm TNT 2:OOpm 50 July 4 Winner 47 vs. Winner 48 Univision 1:45pm TNT 2:OOpm * THIRD PLACE * Game No. Date Match Network Time 51 July 7 Loser 49 vs. Loser 50 Univision 1:45pm TNT 2:O0pum * WORLD CUP FINAL * 52 July 8 Winner 49 vs. Winner 50 Univision 1:45pm TNT 2:OOpm ACC 44,4,411 AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION January 23, 1991 Mr. Tom Terizzi City Hall 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Terizzi: American Community Cablevision (ACC) has received a number of inquiries regarding the decision to eliminate duplication of The Weather Channel. ACC has carried The Weather Channel (TWC) in two locations, channel 7 and channel 42 for nearly two years. On channel 7, it provided background for our local news program, Newscenter 7, which airs 6 times nightly during the week, interrupting The Weather Channel to do so. On February 8th, ACC will be replacing TWC on channel 7 with The Marketplace, a photoadvertising service which will contain weather information and other features in addition to photoadvertising. We informed customers of this change via a billing message, which may not have provided as much information as we (and perhaps they) would have preferred. TWC will continue to be available to customers - in fact, we are moving it from channel 42 to channel 23 because we are part way through a rebuild, and not all of our subscribers have access to channel 42. I have received correspondence from fewer than one half a percent of our customers, and while all customers are important, the fact that we are in a rate regulated market and are sensitive to pricing, puts us in a position of having to find other means of covering our programming costs. As a further note, ACC is one of the very few cable companies who have a low priced service which contains any programming other than broadcast and PEG access (see enclosed channel line-up.). In addition to that, we provide additional outlets and FM service at no charge. The Weather Channel is not being eliminated, and we are making extra efforts in providing other means by which residents can obtain weather information, although it has always been available on network television and in the daily newspaper. It is the 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850- - -- --- - ----- 607-272-3456 - investment by companies like The Weather Channel in developing its own product to enhance cable programming that came as a result of the deregulation of the cable television industry and which also has caused the significant rise in _the cost of programming. Unfortunately, we can't have one without the other. The attached letter, which is being sent to customers who have written to express their concern over our decision, may provide some additional clarification. Please feel free to call me if I can be of further help. Sincerely, L4- pC Barbara L.ukens General manager BLL/mkk enc. (2) AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION January 23, 1991 Dear Customer: A number of ACC's customers have asked for more information as to why ACC is eliminating duplication of The Weather Channel by replacing it with The Marketplace, effective February 8th, on the basic service. While the explanation below is fairly lengthy, it is intended to provide customers with a more complete picture of the situation. Many cable companies offer at least two levels of service for their customers: a service designed to provide a minimum of television signals and respond to a need for those on limited incomes, and a standard service for those who desire a wide variety of television choices. The lower priced level of service almost always includes only broadcast television (network and PBS stations which can be received by a rooftop antenna) and public access channels, where they exist. The standard level .includes all of the above, plus a broad selection of programming which was developed and produced primarily for viewing by cable television customers. In Ithaca, the lowest "basic" service is unusual in that much more is provided than a "lifeline" service as it also includes CNN, ESPN, and two independent stations, WWOR and WPIX, which are received via satellite antennas and part time carriage of The Learning Channel and The Weather Channel. ACC's basic service is rate regulated by the City of Ithaca, and therefore as cable programmers increase their rates to ACC, ACC is unableto recoup its expenses. Over the last two years, while ACC's costs to purchase programming have increased by 80%, subscriber prices have increased, on average, 10-11.75% annually. ACC must develop new revenue streams to recoup this shortfall, and The Marketplace, a photoadvertising service, is one such idea that also provides a valuable service to our community and our customers. In order to carry The Marketplace on the lowest level of service something had to be replaced. In this particular situation, The Weather Channel was the lesser of all evils since it is available on the standard service and our carriage on basic was simply duplication. Newscenter 7 will continue to be found on Channel 7. 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 - --607-272-3456 Paae 2 January 23, 1991 We want our customers to know, ACC plans to provide local weather information on the Marketplaceand we are investigating our options for providing it in a timely manner. We are also looking at a way to provide emergency weather information. In addition, CNN provides weather information periodically throughout the day, including business traveler's advisories. The Weather Channel will be found on channel 23, on our standard service, which is available for less than an additional 26 cents a day, less than the cost of a daily newspaper. One of the beauties of Ithaca is that we live in an area where there is great diversity of opinion. While we understand that not everyone will agree with this decision, we believe it is the best under the circumstances. Sincerely, Barbara L. Lukens General Manager BLL/mkk ITHACA CHANNEL LINE-UP JAN -FEB '91 01 VIEWER'S CHOICE (PAY PER VIEW) B 02 ABC-9/WIXT B . 03 NBC-3/WSTM B 04 PBS-24/WCNY -B 05 CNN B 06 FOX-68/WSYT B* 07 THE MARKETPLACE/L.O. (AS OF 2/8/91) B 07 NEWSCENTER 7, M -F 6-11PM ON THE HOUR B 08 PBS-46/WSKG •B 09 IND-9/WWOR B 10 ESPN . B 11 IND-11/WPIX B 12 CBS-12/WBNG B 13 THE LEARNING CHANNEL B 13 CABLE 13, PUBLIC ACCESS + 14 HBO + 15 CINEMAX + 16 THE DISNEY CHANNEL B 17 CBS-5/WTVH B 18 NBC-40/WICZ -B 19 C -SPAN B 20 ABC-36/WENY 21 MTV 22 USA NETWORK • * 23 THE WEATHER CHANNEL (AS OF 2/8/91) 24 TNT 25 NICKELODEON/NICK-AT-NITE 26 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 27 CNBC - 28 MSG/THE TRAVEL CHANNEL 29 BRAVO/C-SPAN II • 30 DISCOVERY 31 AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS 32 CNN HEADLINE NEWS 33 THE FAMILY CHANNEL 34 NASHVILLE NETWORK 35 JC PENNEY SHOPPING 36 VIDEO HITS 1 37 .LIFETIME 38 BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION * 39 .E! ENTERTAINMENT (AS OF 1/1/91) 40 THE LEARNING CHANNEL 41 QVC * 42 FINANCIAL NEWS NETWORK (AS OF 2/8/91) 43 THE COMEDY CHANNEL * 44 NOSTALGIA TELEVISION (AS OF 2/8/91) * 45 THE SCI-FI CHANNEL (91 - WHEN AVAILABLE) B 53 GOVERNMENT/EDUCATIONAL ACCESS B BASIC CABLE SERVICE + PREMIUM -CHANNELS * CHANGES AFAERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION. January 23, 1991 Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth W. White 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. & Mrs. White: While ACC would like to respond to all customer complaints by doing exactly what the customer wants, it is not always possible. It is also not practical to obtain a vote from all customers every time a decision is made. Your letter mentioned that we periodically mail surveys and do not respond by doing what the customers want, but I'd like to point out that ACC is adding the two channels customers asked for the most in our most recent survey (The Nostalgia Channel on February 8th, and The Sci-Fi Channel as soon as it becomes available to us). I have attached some additional information regarding ACC's decision regarding The Weather Channel. it is an unfortunate reality that we cannot please all of our customers all of the time. Sincerely, kr/1 t '/ / I \ r% - Barbara L./Lukens General Manager cc: Mayor Ben Nichols, City of Ithaca City Cable Commission, City of Ithaca Ric Dietrich, Town Supervisor, Town of Danby Assemblyman Martin Luster Frank Proto, CountyRepresentative for Danby and Caroline US Senator Daniel P. Moynihan US Senator Alphonse D'Amato. US Congressman Matt McHugh Steve Stein, Planning Board, Town of Danby BLL/mkk enc. 519 West Slate Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 CITY OF ITHACA 1OR EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 OFFICE OF MAYOR January 25, 1991 Lauren Stefanelli Cable 13 American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca NY 14850 Dear Lauren: TELEPHONE: 272-1713 CODE 607 I am replying to your letter dated January 21, 1991 concerning complaints about the January 17 Round About Ithaca program on the public access channel. As a matter of fact I personally received a number of calls on the sane subject and my office has never refused to take any call on any subject. None of the callers to my knowledge objected to the presence of a public access channel in principle. The complaints were about this specific program. As Community Access Coordinator you should share with me the delight in the news that so many subscribers are watching Channel 13. It is true that callers were referred to your number (272-7272) to register their complaints. It was my understanding that it is your responsibility to keep a log of all complaints about access programs and that this log serves as the basis of consideration by the Access Advisory Board whose membership is jointly determined. I am surprised that your letter makes no reference to that board. It is their specific responsibility to advise on access policies, procedures, and rules. Callers were also urged to put their complaints to you in writing with a copy to the Cable Commission. As Community Access Coordinator you should be more knowledgeable about the requirements for ACC to provide public access. Yes, the City wants channels devoted to public, governmental, and educational access. But to say that "Public access exists at the specific demand of the City of Ithaca" leaves out the fact that the Regulations of the New York State Commission on Cable Television, Section 595.4(b)(1) specifically require that there should be at least one full time public channel and at least one full -tune governmental -educational channel. That was understood when the franchise was negotiated. If in fact ACC is stating that public access is available only because of the city's demand, you are not only passing out wrong information but also demonstrating your lack of commitment to access. 'An r'prar ('\ri• • nm,t. , ' ...!e. .., A",....nr It was completely irresponsible for your staff to refer complaints to the home phones of the Cable Commission. You administer Channel 13 and you should explain that the complaints will be logged and transmitted to the appropriate bodies for their action. . There should also be a written statement of the principles and standards for public access that can be sent to people on demand or perhaps distributed in an ACC mailing. People should also be made aware of how they can gain access for their own views. I would suggest that the drafting of that statement should be a charge for the Access Advisory Board and that it be reviewed by the Cable Commission and ACC. As you may note I was.less than enthused by your letter. If public access did not generate community controversy it would not be doing its job. You personally deserve credit for its growth in quantity and quality. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Benjamin Nichols Mayor cc: Barbara Lukens, General Manager Tom Terrizzi, City Cable Commission Mary Jo Dudley, Access Advisory Board P.S. Please see my column in the Grapevine on January 30, 1991. BN/ta Weekly Bulletin January 25, 1991 STATE OF NEW YORK COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA TOWER BUILDING ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 This Bulletin contains two categories of information: Requests for Commission Action Notes of General Interest For a complete description and listing of all requests and actions, or for further information regarding items in the bulletin, please contact our Albany office at 518-474-4992. For the period covered: January 18, 1991 through January 24, 1991. Docket Number 31005 REQUESTS FOR COMMISSION ACTION Application by Niagara Frontier Cable Television Inc. for approval of a renewal of its franchise with the Town of Lewiston (Niagara County)(Initial Franchise Docket No. 10073) NOTE OF GENERAL INTEREST Date Received 1/23/91 The Commission's 17th Annual Northeast Cable Television Technical Seminar has been scheduled for May 20, 21, and 22, 1991 at the Roaring Brook Ranch, Lake George, New York. A complete schedule of events will be available next month. For further information on the Seminar please contact the Commission's Division of Telecommunication's Office at (518) 474-1324. America the Beautiful USA15 0 USPS 1989 us( PrLe - Cid-GL�i%�ZQ� Mr Henry P Goode 6 115 Mitchell Street Ithaca NY 14850 • Barbara Lukens, General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 W. State St, Ithaca, New York 14850 317 Elm Street Ithaca, New York 14850 December 29, 1990 • I just ,received my cable bill informing me that the Weather - Channel ,#79. 'will „cease to be available to basic subscribers• uch .ast myself • e • .outragedjat.this latest senseless change on our called-1".community"- station. :I consider the leather 43tation a S'ervice necessary .to pave life and. limb for myself my husband .and also for my two daughters who frequently drite to • and. from Ithaca on visits . from downstate. We rely on the... comprehensive ic-rmrld. and written reports to . figure out the . safest travel time. a.round town. as well as for trips away from Ithaca. Tuning ,in to channel 7 is the easiest and quickest ay to get important. weather information® 7 .As for replacing such .an important feature with more advertising'::- ..",The Marketplace" - Which I have learned. you •s: • are .proposing, e11,, this is simply ridiculous 1 The other TV channels every iadio station „the.„dial and_the many newSPaPersand flyers distributed in: Ithaca., are .al_ready.: ' :,-•Se.turated:L"kithads.....:There is such a thing as . Oyer -kill , Or to - r a ci v 6e0, e. I ir - e' re ' - I:'2,sincerely,.hope": you will? xeCons_ider_such a disastrous:,:.::,: • chang&:and.-2.pleaSkeep the Weather Channel a Lpart of.: the - Cable you to use good CO111111011 sense relating:;. ta,. this :comiunity :and it Ds needs:, in this, and future dectsions.:':,. , cc CitzLeaIle Commission Matt McHugh • Sincerely yours, (71 Dorothy C ozzone • 1 4 D.C. Bozzone 317 Elm St. Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 City Cable Commission City Hall 108 E. Green St._ Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 •- i 71171-1: t,-f,frmr1"."1"• WILLIAM F. ROCHOW 48 W00DCREST AVENUE ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 (607) 272.8954 City Cable Commission City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 2 January, 1991 Dear Commission: As long-time subscribers to the local TV cable system, we write to record our disgust at ACC's recent decision to replace the Weather Channel (Channel 7) with the "Marketplace".. This is an outrageous change that ignores the needs and wishes of those of us who have paid the bills for. many years.. This crazy decision should be reversed., Help cc: Barbara Lukens, ACC Sincerely, (vr W. E. ROCHOW 48 WOODCREST AVE. IIHACA, N. Y. 14850 City Cable Commission City Hall 108 E. Green St. ITHACA, NY 14850 i i „ 7-k------1-- , -- i, ,-"......." 4 - ""*.....0 i• ) ..• / • / ..d. : • 'f T 1 k...;:.'.._ te 1 u 11 d“.11,-1.H1,1:11I,Th 65 Wedgewood Drive Ithaca, N.Y., 14850 28 December 1990. Chairperson City Cable Commission City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, N.Y., 14850. Dear Sir or Madam: I read with anger and dismay that ACC has decided to withdraw the Weather Channel from the basic tier service they provide. The Weather Channel is perhaps the most valuable of all the services currently provided for the basic cable charge, for the frequent local forecasts are more accurate than anything provided by the networks and other stations. By switching this service to the more expensive expanded tier service, they are in fact injuring and discriminating against those members of the community (the poor, the less affluent, and graduate students, etc.), who cannot afford such service. Such a blatant putting of profits before people suggests to me that it is perhaps time that the people of Ithaca reconsider the terms of the Cable franchise at the ear- liest opportunity. Perhaps it is time to have a community owned (that is, publicly owned) cable service that is more responsive to the public welfare than expecting people to pay for the privilege of watching advertisements. I have also protested this withdrawal of the Weather Channel from basic service to Ms. Barbara Lukens at ACC, and I intend to write to the local Congressman about this matter, urging him to do whatever he can to support federal restrictions on Cable com- panies that will ensure that the public interest is better served. Sin Robert O'Kell • 65 Wedgewood Dr. Ithaca " )) Chairperson City CAble Commission City Hall 108 F. Green St. Ithaca N.Y., 14850 MarianneM ore' �25"� December 29, 1990 132 Pine Tree Road Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 City Cable Commission Ithaca City Hall 108 Green Street Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Dear Sirs: Living just outside the Ithaca City limits, and thus strictly speaking not a resident of the City, I am nevertheless much influenced and concerned by what goes on in the City, and greatly benefited by much of it. I write to express my indignation over the proposed action by our TV Cable Company, ACC, in moving the Weather Channel to a new channel, 42. Many people, ourselves included, have chosen not to avail themselves, at considerable saving, of more than the basic services. It would appear that "The Weather Channel" is a pretty basic service, far more so to the community if not to ACC, than a classified advertising channel to be known as "The Marketplace". It is obvious that profit is far more an incentive to ACC than service to the community. Under the present "regulations", that is their prerogative. I can only suggest that pressure be brought to bear on ACC to have them rescind their plans and to urge that they takemore of an interest in the community than in their cash balance. One can hope that Federal legislation might be forthcoming to make cable companies more responsible to the communities they are presumed to serve. Sincerely, Copies to: ACC Congressman Matthew Mc Cue • SZ- /yee 70, j ---77-47662e02_, 7c) •1 '2 JAN 19 9 \ erTV azg awni,:529 Tirtia a. 712_ 1( /e) , . • .! • . 2 • Antoncllo,NrationalGallery ce_e2a_, 7 -CD • • r ••-• • •: • 4.1 2 Hillcrest Drive Ithaca, NY 14850 February 28, 1991 Mr. Tom Terrizzi chair, City of Ithaca Cable Commission 714 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Terrizzi, It was good talking to you the other day. As follow-up and for the .record herewith my statement in writing. I am writing to protest the possible removal of the Bill McCormick community access show, Round About Ithaca, from its Friday 6-8. p.m. time slot for any of the reasons which I have so far heard. It is my understanding that the terms "obscene" and "profane" are defined by intent and context and under those conditions McCormick's language is neither obscene 9or profane. It is crystal clear to anyone watching his show that he is speaking with moral and spiritual outrage and anger and heartbreak at what he considers an unjust war, presented to the American people by the present Administration with dubious and hypocritical reasons, a war where many young Americans will be slaughtered, as well as others in the Persian Gulf war zone. I understand that someparents have said that they do not want their children to watch his show. But that is no reason to remove it to a later time slot. Parents who don't want their children to watch his show should so inform their children and enforce their directive. There are many books in the public library which many parents would not want their young children to read but that does not mean the public library must remove such books from the shelves. I for one would miss the McCormick show if it were moved to a 10 p.m. time slot since I go to bed quite early these days. In my opinion it would be a violation of First Amendment rights to remove his show from its accustomed time slot for any of the reasons I have heard so far. Sincerely, Doria Higgins cc. Hess, Heegard, Ferwerda 302 Eastwood Avenue Ithaca, New York 14850 February 7, 1991 Barbara Lukens, General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 West tate Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: ACC's inclusion of The Weather Channel in its, Basic Tier is a public service upon which viewers have come to depend. Because ACC has allowed this dependence to develop,, it is now responsible for any negative consequences resulting from its cancellation of The Weather Channel. Most of your subscribers con- sult this Channel before embarking on a trip, whether within New York State, the United States, or inter- nationally. The number of accidents, injuries,deaths and property damage which have been averted due to this practice are buried in the recent statistics of lower loss of life on the highways, but I believe are nonetheless real. Also in the public interest are the vital warnings of the approach of dangerous weather conditions which are issued on The Weather Channel, again saving lives and property. I doubt that ACC wishes to carry the burden of the lost lives and property of their subscribers which may well follow the cancellation of The Weather Channel. I believe that, , iii':law, a service that has been pro- vided the public for its welfare and on which the public has come to depend, may not be terminated capriciously. Please reconsider your decision. Sincerely yours, Mar xc: City Cable Commission✓' et C. Hampson Mrs. Margaret C. Hampson 302 Eastwood Avenue Ithaca, NY 14850 am\ t,Yy(-TA 7 FE a /S City Cable Commission City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 1.4850 JC' I NATIONAL ',C s'. I DEN17.0 HEf;L 1 H.T.GAYLEY 15 Stormy View Dr. Ithaca, NY 14850 Feb. 14, 1991 Congressman Matthew F. McHugh Terrace Hill, Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Congressman McHugh: I an ► Writing to express my indignation over the fact that American Community Cablevision, a monopoly in this area, has chosen to -move its weather channel out of basic service and .into the added -cost channels. During a time when many people in this area are deeply concerned about the weather in Saudi. Arabia, this seems like blata:it war profiteering. A side issue is the fact that Channel 7, which even we basic subscribers have to pair for, is now entirely devoted to making money for ACC. I can't imagine anyone willing to endure hour after hour of endlessly repeated 20 -second commercials in order to find out that there is a restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel and that Cutting Motors has cars for sale. Sooner or later, the advertisers will realize their money is being wasted. I am writing to you because Mayor Nichols' office tells me the Ithaca Cable Commission has no real power in cases like this, under the existing regulations. I believe there would he widespread support. in this area for legislation that gave the Cable Commission some control, over the ACC monopoly. Would you be willing to propose such legislation? I am sending a letter almost identical to this to Assomblyxran Luster. Sincerely yours, .. Henry T.. Gayley cc: Ithaca City Cable Commission 15 Stormy View Dr. Ithaca, NY 14850 Yr Cable Commission, City of Ithaca 108 East Green Stret Ithaca, NY 14850 NATIO I`.0i)i Fik y'J t'! i ra, PETER S. McCHESNEY 1 1 1 5 TAUGHANNOCK BOULEVARD ITHACA, NY 14850 February 12, 1991 Barbara Lukens American Community Cablevision 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: Today I called ACC to register my disapproval of your decision, im- plemented February 8, 1991, to move the Weather Channel from your basic service channels to its new location on your "pay extra" channels. In its place I now find what is called "Community Bulletin Board," which in reality is not much more than a steady stream of commercials. In my opinion this is a downgrading of service to your basic customers or, looked at another way, a means of trying to force basic customers to a higher -priced service. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Cable Commission of Ithaca in the hope that they will pursue this matter, as they review your services and charges. PSM:klj cc: Cable Commission of Ithaca 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 rV .;b gam. 12FE^a 9\ Cable Commission of Ithaca 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Flower IIIIII:II:IlHII:IIIIIIIIIIi:IIlIl!!1:l:lII111111Ii.l OSBi' L AN 'VON/H.11 ONYA31I1D1E1 )IOONNVH8LnV1 S L L L A3NS3HDOW 'S Z1313d RECEIVED FEB 05 1921 102 Armstrong Road Lansing, NY 14882 January 29, 1991 Barbara Lukins, General Manager American Community Cable 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukins: It is with great disappointment that I learned of the elimination of the Atlanta based Weather Channel from basic cable service. The Weather Channel was the primary reason I ordered cable Television from ACC. The weather channel gives me information on the current status here in Ithaca and the weather that will arrive here in several days, usually from the upper Midwest. Advance weather information is crucial for planning and decision making about activities, especially winter travel plans. The description of the NEW SERVICE you are providing basic Cable customers just arrived in the mail. A shopping channel is just what an already debt ridden populace does not need even in Ithaca. This "service" is obviously for the vendors involved, not for viewers on tight budgets. I question your market research showing the desire for this SERVICE and would like to review the design and report. Channel 7 already has restaurant ads, TV movie ads and Cornell University News. This NEW SERVICE sounds like another "reading channel like #13. Add the MARKETPLACE INFORMATION to this channel and keep the weather channel on Basic Cable. Those viewers who learn information best from a pictorial presentation of the weather forecasts will not gain the information easily by reading. The graphic presentation of the weather now on Channel 7 also teaches us all about weather forecasting and patterns. I will not be paying more money for the Weather Channel on a higher tier if offered. I have purchased a weather radio. Constant reports from the National Weather Service located at Link Field in Binghamton give 72 hour advance weather forecasts from the Ohio Valley Valley to southeastern New York. Weather radios range from $20.00 to $250.00 and are in stock at local area electronic stores. ACC Page 2 Now I have one less reason to turn on my television. Sincerely, Eileen Kolynich cc: William B. Finneran, Chairman - Cable Television Commission Richard M. Kessel, Executive Director - Consumer Protection Board Sal Hirsch, Executive. Director - National Weather Service Lansing Town Supervisor The Weather Channel - Atlanta Ithaca Journal Marty Luster, Assemblyman Matthew F. McHugh, Congressman /Mayor Ben Nichols Post-It'"routfng request pad 7664 BROM ROUTING - REQUEST Please ❑ READ To £ t k 144 to ))rw ❑ HANDLE ❑ APPROVE and I ❑ FORWARD ❑ RETURN ❑ KEEP OR DISCARD ❑ REVIEW WITH ME Date From ` /"" Ht; (fe& -,/, Cm Ljj- .7z 27 2�l /L//Z- %?i,'/ /99/ b YCFil7Crui. -ion v 1THACA, NY 14850 ,/ (ai ti-Q2=GGA/ / ' '% 2 Y ��� �i/�%r�Z �� GU Lam-! `� / d -S tc "r -e c)/ Q? o.4/ /ec&1.� ' ( 1, (66/ - /6Z6,; 4 ea-7j)c � s 1tChlttge" r t,l ne rChan ....;dt% sst recti,,,: - i ng . p .1.. �nQ ei nee toynform. ��``�� statemen, a that on Feb 8 the public at Barg the,'Wther � they w lrbe Te%ovmg . sic net f C, . t.,:iii...i44:,1,3i,tr,./.;) i;Chan ro_�„, ttmg sc cee,r ' ' .,. t, xtier.. ����/�eC�t�'L e_,tended, )-,I ;a �; h calli g ACC : about f :1t. 11PQn s ' earnedVhat ibis mfotmaie eat 6::.1 that actually : `tyPo" to Chan .br channel i.1. tze mo w S `become r ::,nel(,ubl whir + t 1' unavailable nbl 1( w rs who ` 10n't asi b l ult �ecvi a `r acidms l ctettcl t am ,:,� CC Will ,reprogr tot !i xsorriethtng ;called Ch n4 dou one of .:i M eetpWO 3, bt a . ` 1 Stations th t.I those' home'��,hapotliing ;n6ce;4than are, m r 0101 advertising r.1 24 Wh fl c n g 1 comPi 'ed that !:When I9 g y .the weathlet Channel a much- ia;3h t c1 atical1Y , needed serK�e� r orie. wh1ch-1 unpredictable icttys� rely:;on daply `"the ustomet sennee entativeagr l tbat;the chub . iepres-.' 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VILLAGE ISL;' ITHACA, NY 14850 r . 7-2 `7"7-1,./ __ ll - - - • / J AJ -7„,_,_ 0__,,„ 1_, V 7_-,-4_% ci,(.,--- - - / —1- r 7_,,i (,:L__,,, 6 .� i----/ -77:v-. .__/._ c-7/ - id, ee,,,( ,zie„, . , 0 _ a .. , ,.L____ - .--z;-4_)„__, _=2-1-e,-/ ,4,--t4 p,Lay,,,_e.)e s-- (-._,,4z, __e,_ .-t.---e- - e c7e-z e)'')7` 3P)A-7 e , - - - 1 t 1 /'?-t-I _ i.,ei-, - , ) - i t - -7,,-,'' ,' -"--Ir- 1-1---i d5''z------2) - 1 . - - - i < P-1 ze_) ,z, y„/ .14,1____?% -z.--4-- "ia.- -r-'-ei-= ,Lt, 1 4 Li c / - ._/e,; ---y., ,q -ed- ' ) j)/ 6L- - --7 - `X r (J d--,-,__5 __,I,,,,.„A ii, ,, L,,, ,_,_„, ,-,i,„/ d i- _,,.,,_s_am' *-----'•.e,tf‘ ' ,,%, ,.__. 4,,, , u--,, 0a rJ-N7 .---G' U G� f 5r71-----)'�� /Z --,E) "-s"_..,_ .__LI /2.4..- Q -Le 64/(-A; 7-—ZI'SL 1 ->L -1L-.--::1— . J-; ,2.)2--a 9 __, 6_--, '7 . Civ-����`��jJ—Y-' • l.�/ � `-4-e/ ✓A fid / / / _ �- ///Ji CITY OF ITHACA 1 O EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 OFFICE OF MAYOR February 14, 1991 Lila Hall 150 West Village Place,Apt. 105 Ithaca NY 14850 Dear Ms. Hall: TELEPHONE: 272-1713 CODE 607 Everything you wrote in your letter to me about the cable service is all too true. 1 am enclosing a copy of a column I wrote on this subject recently. I wish the City had the power to take action. The people you should blame for taking that power away from us are the members of Congress who caved in to the cable industry. With sufficient public pressure maybe we can change that situation. But our Cable Commission is trying to do what it can. I am passing your letter on to them as more ammunition. Sincerely, Benjamin Nichols Mayor cc: Ithaca Cable Television Commission BN/ta d -/ r 2/2"..d4o-rr .4ra-.( b`,€)-66 2 V- I THE TOMPKINS COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS' COUNCIL, INC. 213 South Geneva Street, Ithaca, New York 14850 Telephone 607/273-1511 February 18, 1991 Debbie Parsons City Chamberlain City of Ithaca City Hall Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Dear Debbie: We are receiving many complaints from seniors regarding the ACC senior discount. When seniors call ACC asking why they are not receiving the discount that they applied for, apparently the ACC staff are telling them to call the Senior Center. As you know, we offered to facilitate the processing of the applications as a service to the senior citizens, but certainly did not envision we would be handling ACC's customer complaints. Basically, the problems seem to fall into these areas: 1. Individuals who have applied and whose names are on the list supplied by you, have still not had the discount applied to their bills. 2. ACC frequently tells people they are not on the list; we find they are. 3. ACC has denied any knowledge of the retroactive payment policy. To date we have yet to hear of any senior citizen- who has received the retroactive payment or discount. I would appreciate anything you can do to clarify the situation so that our involvement remains as facilitator rather than being viewed as the perpetrator of this confusing situation. Sincerely, Li/IAA k Marilyn E. Grey Executive Director :bj cc: Barbara Lukens, ACC Manager RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER -PROGRAM = COUNTYWIDE -PROGRAM -= 'TRAVEL PROGRAM SENIOR CENTER /_6E./ gevcJ i,- � aL February 3, 1991 Barbara Lukins General Manager A.C.C. 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY- 14850 Dear Barbara: I am writing in complaint of the recent program "Round About Ithaca" with Bill McCormick. I can't believe that your television station would allow anyone to get on the air and talk the way Bill McCormick has. He used many vulgar and obscene words, plus he is very rude to persons calling into his program. Many school children are involved in TV and radio for school projects and I see a bad example for them. We must help our society, instead of degrading the morality of it and the morality of cable tv. I have no qualms about disagreement of an issue if done in a decent form - I realize we aren't all thinking the same, but be respectful about it. Upgrade our TV stations instead of down -grading them. You must have learned something from this, no contract, no control over your station. We aren't allowing pornography or topless bars in the city, why lower yourself to this moral issue. Sincerely, Eleanor Collins xc: Tom Terrizzi, Ithaca City Cable Commission 27/27-A Highgate Circle Ithaca, New York 14850 February 2, 1991 Barbara Lukens, General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: As cable subscribers, we are writing to express our disgust, shared by many, at the conduct of Bill McCormick on various shows on the community access channel. McCormick is needlessly insulting, profane, and abusive toward call-in viewers. Recent examples of McCormick's typical behavior include saying to a caller, "You've got shit for brains," and "You were sucking on your mother's fucking tit while I was in Vietnam." We regret having to use such explicit language to convey just a hint of McCormick's usual style. We also find it disturbing and ironic that McCormick interrupts, abuses, and disconnects callers, given that taking calls seems to the purpose of his show. We strongly support the First Amendment right of free speech. But our constitutional tradition has long recognized legitimate restrictions on the time, place, and manner of speech. Moreover, as you well know, the FCC has the right and responsibility to regulate communication through the media. Thus, it hardly threatens First Amendment freedom to require McCormick to conform to reasonable standards of conduct on the air. • Finally, we feel that McCormick's behavior debases the public image of ACC in general and Channel 13 in particular. McCormick's abusive presence occupies so much of the channel's air time that viewers are liable to regard him as representative of the channel -and, therefore, are liable to abandon channel 13 entirely. Consequently, we believe it to be in the best interest of ACC and our community to reign McCormick in. We recommend restricting McCormick's access to broadcasting facilities and requiring conformity to standards when he is allowed to use them. We do not, to repeat, object to the content of McCormick's position, only the intolerant manner in which he presents it. He professes to favor hearing both sides of an issue, but he abuses and often disconnects a caller the instant he detects disagreement with his own prejudices. This defeats the channel's purpose as a forum for community debate. We look forward to seeing this important problem resolved; our continued subscription to ACC may depend on it. Sincerely, Chris Johnson Stephen Maitzen t‘c: Tom Terrizzi, Chairman, City Cable Commission 1 2 1 Honness Lane Ithaca, NY 14850 January 30, 1991 Barbara Lukens ACC 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: I am concerned that ACC has -plans -to -move the Weather Channel- to a pay channel. With an unexpected storm and school closings, today is a prime example of why regular weather broadcasting is essential to this community. Those of us who have to go outdoors regularly during upstate New York winters (and that is almost everyone), need to monitor the current . and upcoming weather conditions. Please reconsider your decision to replace the weather channel with one of your other "entertainment" programs. Knowledge of road conditions should take precedence in your programming schedules. Yours truly, Lucia L Armstrong- Cope: Ithaca City Cable Commission CC Dea � r �v'^°�A� ` � In mid-January I contacted American Community Cablevision with a concern about a community access program on channel 13. I was advised by that organization to issue a formal letter of complaint concerning the Bill McCormick call in program. I have tuned into the Bill McCormick program several times, and have often enjoyed some of the items that he features. However, I was highly disgusted by his unprofessional manner and strong language used on a recent show about the Persian Gulf War. Quite honestly, I feel that Mr. McCormick's ranting and raving and use of filthy language was totally inappropriate. I understand that under current FCC laws that he is permitted to do what he pleases on his program, but is it possible to tone his abusiveness down? Is it possible to let Mr. McCormick express his opinions but not use the language he did on his show? If it is a law to al -Tow such ' language or ranting and raving to be allowed on community access television, then I would be most interested in helping to change or make additions to that law. 1 feel strongly that everyone, including Mr. McCormick should be allowed to express their opinion on any given topic. However, I do believe that there is an appropriate and inappropriate way of dicussing issues. I believe that Mr. McCormick displayed the inapprpriate fashion of expressing himself. Screaming, shouting, hanging up on callers, insulting callers and the use of foul language is not, in my opinion and many other area residents, an apropriate way of expressing opinions. I realize that I have the right to turn off Mr. McCormick or even use a device to block out cable 13, but I do not wish to do this. 1, along with many others, am horrified by the ranting and raving of this man. I do not wish to hear his abusiveness and foul language. I also believe that this man sets a poor example for his peers and, more importantly, any children or young adults that happen to run across his program on the dial. Do we want to show children that it is acceptable to use foul language, rant and rave, hang up or cut off people that do not agree? Do we want to show other community members that screaming and cursing is a proper way to express an opinion? No, or at least I hope not. Just as Mr. McCormick is allowed the time to express his opinions, I believe that he should allow his callers to express their opinion. In no way am I suggesting that Mr. McCormick not be allowed to discuss issues on his program. However, I strongly feel that he should do this at a later hour, and in a more appropriate and calmer fashion. I will be quite interested in the outcome of our community's complaints about Mr. McCormick and the actions of our local government, ACC and the FCC. - -m 6 ' `ua 219-9-:; � � �� � ^ � m'~ -.� / =�_^~_.,`~-~-�� ~y~ / \�^ �«� \o::�) /7.ur^`-A~- - /ip� v - ���\� ~ tH / ou�� /, ���_ -���� ��w/ /^-`«/ . 953 Ridge Rd. Lansing, NY 14882 26 Jan 1991 Cable Commission William Demo -Chairman City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Demo: It would be greatly appreciated if you would review the enclosed petition on behalf of the American Community Cablevision viewing public. Please get in touch with me and let me know what, if anything, we can do to stop this channel change. Sincerely, Nancy Greene -Young cc: American Community Cablevision Mayor Ben Nichols The Ithaca Journal fti We the undersignedwiewers in the American Community Cablevision ve��ing area DO NOT want`ACC to replace the Weather Channel,which is now on basic service,and move it to the upper channels,available only by an extra charge. We feel the WeatherChannel is a valuable channel bringing us updated weather? conditions for travel'and planning. We do not feel the Market. Place Channel, ss which would take the place -of the Weather Channel, would have any value to us/i We DO NOT want Acc to make this change on Feb 8, 1991. 171-6/q1 1 2 !)'E43. -e. 4 h,c : 5 -- 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18� a 19 z. 4.4-"\I 20 ;j e -c f 4Pc7N cf 21 / 727 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 332 c 6, i) tca e_6. — 3 /a - - 471 l O e [ rni e0Giv s H A Cm N, , )2a4 u 4 -ye-309 Fo,, . 44 , $ `ra f/Z to Cpv�l i n n 45 17-A2b±7" AA.,111 46 47 48 c - e 49 � 50 5111, ��' ,;t(c)r1 � 0 v •o r p- �3Sa (aisc/.7 �� 52 //)flJSo ' .3/ & __I t-44-/11 53 . — .• I S7� IVro LETTERS The Ithaca Journal Thursday, January 24, 1991 ACC should reconsider moving Weather Channel I am writing to strongly coin - plain about the loss of the Weather Channel to the upper channel selec- tions from our local cable compa- ny, American Community Cablevi- sion. I have no need for the upper channels, nor do I wish to spend any more money for my TV serv- ice. Basic service is adequate for my family's viewing needs and since I don't approve of most of the con- tent of the upper channels for my children's viewing I will not sub- scribe to them. To remove from basic service one of the most useful stations to ever be put on television is a real ' rotten deal. Unfortunately, since they have the monopoly on our choice of viewing, we have no op- tion of another choice of where we can buy our cable service. I wish I knew their reasoning for making such a change. As 1 view it, and in talking with many other peo- ple, we all see it as one more way for ACC to make money. What other reason do they have to make such a move as this? Why don't they tell the public why they are making such a change and get some input from their paying customers before cutting us off from a valu- able resource? • It is hoped that the cable compa- ny will think seriously about this action and reconsider the impor- tance of this channel to the general public. Patricia Phelps Town of Carol,ne Removal from basic tier is incomprehensible American Community Cablevi- sion has provided a great service to the Ithaca area by rebuilding the cable system and adding additional channels. However, we deeply re- gret their removal of WVIA and continue to hope they will put this channel back in their lineup. Now we have cause for regret again: ACC has announced that it will remove the Weather Channel from the basic tier, and replace it with a program of dubious value. The Weather Channel is of im- mense value to us, and we cannot imagine a day in which we don't • turn to it frequently for weather conditions and forecasts. That ACC can even think of re- moving this service from the basic tier is incomprehensible. We strongly urge American Commu- nity Cablevision to.keep the Weath- er Channel on the basic tier as an important service to the connu- nity. Janet DeVries Henry DeVries Town of Ithaca Boycotting replacement for the Weather Channel 1 think ACC should reconsider this decision to take away the Weather Channel from budget sub- scribers. If ACC wishes to offer the Marketplace, a classified ads chan- nel, to budget subscribers it should add an additional unscrambled channel. Since profits seem to be the bot- tom line at ACC, I will boycott the Marketplace channel if it replace. the Weather Channel. 1 will not watch Channel 7 except for News - Center 7. 1 will discourage people and busi- nesses from advertisine on the Mar- ketplace and discourage people from buying products advertised on the channel. Those of you who support me should do the same, and voice your complaint to ACC by calling the general manager, Barbara Lukens (272-3456). Christine Piatko Ithaca cdme_ 'taw- Agebut_vb Cdo-eit k a ave. - 64-0 c" ' L 41 5 1J -01X- 01/4. 4a4a 4ec 4111-i a., ONnadopirt ( 96, ilk, ROBERT E. HABEL, D. V. M. 1529 ELLIS HOLLOW ROAD ITHACA, N. Y. 14850 607 - 272-3199 Cable Commission c/o City Hall 108 Green St. Ithaca NY 14850 Dear Commissioners: 22 Jan. 1991 The ACC has notified us that on 3 February the Weather Channel will be taken off the Basic Cable offering and replaced with another channel of unknown character. According to a letter to the Ithaca Journal, the new channel will be a TV marketing service. I. wish to protest this arbitrary downgrading of the Basic Service. It must be a violation of ACC's contract. As far as I know, the customers have not been consulted. The Weather Channel provides valuable and often essential information several times per hour. The weather forecast- on news programs is available only at long intervals, and not at all late at night or early in the morning, and is not specific for Ithaca. A TV marketing service is a mail-order business and therefore damaging to local businesses. Froin what I have seen of it else- where it specializes in worthless trinkets and gadgetry. Please require the continuation of the Weather Channel on • Basic Cable. Sincerely, 1' ROBERT E. HABELD. V. M. 1329 ELLIS HOLLOW ROAD ITHACA, N. Y. 14850 Cable Commission c/o City Hall 108 Green St. Ithaca NY 14850 -Giteting Department of Education Date: rlet,144.6t,v, itaywx_eyz. -t Z „e v4ovirRg 1,1kiLy-c cr').6) Ai&i/d iczffs--? CORNELL UNIVERSIT Y RER College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Education Academic I Ithaca, New York 14853 Tom Terrizzi Ithaca City Cable Commission 108 East Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 1U :1111:fli:f1:f1 11(fi::f:i:ii1:f1i1fi n ::f:iffll 22 Seneca Street Trumansburg, NY 14886 January 16, 1991 American Community Cablevision ATTENTION BARBARA LUKENS 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 WHAT IS BASIC ??? Fundamental essential I bought Cable Service for TWO reasons -- WEATHER CHANNEL was one of them. Should all who feel as I do consider returning to the old antennae on our roofs? We wontt be conned into buying your extended tier. What is BASIC about your proposed replacement MARKETPLACE? Since your contract must be renewed by the city, I too shall send a copy of this letter to them. PLEASE RECONSIDER. Copy to: CABLE COMMISSION 1NIr. TOM TERRIZZI City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Ea Sincerely, Gertrude Hane A friend a'ho has difficulty writing asked me to sign her name: Audrey Murphy CAROL arid JIM BRINKERHOFF 105 Tudor Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 1/12/91 ACC 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 • Dear Ms. Lukens: My wife and. I were very distressed to read in your recent mailing that ACC will be moving the Weather Channel to an extended tier of channels. We have no interest in subscribing to an extended tier, or we would have by now, but we do have need for the weather information. We do a great deal of traveling in New York State and during the winter months. We rely heavily ori that channel to help with go/rio go decisions. Channel 3 has recently been poor quality, so we switch to channel 18 instead. Now, you're also saying that this channel will be unavailable to us. What happens to the local news, channel 7? Will that no longer be available on the Basic Cable Service? I feel that this is another instance of the public, with no choice, being 'ripped off.' We've also been hearing.about this wonderful, 'upgraded' cable system for a couple of years now, but have yet to 'see' tangible results. Is anyone controlling this'rnonopolg?? Sincereiy, Carel and Jim Brinkerhoff CC Ithaca City Cable Commission January 11, 1991 American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 !-E(2.E(VED Fit.;' -- j'.�t Ire, ,r 6I'e. 6-i)liljis5164: Dear Madam/Sir: We understand that you plan to eliminate the Weather Channel from the basic cable service. We cannot believe you would do this, are greatly upset about it, and beseech you to reconsider your decision. Although you plan to offer the Weather Channel on the extended service, we are not interested in any other portion of that expanded service and will not pay for more than the basic service. Compared to many other areas we have been in, even the basic service in Ithaca is not that great. The Weather Channel is something of value to nearly everyone in Ithaca, whether here at home or when planning a trip, or when keeping track of how things are for distant relatives and friends. It is a most valuable service and should be readily available. To add insult to injury is that this will be replaced with a worthless buying or marketing channel. There are few things worse on TV and I resent that intrusion. It demeans the cable system in our community and can channel money away from our local merchants to distant entrepreneurs hawking frequently questionable merchandise. At a time of recession and limited funds, this replacement marketing channel is inappropriate and unproductive. We implore you -- please retain the Weather Channel as part of the basic service. It is oneof the few things on TV that is applicable to the interest, welfare, and safety of the whole community. Most sincerely, Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Curtiss 24 Upper Creek Road, POB 536 Etna, New York 13062 cc. Mayor, City of Ithaca c� 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 January 10, 1990 Ms. Barbara L. Lukens General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: We have received your January 7 response to our letter of January 2. We have carefully read and reread your letter. You've done an excellent job of recounting ACC's positions about changes in our cable service. However, your letter contains no hint of a customer oriented attitude from your company. You periodically mail us surveys to gauge what we "want." However, your actions demonstrate that you do not care about what we think or want. In your letter, you made no effort to understand our concerns or to express any empathy with us. You simply shot back the "company line" on your decisions. Unfortunately, your decisions affect all of us, especially in the pocketbook. We still believe ACC needs a more competitive environment, one that would convince you to be much more customer oriented than you are. Assemblyman Martin Luster responded on January 4 to our letter. He correctly reminded us that states have very little regulatory control over cable companies. Therefore, we have sent our original letter, plus copies of this and your letter, to our US Senators and Representative. It's time to change how you do business with the people of Ithaca and the surrounding area. Without that change, you may one day find yourself without any customers. Sincerely, Kenneth W. White Martha Gabriel -White cc: Mayor Ben Nichols, City of Ithaca City Cable Commission, City of Ithaca Ric Dietrich, Town Supervisor, Town of Danby Assemblyman Martin Luster Frank Proto, County Representative for Danby and Caroline US Senator Daniel P. Moynihan US Senator Alphonse D'Amato US Congressman Matt McHugh Steve Stein, Planning Board, Town of Danby /0.90 We recently polled our Customer Service representatives to find out what the most often asked questions of them were. In an attempt to be more informative, and hopefully to reduce the number of routine calls into our offices, here are 3 of the most frequently asked questions and their answers. Q. When is my area going to be rebuilt so that I can receive Supertier channels 27-43? A. The capital investment required for rebuilds, and the improvements that this brings is sizeable. As such, we need a commitment from a municipality that ensures our ability to do business in the future before we make such an investment in a rebuild. Our overall goal is to have the rebuild completed in 1991. Newark Valley should be completed in 1990. Freeville should be completed by October 1990. The turn on of the balance of the Village of Lansing, and the rebuilding of Danby are dependent on the renewal of our franchises there. Q. Why is it that my payments don't always appear on my next billing statement? A. Your payment is received by the bank and recorded,then reported back to us for crediting to your account. This 4-5 day processing period may occur at the same time that your next billing statement is being printed and mailed to you. The best way to avoid confusion regarding payments is to be sure that they are received by us by the due date printed on your statement. There is a portion of your statement, at the right-hand bottom, that reads, ... payments received by.... If you mail your payment on or after that date your payment will not be reflected on your next statement One feature of our new automated phone service is that you can call in, and with the touch of a few buttons and entering your account number*, find out when we recorded your most recent payment. This feature is available to customers with touch tone .phone service.. - *(account number is 8 digits following 05853 on your monthly statement.) Q. Does ACC send out any notice prior to disconnection of cable service for non-payment? A. Yes. ACC sends at least three written notices stating that we have not received the previous month's payment. When possible, we also attempt to notify late -paying customers by phone. Providing ACC with your current billing address and correct phone number will allow us to serve you better. Next month, watch for more answers to frequently asked questions. ACC AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION January 7, 1991 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. White 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. and Mrs. White: ACC provides basic cable service for those people who choose limited television viewing. The Weather Channel (TWC) had been placed on channel 7 -because 1) ACC needed background for NewsCenter 7 and the other local programs which are included on channel 7 from time to time, and 2) the program selected as background required a provider who would allow us to interrupt their broadcast - The Weather Channel did this. ACC has always offered TWC on tier as a full time service, and tier is where it was always intended to be. We realized that a lot of basic subscribers got used to it, thus as we're moving it from channel 7, -we're moving it to .channel 23. where people in both rebuilt and unrebuilt areas will have access to it on tier. (As a result, FNN, a channel less popular than,TWC, will be moved to channel 42. The Marketplace, which is the service which replaces TWC on channel 7, will be a photoadvertising channel which, in order to be effective, must be available to as many subscribers as possible, thus the reason for putting it on basic cable service. In addition to photoadvertising, Marketplace will also have some regular features. One of these will be local weather, and our goal is to provide this information fairly frequently throughout the day. We are also workingouta way to insure that severe weather warnings will still be available to basic only customers. Your indication that ACC is is holding up the rebuild for a franchise renewal is not entirely correct. ACC has installed all new cables, the majority of the splicing of these cables is complete, and some portions have been activated. We have not shifted, as yet, any drop wires from the old "plant" to the new "plant". In addition, ACC has constructed an additional 14 miles of cable, a 78% increase in the size of the cable system in Danby. This has been an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 Page 2 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth W. White January 7, 1991 The 23 channels we carry on our tier service (24 as of 2/8/91) are available for less than twenty-six cents per day (less than the cost of a daily newspaper). While I realize that not all customers wish to have significant choices in television viewing, for those who do wish to take advantage of all of the fine programming available, ACC makes it very affordable. Sincerely, ,X Barbara L. Lukens General Manager BLL/mkk Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth W. White 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 City Cable Commission City of Ithaca City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 OZIWaie Christine Piatko 208 Ridgedale Rd. Ithaca, New York 14850 January 9, 1991 Tom Terrizzi - City of Ithaca Cable Commission c/o City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Terrizzi: An announcement on my latest ACC bill informed me that "On Febru- ary 8 ACC will replace the Weather Channel on channel 7 with a new service. The Weather Channel will continue to be available on channel 42." Upon calling an ACC customer service representative I found out that the Weather Channel will be moving to Channel 23 where it will be scrambled and unavailable to viewers with budget cable service. On my budget I cannot justify paying $84 more per year just to see the weather. I was upset about this, and you invited me to attend a City of Ithaca Cable Commission meeting and voice my complaint. I am- not sure -- what record was made of my complaint so I am forwarding a written record to you. Enclosed you will find an article I wrote which appeared in the Grapevine on Dec. 26, 1990; I think my complaint is a valid one, and I know that many others in Ithaca\ share my view. ACC persists in making unilateral decisions without regard for the community from which it profits. This is un- acceptable. The sole reason for making such a change is to gain more profits from a Classified Ads service and from people who switch to expanded tier to keep a service they have enjoyed for many years. I think ACC should reconsider this decision to take away the Weather Channel from budget subscribers. If ACC wishes to offer the Market- Place to budget subscribers it should add on an additional unscrambled channel. Sincerely, Christine Piatko n announcement appeared o latest bill from American unity Cablevision (ACC), he Ithaca, which you may or may not noticed: "On February 8, ACC wi place the Weather Channel on chan with a new service. The Weather C nel will continue to be available on c nel 42." Having watched the Weather Cha almost every morning for the past years, I panicked. I have budget cable vice, which does not include channel How will I know just how much I n to bundle up before I step out in to Ithaca winter? A call to ACC revealed that to conti getting the Weather Channel I would h to pay $7 more per month for expan tier service (not counting a one-time charge for change of service, of cour That's over $84 a year just so I can k getting the weather. The customer sery representative carefully pointed out t I did not need to get expanded tier could just "get the weather from the cal news." I asked her what exciting n service would be replacing the Weat Channel. The answer? A classified ads chan called "The Marketplace." Not only will they be getting extra venues for a string of computerized a that will page across our screens, but th want more money from us so we can kee a small service we have enjoyed for ma years. Actually, the Weather Channel will moved to Channel 23 (otherwise peop in non -rebuilt areas would not be able see it at all). The representative reassure me that NewsCenter 7 will still be o channel 7. I was told ACC has alw considered channel 7 as the News Chan nel, and just filled in what would othe be static with the Weather Chann as a "m comunity service." Also, the classified ads would bean ad ded service that would "help do some- thing about` -the economy around here." I didn't ask her what effect ACC thought it would have on the local newspapers that depend on their- own. classified ads. I know ACC has: outraged subscribers in the past. Two years.ago, they cancelled Sportschannel just before the- hockey play-off season; WVIA was cancelled shortly after ACC sent out letters saying it had no intention of doing so. Some- how the Weather Channel was the last straw for me. n the During the unsatisfactory meeting, Com- Chris Doyle, another ACC representa- re in tive, stated that, as with WVIA, "a bus - have iness decision has been made ... now 11 re- we're going to move forward." It appears nel 7 that ACC is a business that has chosen to han- ignore the community it claims to serve. han- I pointed out that ACC has on occa- sion left the Weather Channel unscram- nnel bled on Channel 42 during special usages four of channel 7, most recently during the ser- Kinge trial broadcasts. Barbara Lukens' 42. response: "We already offer you 16 chan- eed nels without increasing the price [because the of restrictions in the franchise agree- ment]. Let us raise the basic rate and then nue we'll offer you 17." She said there will ave be forecasts available on the classified ads ded channel, and they will be updated every $5 three days. You know how useful fore - se). casts updated so infrequently will be in eep Ithaca. (Even the Weather Channel's ice hourly update is sometimes insufficient hat for keeping up with Ithaca weather!) . I The cable commission meeting of lo- course addressed other issues more im- ew portant than the Weather Channel. The her City of Ithaca is considering bringing suit against ACC for breach of franchise. nel Through it all, the common refrain from Ms. Lukens was "I hear what you're say- re- ing, but ..." ds According to Doyle, only about 20 per- ey cent of those of you who subscribe to ca- p ble television will share my plight. The ny rest of you already have the expanded tier service. Still, I hope you will join me in be my protest against ACC making such 1e completely unilateral decisions. to Write a letter to your local .cable com- d mission (if you live in the city of Ithaca: n City Cable Commission, care. of City ays Hall, 108 E. Green St.). This puts your - complaint on the record and can be used er- later when ACC tries to renew its fran- el chise agreement. Currently, cable commissions do not - have much authority over ACC. The only way to make ACC more responsible to such commissions is through legislation at the federal level. Stricter regulations are being considered for cable companies that do not have competition. Contact your local congressman and urge him to pass legislation to re -regulate the cable in- dustry, And last, but certainly not least, make your complaints known to ACC directly. They claim to respond to consumer inter- est. Write to Barbara Lukens, c/o ACC, 519 W. State St., or call ACC at 272- 3456. Be sure to leave your name so a record of your complaint is kept. By voic- ing our needs and concerns, perhaps we can make ACC more responsive to the community from which it profits. Let ACC hear what we're saying, no "outs" about .t. After trying out several other avenues of complaint, I went to a meeting of the City of Ithaca Cable Commission at which' ACC general manager Barbara Lukens was also in attendance. Here was my chance to take my complaint directly to City Hall! I Z�Z6 /e'0 4 ck -0-4A-c- (L. Cat Clo Og E. 10 JLj35 1 Ms. Barbara Lukens, Manager American Community Cable 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 January 8, 1991 Dear Ms. Lukens, We are writing to express outrage at the plans of ACC to remove the Weather Channel from the basic tier cable service. We subscribe to basic service in. order to recieve the benefits of improved reception. We use the Weather Channel often to inform us of the forecasts for this area of changeable and often inclement weather so that we can plan for our safety. We have absolutely no interest in the "Marketplace" programming of local advertisements which you propose to substitute for the Weather Channel. In fact we think it is inappropriate to use a channel for such purposes, but doubly outrageous to replace a vital public service with ads. It would seem that your only motive is to force people who rely on the Weather Channel to subscribe to a higherievel of service. As a franchised monopoly, we feel that you have a responsibility to serve the public. This move on the part of ACC makes us question the entire way that cable companies are regulated. Perhaps there should be a citizen's committee that must approve any changes in programming of the channels so that such disregard for public interest would not be allowed. This letter is being copied to our state and congressional legislators as well as to the local cable commission to alert them to this problem and to request their assistance in preventing such actions. We very sincerely hope that ACC will revise this decision and leave the Weather Channel accessible through basic service. We have been contented customers up until now, and would like to remain so. If, however, ACC goes ahead with this decision, we will be among those people vigorously opposing the ACC franchise when it next comes before the City of Ithaca. 115 E. Upland Road Ithaca, NY 14850 cc: Matthew McHugh Marty Luster James Seward Thomas Terrizzi Sincerely, AaAvi Dr. and Mrs. Richard G. Harrison . HARRISON 115 E. UPLAND RD. fl1 TiCA,N 148O 044ri 1-1-8La woakmilZe - • - --• ^ • , • ,, , 14.64.51a)t • • • - • . - .14 . ' • - • - • , _ .• '-. • ' • Lc— ; m late- 5 f 11e424. Aiy STD 4fA/tL�. 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January 5, 1991 American Community Cablevision City Cable Commision Care of City Hall 108 E. Green st. Ithaca, N.Y. Dear Sir: Your announcement that as of February 8, 1991 Channel 7 will no longer carry the daily and hourly weather service was a real shock. To discontinue a weather service in this area and at this time of year has to be thb lastworld nil rrespon-- sible planning andcommunity service. The motive is, of ,course., more profit and total uncaringness for the consumer. You must know that in nearly every home, the first pro- gram to be checked every morning is the Weather Channel. That's how important this channel is. Don't count on consumers paying an increase in the basic rate, as Ms. Lukens suggests. Sincerely yomrs, City Cable Commission Care of City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 1111hildl11,.."I'll .4461""1, -.4 . 25 6(15 --r,„„da- rAyet iv 1/4/ ISSb 9d -n 5 ci (V14(2)--4.442Arr- 1--(k.kk-ns ( c 1,)‘ SI-&Z.L. it-rgvo Aur - k cartuyt (1S-- ItAdmoI& ot «/frce_ - tf-& t&3cLcat,,,„4x cit,„d 23 4k-a_ta 1')-L-CAL;y r e/iet)--,L Ay a ciw,1 Fe.vut- vr,;„,,t, 0,4 /1- LL L p47,ei bo-mt OJ 6,& -viv(61_4,_et irdv &.7-1 av(v(4--tt.";7 . r‘kft ity ‘k,rtrc-ct a-4 \,/at J-. 61/Nri±1/4.1- r1/4;r \ y eh& 1,L4f A-A.Art_ y0A-r 4.4A-cLet,,Lx 4.fr.) . . 1 14-,m_e_a. Ciet.Mt Lem--t.kutn• C 1 1co . . . _ "---/Al a 1.1) f JAN CD . • g-b-LeL CA-12kt_ C(/,,,n_s-s-Th Ck-ky (Avis_ i 0 - e_G24 b 14-1,(9_coz, (\iv [(Oct' 1020 Highland Rd. Ithaca, N. 'i. Jan. 2, 1991 City Cable Commission c/o City Hall 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, N. V. Dear Sir or Madam: My family and I were very much upset to learn that after February Oth, Channel 7, the Weather Channel, will be replaced with a classified ads channel, "The Marketplace". We all find the Weather Channel very useful and cannot see any advantage (except for the advertisers) of an ads channel. The viewership was not consulted about this change, although we are paying ACC's bills and should have some say in what is presented. Because ACC is the only game in town and subject to little regulation, it seems to be able to do what it pleases. We have no intention of either getting the expanded service or paying $84 a year additionally just so as to be able to get what was up to now included in our basic cable service. I intend to do what I can to press for greater regulation of the cable industry. In the absence of competition, regulation seems like the only answer. Sincerely, Eva Kronik Eva Kronik 1020 HOfard Road Ithaca, NY 14850 '• t ' ' • Clty-Cable Commission 108 77. -Green Street - 7thaca, New York 148E0 tr' 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, New York 14850 January 2, 1991 Ms. Barbara Lukens American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: Your decision to move the Weather Channel to channel 23 and FNN to channel 42 makes no sense. The Weather Channel is invaluable to us. We do not want or need classified ads on Channel 7. Surely you learned something with "Prevue." The one bright spot is that we will no longer have to endure Channel 7 news! We also watch FNN. However, since we live in the Danby area and are not "rebuilt," we will no longer receive this channel. We moved to Ithaca in December of 1988. The quality of selection and service provided by ACC is disappointing. In North Carolina, we had over 40 channels plus HBO and paid only $24.00 a month. We could even watch hockey, something we've been unable to do since moving to the Northeast! Plus, we had superior service from our cable company. We lived in an area that promoted competition among cable companies. ACC needs a more competitive environment, one that would convince you to be much more customer oriented than you are. We realize that until you get your ten year contract with Danby, we will continue without "rebuilt" cable service. However, we support our Town Board in its reluctance to acquiesce to your demands for a guaranteed ten year monopoly. We hope the City of Ithaca will look carefully at its relationship with your company. Today, you have a "captive" audience. We hope not for long. Sincerely, Ken W. White Martha Gabriel -White cc: Mayor Ben Nichols, City of Ithaca City Cable Commission, City of Ithaca Ric Dietrich, Town Supervisor, Town of Danby Assemblyman Martin Luster Frank Proto, County Representativefor Danby and Caroline Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth W. White 314 Meadow Wood Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 d•4M 7J �� Q 4. PM ;3 J it / \ �W City Cable Commission City of Ithaca ° City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 1►:fII!Ifl l!!!!!1:1111,tU1!l,1ll„1 IE1If1,o ill NEW YORK STATE COMIVIMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION • CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 (518) 486-5727 FAX WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman Honorable John C. Gutenberger Mayor City of Ithaca 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Case # 9010073 Dear Mayor Gutenberger: You resident American <c_ CEIV ED OCT October 16, 1990 THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissioner BA ' t r. ROCHMAN Commissioner JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner MICHAEL E. RUSSELL Commissioner EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director will find enclosed a copy of correspondence we received from a of your municipality. We received it and forwarded a copy to Community Cablevision asking for a reply within ten days. This correspondence is for your information since this company operates within your jurisdiction. If we can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 518-474-2212. Should other residents of your area be experiencing cable television related problems, please give them our toll-free number 1-800-342-3330 for assistance. Since rely, Carol Jamison Municipal Consultant CJ:omc r, r MNTH/YEAR SEISE). N Eh'YO FR,K? JSTATE COMi t$V) =s ; 1OABLE TELEVISION R L ! r_Lt\ wlvi: HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR CABLE COMPANY? 90 SEF Il Fri t1 PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS FORM. SUBSCRIBER YOUR NAME • LAST NAME FIRST NAME YOUR HOME ADDRESS /D2) /'4-47- % f6 ) NO. & STREET 7-4CA- CITY,..TOWN, VILLAGE (Circle one) COUNTY • YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER (6°) 2 7 3 — S 3S -U (DAYTIME) ACCOUNT NUMBER (if known) MIDDLE INITIAL Aka/ STATE ZIP CODE AlGia CABLE COMPANY DATE YOU FIRST CONTACTED THE CABLE COMPANYtIrju 3d 1 Gq U -tN`�21 c A -Ai C--- (J ' t > 1 S 1 r)(.) NAME OF COMPANY STREET CITY SATE(/'. /4( ZIP 7,7 szr4.2fSle_pr—..-11rirr,CV NATURE OF COMPLAINT (Please check) BILLING PROGRAMMING PROPERTY DAMAGE RATE INCREASE OTHER CABLE INSTALLATION SERVICE PROBLEM l 1 DESCRIPTION OF COMPLAINT: 77/6 G z/11.eGJ_ /42_ r 7-2/id 7-2/ 2S ��i2.G utc s• S ;7- ' Cel S / Q CcrnrvE - __i7 -;cl / 4- C What form of relief are you seeking? (For example: new converter box, correction in bill, service, etc.) Have you contacted this Commission before? If so: When Telephone Case number Written Case number PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RETURNING THIS FORM: PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM PHOTOCOPIES of any bills, cancelled checks, correspondence, work orders, contracts, warranties or other papers relating to your complaint. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS !!! SCPflYkt A6 �-%�&t?. DATE // /76' NOTE: A PREADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED Fnp ` C)UR CONVENIENCE. NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CORNING TOWER BLDG. - 21st FLOOR ALBANY, NY 12223 1-800-342-3330 from Senator James L. Seward Many cable television consumers have had problems with their cable companies, whether it be with rates, programming, service or equipment. The Senate re- cently approved legislation, now law, to ensure that cable television customers receive the services for which they have subscribed. Under the articles of the Cable TV Consumer's Bill of Rights, you have the following rights. Channel Change or Substantial Programming Change • You have the right to be notified 30 days before your cable television company decides to make any channel changes or if there will be a significant change in the programs on a channel. • If your cable company knows about these changes and fails to give adequate notice, you have the right within 30 days to downgrade or cancel your service without charge. • If you decide to have your service terminated or downgraded within 45 days of the notice of a channel or significant programming change, the cable television company cannot charge you for the downgrade or cancellation. Change of Advertised Service • You have the right to a rebate for the removal of programming that has been substantially advertised and then removed or changed within six months. If you are affected by a change in your basic service, your cable company must offer you the option to: * cancel basic service with a rebate of all installation and related charges; or * upgrade to the premium service tier carrying the channel at no installation charge and with a waiver of extra charges for the premium service for any time that is less than six months following the last day of the end of the advertising promotion. • If your cable company promotes a channel on their basic service tier and then fails to make it available within six months even though it is available to the company, you have the right to: * a free cancellation of service and the return of all installation and related charges; or * continued service and a credit equal to a portion of your charges for each month that the channel is not available for up to six months following the end of the promotion. The State Commission on Cable Television will determine the size of the credit. Service Information • You have the right at any time to request a written description of all programming and services offered on the cable system and of the rates and charges relating to the programming and other services. This written description also must describe the subscriber's rights. Twice a year, with certain exceptions, cable companies • must mail this information to subscribers. • You have the right to a consumer rights information brochure provided by the cable television industry. If the cable television commission finds that your cable television company is in violation of any of the rules and regulations described above, the company may have to pay the state a fine of up to $3,000 for each violation. Definition of Terms Basic service — lowest available rate Premium Tier — extra channel(s) where an extra payment is needed beyond basic service. Cable com- panies generally offer several different premium tier options. Downgrade — change in service made by the sub- scriber to a less expensive service tier than the one to which you currently subscribe. Network— a group of programs distributed, packaged or sold to subscribers as one single unit, including a channel or station. 2/90 AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION October 25, 1990 Mrs. Eleanor Beck 100 Fall View Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mrs. Beck, I have been.forwarded a copy of.your complaint to the New York State Commission on Cable Television, and would like to clarify the situation. ACC has increased the charge for connection/activation/installation of new customers to $40. Our reconnection fee for seasonal customers or for customers transferring within our service area is $20.00 ($21.40 with tax). I apologize for any misunderstanding we may have caused you. Apprising ACC in advance of dates you will be leaving or• returning will allow us to serve you better. Sincerely, Barbara .L. Lukens, General Manager cc: Carol Jamison, NYSCCT Tom Terizzi, Ithaca Cable Commission BLL/mkk 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 NEW YORK STATE COMMIVIISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 (518) 486-5727 FAX • WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman October 16, 1990 Ms. Barbara Lukens American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 CASE # 9010073 Dear Ms. Lukens: THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissioner BARBARA T. ROCHMAN Commissioner JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner MICHAEL E. RUSSELL Commissioner EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director The attached correspondence was received in this office recently. Please give this matter your prompt attention. Commission Rules (Section 590.5-a) require you to send a reply within ten (10) working days of receipt of this letter. Your written response must contain a statement of what steps your company has taken to resolve the situation and any action to preclude the recurrence of the matter. If the resolution of this situation is not within your jurisdiction or if you feel that the complaint is unjustified, briefly explain the circumstances in your letter. Please be aware that the Commission is authorized to make further inquiry which may be formal or informal, and may include a hearing or oral argument, or both. A -.copy of the attached correspondence -to- this Commission has been forwarded to the City of Ithaca. A copy of your response should be sent to the municipality and complaintant. ' Your cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely, Carol Jamison Municipal Consultant CJ:omc attachment FORM # c".2 ` MNTH/YEAR SERSEp ®5 19 0 N Fill/,; .YO R, K3 ,STAT E COMM9�g1ON3S CABLE TELEVISION (k LE i� t:+ 6-6 ss" -)s. HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR CABLE COMPANY? 90 SEP 17 Pi i 0= I; PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS FORM. SUBSCRIBER YOUR NAME LAST NAME FIRST NAME YOUR HOME ADDRESS /dO A"1-tL 0164::) MIDDLE INITIAL NO. & STREET COUNTY STATE ZIP CODE CITY,, OWN, VILLAGE (Circle one) YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER (60-4 2 7 3 - (DAYTIME) ACCOUNT NUMBER (if known) Q S - 00.2.44s -G%-.S CABLE COMPANY DATE YOU FIRST CONTACTED THE CABLE COMPANY A-�Nkke,2i c-A-� C 4A L vu (41-1 C4. S (Az NAME OF COMPANY &Ou 2 C� 3d lggv STREET — = CITY- – — -STATE zP (-S�zt? NATURE OF COMPLAINT (Please check) BILLING _CABLE INSTALLATION SERVICE PROBLEM PROGRAMMING PROPERTY DAMAGE RATE INCREASE OTHER DESCRIPTION OF COMPLAINT: 774-- C /(,9.e - 77Y 4V+' //)7)-1_ 7ZZ) 45,4e4 ��4� ceN,vE'�i7 tick Q-v� e' 41- / What form of relief are you seeking? (For example: new converter box, correction in bill, service, etc.) Have you contacted this Commission before? If so: When Telephone Case number Written Case number PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RETURNING THIS FORM: PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM PHOTOCOPIES of any bills, cancelled checks, correspondence, work orders, contracts, warranties or other papers relating to your complaint. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS !!! SiONATUEsE Ci/LL(`lt X61( .-0- DATE 5f� / // /9q( NOTE: A PREADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FnP. YOUR CONVENIENCE. NEW .YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CORNING TOWER BLDG. - 21st FLOOR ALBANY, NY 12223 1-800-342-3330 NEW YORK STATE COMMNIISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 (518) 486-5727 FAX WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman Honorable John C. Gutenberger Mayor City of Ithaca 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Case # 9010073 Dear Mayor Gutenberger: You resident American OEi!! ED OCT October 16, 1990 THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissio er ( . ROCHMAN Commissioner • JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner MICHAEL E. RUSSELL Commissioner EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director will find enclosed a copy of correspondence we received from a of your municipality. We received it and forwarded a copy to Community Cablevision asking for a reply within ten days. This correspondence is for your information since this company operates within your jurisdiction. If we can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 518-474-2212. Should other residents of your area be experiencing cable television related problems, please give them our toll-free number 1-800-342-3330 for assistance. CJ : omc Sincerely, (lL6/-61:- Carol Jamison Municipal Consultant FORM #(� r. n( MNTH/YEAR SENSED. v 5 1990 Tvb473 6-5 sEs N 'YQRI ASTATE COMNpA t7ftS NCABLE TELEVISION HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR CABLE COMPANY? 90 St' 17 FM 3:1:1 PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS FORM. SUBSCRIBER YOUR NAME ge ety ,4'uolz LAST NAME FIRST NAME YOUR HOME ADDRESS /da 14441- - U ieled 7�.2 NO. & STREET L MIDDLE INITIAL 91TY,:TOWN, VILLAGE (circle one) COUNTY STATE g& ZIP CODE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER (& 9 z 73.-- S 3.S- 1-3 (DAYTIME) ACCOUNT NUMBER (if known) are - O CZ4/-s -moi- 51 i CABLE COMPANY DATE YOU FIRST CONTACTED THE CABLE C-c/wt-vvf 1 u- iT .4 NAME OF COMPANY 1 STREET 7`�- CITY STATE COMPANY itekpjt1 s'17: 3d (q -(q0 C4/3(p -t ) I S I O r.) /4AS..7 -• ri q ZIP •.- NATURE OF COMPLAINT (Please check) BILLING PROGRAMMING OTHER CABLE INSTALLATION PROPERTY DAMAGE SERVICE PROBLEM RATE INCREASE DESCRIPTION OF COMPLAINT: 77/6 ,19.2Lf _ `U2 4 ^7 ] / 7 s z -7—we 72,'5 7Z) /42i..1 Cie 57— n A -1C-1 Q -.J 2 C6! os 71k.r i 57— "-F CzJ 7 i C 54f! . r What form of relief are you seeking? (For example: new converter box, correction in bill, service, etc.) Have you contacted this Commission before? If so: When Telephone Case number Written Case number PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RETURNING THIS FORM: PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM PHOTOCOPIES of any bills, cancelled checks, correspondence, work orders, contracts, warranties or other papers relating to your complaint. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS !!! P rN.',TURE *CiAtin OC -29--0---4 DATE Q // /g4 NOTE: A PREADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED Fnc :CUR CONVENIENCE. NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CORNING TOWER BLDG. - 21st FLOOR ALBANY, NY 12223 1-800-342-3330 AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION October 25, 1990 Mrs. Eleanor Beck 100 Fall View Terrace Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mrs. Beck, I have been forwarded a copy of your complaint to the New York State Commission on Cable Television, and would like to clarify the situation. ACC has - increased the charge for connection/activation/installation of new customers to $40. Our reconnection fee for seasonal customers or for customers transferring within our service area is $20.00 ($21.40 with tax). I apologize for any misunderstanding we may have caused you. Apprising ACC in advance of dates you will be leaving or returning will allow us to serve you better. Sincerely, Barbara L. Lukens, General Manager cc: Carol Jamison, NYSCCT Tom Terizzi, Ithaca Cable Commission BLL/mkk 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 sxrr Sti. c rrrrsg. n:�a m-�rutt 'so. L=ASANa nma�, :ennt swrs�sn u aat+ s. ,.... APAEFIICAN CAGAP.9UNOTY CA8LEVISI®A9 August 29, 1990 A. William Kelly Executive Vice -President WVIA-TV/44 The PBS Center, Old Boston Road Pittston, PA 18640 Dear Bill: It's funny, but no matter what one does, it's impossible to predict how it will be perceived by others. For example, ACC spent a lot of advertising dollars in an attempt tolet our subscribers know where to find programs which they may have viewed on WVIA, but which were also carried on other stations. In fact, we were up front with our subscribers in telling them that only 40% of WVIA's programming was duplicated and made an effort to let them know that programming was never an issue in our decision. We understood that WVIA was (is) differentiated programming. Telling them where they can find some of their favorite programs was intended to be a service. Naturally we could not addres,S the programming which is not duplicated since it is not offered on our cable system. Our apologies, if it appeared to you that we characterize WVIA as unimaginative and mediocre. That was not our intent. Sincerely, GJ— Barbara L. Lukens General Manager cc: Ithaca Cable Commission Ithaca Journal Ithaca Times 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 MOH 1 0 : 50 August 27, 1990 City of Ithaca Cable Commission 1@8 Green Street Ithaca, N( 14850 To the members of the Commis cion, THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CENTER WVIA TV/44 WVIA FM/90 PITTSTON, PA. 18640 TELEPHONE: 717-826-6144 717-344-1244 Despite WVIA's most sincere efforts to keep the dialogue over our removal from ACC in Ithaca betleen our supporting members and the cable company, and despite several conversations with their l ane.ger and Har~keting Director to provide information and a7s stare our good intentions, ACC has reacted to community pressure by placing a large and misleading advertisement with which we must take exception. The advertisement contains boxes of program .Listings by days of the week to show hoer WVIA programs are easily available on other PBS stations carried by the cable system. Ithaca viewere familiar with Channel 44 rill see that ACC deliberately selected only programs which are duplicated, in several casee by stations which, unlike WVIA, liberally edit and frequently interrupt for commercials. Less obvious, however, ie the missing forty-five hours of programming which continue to differentiate and distinguish WVIA on distant ,Table eysteme carrying as many as our PBS Stations. Where in thif; ad are Jacques Cousteau, Lucille Ball, the World at Wer, Dick Van Dyke, The Waltons, Ben Casey, All in the Family, iy, the original, unedited Star Trek aeries, eleven rage .ly commercial -free moven, and dozens of other popular programs on music, weather, cooking and health? Perhaps unintentionally, ACC's ad characterizes WVIA as unimaginative and mediocre; in doing t o they offend usa and insult the intelligence of many ACC subscribers who care very deeply that the issue receive e fair and truthful hearing. is available to the Commission and ACC to help in any way to provide technical asr istaarnce or other. information which might restore a unique service to the people of Ithaca. Resgectft 11y, A. Wiilia Kelly Executive Vice -Pre= ident cc/ Mrs. Barbara Lukens, General Manager, ACC The Ithaca Journal The Ithaca Times P _ 0 2 L> U Mr & Mrs Gustav H. Kopp 48 Horvath Dr. Ithaca, NY 14850 • C - wv1� 1 2 - 7 �©1a ce c C` - / � U August 20, 1990 Mr. William Demo Ithaca Cable Commission 108 Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Demo: WVIA TV THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CENTER WVIA TV/44 WVIA FM/90 PITTSTON, PA. 18640 TELEPHONE: 717-826-6144 717-344-1244 I have received a letter from Barbara Lukens at American Community Cablevision, in which she reports a comment made to your commission last week by a Mr. Carl Steckler. Mr. Steckler apparently said to the commission that W.VIA-TV's chief engineer, Mr. Bill Myers, was told by the cable company to "get off our back or we'll dump you." I must categorically deny that Mr. Myers made such a statement to Mr. Steckler, ,or that American Community Cablevision would ever have made such an unprofessional statement. As you can certainly understand, WVIA is not pleased with the decision by the cable company to drop our station. On the other hand, we have held for years that ACC is to be_::c.ommended for reaching out far beyond an area in which they were at one time required to carry PBS stations. They have proven themselves aggressively customer oriented in carrying WVIA-TV; in doing so, they have won for us hundreds of supporting members and, I believe, thousands of satisfied viewers. WVIA-TV is willing to provide whatever technical assistance and promotional support that ACC would find advantageous in the search for an acceptable signal for Ithaca. Barbara Lukens knows of our good intentions in this case, and we have a high regard for the cable system in Ithaca. Bes+ Bards, Al. William Kelly Executive Vice President AWK/d1 cc: Ms. Barbara Lukens 9 April 90 American Community Cablevision 519 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Folks: I have just been informed that your realignment of channels on May 1 will place Channel 44 on cable channel 19. If you want to avoid a lot of screaming and yelling I would urge you to rethink that decision. Please think back to all the screaming and yelling you heard a few years ago when Channel 44 was taken off the system; placing it on channel 19 will have the same effect. Not the best conclusion to National Cable Month! For those of us who live on South Hill channel 19 is virtually unwatchable due to interference from public service radio, mainly the Ithaca Police and Ithaca College Safety Division, along with paging services and some other signals I haven't been able to identify. Please don't tell me this can be cleared up by a service call. I've had too many of them over the years; we're just too close to the transmitters. The decision to place FNN on channel 19 was a sensible solution. While you're at it, you might also consider moving Elmira Channel 36 off of cable channel 20 and replacing it with something else where picture quality is unimportant. This channel is crosshatched with interference from a paging service at 158.100 Mhz. The interference is minor compared to that on 19, but it is sufficient to drive me back to Syracuse Channel 9, scratchy and washed out as it is, for ABC programs. (The fact that you are in direct competition with Channel 36 for advertising should be all the more reason to give it a clear channel, to avoid any appearance of restraint of trade!) A suggestion (one of many possibilities): bring 36 and 68 down to;6 and 7; drop 44 to 21. To avoid gaps in the numbers, put the Weather Channel on 19 and C -Span on 20, and give them to__ lower -tier subscribers. No one is going to -buy the upper tier for the Weather Channel anyway, and C -Span ought to have the widest possible viewership. And think how magnanimous you'll appear when you give lower tier subscribers 18 channels instead of 16. It beatslistening to screaming and yelling. : Ithaca Cable Commission Sincerely, William Steele Box 782 Ithaca, NY 14851 5k..tYr.3Yna.N\A'Y�Y�•k,V+..M�4�fheL<9>t " "Av G..... r` K tt.xFOAu'.nwGTT, AMERICANCOMMUNITY CA®LEVISION.:.w.., •TT..T....,......:....y..,r. ."""","•' Mr. Michael J. Ellis 111 Sheldon. Rd. Ithaca N.Y. 14850 Dear Mr. Ellis: I am writing to you in response your remote control service. to your recent July 27, 1990 inquiry about Unfortunatly, it is not possible for us to provide you with the expanded tier service without- the use of our cable box. We offer two levels of service, and standard. The basic service does not.:require•the•use ofa not scrambled cable'box because those channels are however, to protect our service, we do scramble all channels not included•in our basic service. (see uncaused) I understand that this is an' inconvenience to you because you would like'to use the remote that came with your television is presently no way to have the remote feature unlet -:s youwrceL there remote or ' purchase a universal remote control:' (about $45) If you have any further questions please feel free to me at 272-3456, anytime between 8:30 and 5:00 anon. contact you for your time. - C i-1.. Thank 9 West State Street Sincerely, L S. Kurt S. Becker Customer Service Department American Community C-ab:Lc.-v sion Ithaca, New York 11350 G07 -272-3n' NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 (518) 486-5727 FAX WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman Honorable John C. Gutenberger Mayor City of Ithaca 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Case # 9007132 Dear Mayor Gutenberger: RECEIVED JUL 261990 July 20, 1990 THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissioner BARBARA T. ROCHMAN Commissioner JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner MICHAEL E. RUSSELL Commissioner. EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director You will find enclosed a copy of correspondence we received from a resident of your municipality. We received it and forwarded a copy to American Community Cablevision asking for a reply within ten days. This correspondence is for your information since this company operates within your jurisdiction. If we can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 518-474-2212. Should other residents of your area be experiencing cable television related problems, please give them our toll-free number)1-800-342-3330 for assistance. CJ:omc Sincerely, Carolamison Municipal Consultant Please ❑ READ ❑ HANDLE ❑ APPROVE and ❑ F• ORWARD ❑ R• ETURN ❑ KEEP OR DISCARD ❑ REVIEW WITH ME Post-It'"routing request pad 7664 WIAND ROUTING - REQUEST To (13 L l Date From A" 09 NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR CABLE COMPANY? PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS FORM. ISUBSCRIBER ` YOUR NAME �' 1 \.S LAST NAME YOUR HOME ADDRESS 1l f S /i L6o i r. FIRST NAME MIDDLE INITIAL NO. & STREET (Tn1R- PP( P 1,14- CIT TOWN, VILLAGE (Circle one) COUNTY YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER (‘07 ) 3`l ? - 1(1 3 l (DAYTIME) /Of I i/X0 STATE & ZIP CODE ACCOUNT NUMBER (if known) CABLE COMPANY DATE YOU FIRST CONTACTED THE CABLE COMPANY - ILO. COMw. , * cE isivr� NAME OF COMPANY 131X 2-30o STREET ( 771--A CITY LO r • :,- b-.' tr)c, • r— ' c - rnc.). r— c; r' I \0 r- cn rT .� STATE ZIP L NATURE OF COMPLAINT (Please check) BILLING . _CABLE INSTALLATION PROGRAMMING PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER SERVICE PROBLEM RATE INCREASE DESCRIPTION OF COMPLAINT: What form of relief are you seeking? (For example: new converter box, correction in bill, service, etc.) Have you contacted this Commission before? If so: When D Telephone Case number Written Case number PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RETURNING THIS FORM: PLEASE ATTACH TO THIS FORM PHOTOCOPIES. of any bills, cancelled checks, correspondence, work orders, contracts, warranties or other papers relating to your complaint. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS !!! SIGNATURE /4 .,wC \r/v14---- DATE NOTE: A PREADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION EMPIRE STATE PLAZA CORNING TOWER BLDG. - 21st FLOOR ALBANY, NY 12223 1-800-342-X30 August 20, 1990 Mr. William Demo Ithaca Cable Commission 108 Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Demo: WVIA TV THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CENTER WVIA TV/44 WVIA FM/90 PITTSTON, PA. 18640 TELEPHONE: 717-826-6144 717-344-1244 I have received a letter from Barbara Lukens at American Community Cablevision, in which she reports a comment made to your commission last week by a Mr. Carl Steckler. Mr. Steckler apparently said to the commission that WVIA-TV's chief engineer, Mr. Bill Myers, was told by the cable company to "get off our back or we'll dump you." I must categorically deny that Mr. Myers made such a statement to Mr. Steckler, or that American Community Cablevision would ever have made such an unprofessional statement. As you can certainly understand, WVIA is not pleased with the decision by the cable company to drop our station. On the other hand, we have held for years that ACC is to be_'c.ommended for reaching out far beyond an area in which they were at one time required to carry PBS stations. They have proven themselves aggressively customer oriented in carrying WVIA-TV; in doing so, they ..have won for us -hundredsof supporting members and, I believe, thousands of satisfied viewers. WVIA-TV is willing to provide whatever technical assistance and promotional support that ACC would find advantageous in the search for an acceptable signal for Ithaca. Barbara Lukens knows of our good intentions in this case, and we have a high regard for the cable system in Ithaca. AWK/dl cc: Ms. Barbara Lukens Best regards, A. William Kelly, Executive Vice President 201 East Marshall Street Ithaca, New York 14850 August 6, 1990 Ms. Barbara Lukens, General Manager American Community Cableuision 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: We are writing to express our concern and dissatisfaction with the decision which has been made to remoue WUTA-TU, Channel 44 from the lineup of stations offered to viewers by Rmerican Community Cableuision in Ithaca. In a news report which appeared in The Ithaca Journal three or more weeks ago, it was stated "by officials" (presumably officials ofWC/ , that about 40% of the programs carried by WUTA are duplicated on other cable channels received in Ithaca. 1 f this statement is true, it would then mean that 60% of the programming on WUIR IS NOT DUPLICATED by other cable channels. This would seem a hefty percent of original programming ( or non -duplicated programming) available to Ithaca audiences through this channel. In a Customer Update article prepared by RCC, which also appeared in the Ithaca Journal recently, it was indicated that "WUTA's transmission was not strong enough to reach the tower sight in Enfield clearly". We found it ironic that at the uery moment we were reading the article, we were also watching WUIR which was being transmitted into our lining room with no problem. Of course, there are times when the transmission of that station is not as strong as the signal from other stations. However, we haue found the ability to view WUIR -TU generally good. In addition, since we are also subscribers to WUTA-TU, it is hardly logical that we would be suAporting a PRS station which we could not see!!! In the same Customer Update article mentioned above, it was indicated that the situation had been discussed "with the management and engineering staff at MIR" and ----"in fact, they were surprised that we haue been able to see their signal at all" We find that statement interesting in view of the fact that we recently receiued a letter from A. William Kelly, Vice President and Station Manager for MIR , in which he indicates that MIR has made euery effort to "persuade American Community Cableuision to reconsider their decision" to remove channel 44 from their programming. There would seem to be little grounds for persuasion if. indeed the MIA signal received in Ithaca were sufficiently faultgjp make pleasurable uiewing impossible for Ithaca residents. We presently subscribe to the expanded seruice lineup from Rmerican Community Cableuision. In so doing, we already receiue two C -Span stations, i.e. channel 24 and channel 29. Since the news report offered in The Ithaca Journal indicated that WHIR would be replaced by_ yet another G -Span on channel 19, it appears that not only will we be losing a valued PBS station but in its place we will be receiving an additional C -Span station which, in our view, most assuredly is not needed!! It is true we already receiue two PBS stations - which provide us with fine television viewing. However, if sling percent of the viewing .an ,WIIIA is not duplicated on the other two P115 stations,it appears even more critical to retain that station in your lineup. In addition, the''programs on the other two PBS stations which are duplicated on WU IA -TU are often shown at the same time of day whereas these same programs are offered at alternative times on WUIR,_giving uiewers with varying time schedules an 4Pportunit,g to see prj grams they might otherwise miss. Lastly, it seems to us incumbent on American Community Cablevision to consider their subscribers before making arbitrary decisions concerning their viewing lineup. Since it is the uiewers who financially support the American Community Cablevision enterprise, it would seem good business, as well as good public relations, to consult the consumers involved before changing the product they are purchasing. We realize that according to the Consumer Update article, American Community Cableuision has prepared a survey ,to be included in the August billing, which will give subscribers an opportunity to express their preferences regarding programming. Howeuer, to us this seems a bit like "closing the barn door after the horse ran away", i.e. the survey is conducted AFTER an important decision has been announced. Needless to say, we sincerely hope you will reconsider your decision to remove WUIR from your station lineup and we will be closely following the actions of American Community Cableuision in this regard. incerel yours, &a/4e J��ister Joyce H. McAllister cc: Benjamin Nichols, Mayor, City of Ithaca A. William Kelly, Uice President/Station Manager, W11111 -TU 145 North Sunset Dr Ithaca NY 14850 July 27, 1990 New York State Commission on Cable TV Empire State Plaza Tower Bldg, 21st Floor Albany NY 12223 Dear Sirs.: .We have been customers since the mid 'fifties of the local cablevision company, which during recent years is American Community Cablevision (ACC). This complaint has to do with their billing practices. . We have always paid.for our service in advance,.for a year at a time, for.._ which we have. received one month's free .-seryiceplease see Exhibit #1,:which shows a balance due of $162.for:13 months (12/31/88 to 1/31/90), and our can- celled check #1948 for $162. . When I received the bill marked Exhibit #2, I'called ACC in late December of -1989 and pointed out that (1) we had already paid for service. for January of 1990, and (2) we wished again to'pay for a year's service in advance. On .December 29, 1989, an employee -of ACC (I believe his name was 'Kurt) called me and said that (1) the'free month's .service.for-a yearly payment in advance was no longer available, (2) the amount due for service from 1/31/90 through 1/31/91 was $139.48, (3) I should send a check for that amount, and (4).the next due date would be 1/05/91. The handwritten notes on Exhibit #2 were made by me during that telephone'call, on 12/29/89. Note my cancelled check #2178. of December 29, 1980, for $139.48,:with the memo thereon (written AT THAT TIME, before the check, was mailed) about service!'from 1/31/90 to 1/31/91." The bill marked Exhibit #3 arrived yesterday. Please note that it is for one month's service from 7/31/90 to 8/31/90. When I Called. ACC yesterday their representative Cheryl was not able t� explain the.bill to. my satisfac- tion....She said we had not paid -for a year's service last December. .Today I went to see her with all the documents photocopies of which are enclosed,here- with. Our meeting was totally.unsatisfactory. •When'I asked what she thought we .owed for service through 1/31/91, she calculated it to be $99.41. Exhibit #4 is a copy of the note I asked her to write.. She said there had been some increase in charges this Spring, but that if we had paid for service until 1/31/91 the increases:woul.d not go into effect until then. • ACC is penalizing us for their own failure to make and retain adequate records I am sending a copy of this letter to ACC's Customer Service Manager, Doc McQuade, and to the Cable TV Commission of the City of Ithaca. However., I do not plan.to make a further payment to ACC until I have a reply to this com- plaint from your office. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely (Mrs) Shirley 0. Hockett cc: Doc McQuade TVCable Commission, City of Ithaca EXHIBIT 1 • EXHIBIT 2 EXHIBIT 3 7 AMERICAN COMMUNITY'S CABLEVISION 05853-019902-01-31 FOR— 145 SUNSET:DR N 11/30 . BEGINNING BALANCE 12/31— 1/31 BASIC SERVICE 12/31— 1/31 EXPANDED TIER 12/31 BALANCE DUE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION L05853-019902-01-3 WVaigigaKIL 12/31/88 1/31/90) 101/05/891112/17/88 K Y (NCEUDES'PAYMENTS• .32k EyoaM+4v�1.y 4J WECELVEO: BC-Cs:i+ BILLING QUESTIONS CALL 272-3456... OFFICE HOURS M—F 8:30-6:00 PM 6.00— SAT 9 AM—NOON (FRONT LOBBY ONLY) 108.00 60.00 162.00 FOR— 145 SUNSET DR 'N 11/30 BEGINNING BALANCE 12/15 12/04-12/31 12/31 12/31— 1/31 12/31— 1/31 DEF DISC APPLIED PARTIAL .MONTH FRANCHISE FEE BASIC SERVICE EXPANDED SERVICE 12/31 BALANCE DUE 6IL:LED�EppO � hl ED,TO WDppT,EnD��'J gr . "� ECEs� D1.10 byya i, �ski7c���..�:,e.�zr� •c;�,apaM,T1K d..a 12/31/89 1/31/901101/05/90 112/18/ BILLING QUESTIONS CALL 272-3456 OFFICE HOURS M—F.8:30-6:00 PM SAT 9 AM—NOON (WALK—IN ONLY) NY STATE CABLE 7.92 COMMISSION 1-800-342-3330 14.00— ACC IS REDUCING THE INSTALLATION .86 RATE FOR ADDITIONAL OUTLETS FROM .18 $35 TO $20 PLUS TAX. 10.89 THERE IS NO LONGER A CHARGE FOR 5.94 SETTING UP A PARENTAL GUIDANCE CODE. THE FEE TO TRANSFER AN ACCOUNT 11.79 WHEN MOVING WITHIN ACC'S FRANCHISE d AREA IS NOW $20 PLUS TAX. - 3 (t + L1 .L, WI' 3I ' c?u-e £4 LC "TSCOhMDRLDO'',IsAU"CAMERICAN COMMUNITY. ge A 2BH ytFaBwERDTE--"\ y a, •FT<pE CABLEVISION t05853-019902-01-31 7/31/90 8/31/90; 08/05/90'7/19/90 BILLING QUESTIONS CALL 272-3456 OFFICE FO.R— 145 N SUNSET•DR . HOURS M—F 8:30-6:00 PM SAT.9 AM—NOON (WALK—IN ONLY) NY STATE CABLE 6/30 BEGINNING BALANCE 15.19— COMMISSION 1-800-342-3330 7/31— 8/31 BASIC SERVICE' 11.98 .. 7/31— 8/31 EXPANDED'SERVICE 6.93 • 7/31— 8/31 .FRANCHISE FEE .19 7/31 BALANCE DUE 3.91 CHARLES F: HOCKETT,:`.""': SHIRLEY 0. HOCKETT' 145 NORTH SUNSET DRIVE S. ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 pNO^R' STAR' IloTh Cs 0ln� e' pf"U V [�, • NA ., • thaer4 NY 141650 PAY TO THE ORDER OF CHARLES . SHIRLEY O. HOCKETT''% "145 NORTH•SUNSET DRIVE ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 MEMO b\Qcia,U\3 2179.. oZ 19 / 50-262/213 ✓rrC4C-4,I m' I $ �3y7 VVZ/ • _/ _ O41-(� / O rJ. `✓t L ' DOLLARS ®®. NORSTAR 19'"8Omc..839 .... BANK, NA IOuer4 NY 14850 f», /4//97,.. a 7 . qt-}CJCT�.. +1:0213026.221: • :6726773363111'. '217.9:...1'0000013.9'8." EXHIBIT 4 aa.. -7 I 3.1 / 0 Me#1/1.),0 OC6a7C 9/62/4 _et _ _ _ ; Lt J tJ'L7 2-3, «'o I1 v \ Kms/ Cot 'k no U 5Se., lt7' -mac, /14-4.' Yd,t iLt ss; 1114-7p1 1 hav-e_ r iffyn �,•i ^ C irrrw�1"%' e c' 5 u•1-e-;stc, _to , at, Sc ,4 i la°c'ia (ic T-2 (-ea ('s: v+� 1 /}s 1 06,1( etzays /nam 56 s -17,,,A0(--�G.A- c€ (R Y 5i r - - /6-c.--L.}- pci'.-Ac firns r; 11 a-, €-e akJ m^e - - T14 \ of itiew i o eL ere? Ul vvz s 1/i j- -(1 Q a-4% "I � '* - t'k fi , t.,..1 t/ °1 i S ' IS` 4 rrt ; ca Ka a(.., 30— e (.4 ce ,47 1.- sf a o ,-Qct s - s;(Q ) 45t5 1 -..'k's (oma otos dF-' ' Il ccvn vr►wt%cc c71 s /}S OF -(k)-5 okatiz ayr copiQs i -r- Ca ceraQs aFd G( frt & �2Q-�+1 6vyjr� /QItV-ese, -% g t 0,4 U M;/5k)s — / v(r L rvvi vril55iC✓� V�-�j�M�CCJn 6;-/ J MAY 27, 1990 DEAR SIR: MY HUSBAND AND I•HAVE-BEEN VISITING YOUR LOVELY COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST TWO.WEEKS IN AN ATTEMPT TO•FIND HOUSING AS HE HAS ACCEPTED A TEACHING POSITION IN ITHACA, SINCE WE HAVE -ARRIVED I HAVE HAD OCCASSION0 DEAL WITH THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, THE•ELECTRIC AND GAS AND AMERICAN CABLEyISION.• OBVIOUSLY I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO THE CALL 1 PLACED TO-YOUR.OFFICE AS IT WAS UNLIKE EITHER CALL TO. THE UTILITY COMPANYS, I-.REMEMBER:THE WOMAN'S NAME I SPOKE WITH .AS I ASKED•HE3TO•REDEAT IT TWICE AS IT WAS SO UNUSUAL, HER •NAME ISJOCK, •JOT ONLY DID SHE ANSWER ALL OF MY.•QUESTIONS-PROFESSIONALLY BUT COURTEOUSLY AND SHE SEEMED•GENUINELY•INTERESTED-IN WHAT MY FAMILIES VIEWING PLEASURES WERE. • .SHE EVEN OFFERED -TO SEND -ME A CARD WHICH LISTS THE CHANN LS•YOU OFFER FOR MY AREA AND PRICES FOR THE SERVICES,. UNLIKEI HE -PHONE AND.ELECTRIC COMPANY, SHE WASN'T CONCERNED -THAT- WASN T •READY TO -ORDER IMMEDIATELY, SHE TOOK. THE -TIME TO.EXPLAIN .ALL - THE •PROCEDURES INVOLVED AND APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG IT TOOK TO HAVE SERVICE INSTALLED, AFTER BEING ON THE PHONE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, TWO DAYS IN A ROW, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GATHER INFORMATION, IT WAS A PLEASURE DEALING WITH DOCK, .AT THIS TIME, I AM NOT SURE WHERE WE WILL RESIDE,HOW- EVER, IF WE•ARE WITH.IN YOUR CABLED'AREA YOU WILL DEFINETLY -AVE OUR BUSINESS, I•AM SENDING SIMILIAR LETTERS TO BOTH "A BELL AND ELECTRIC AND GAS BUT THE TONE IS VERY DIFFERENT, IN OUR HURRIED WORLD TODAY PEOPLE TOO OFTEN FORGET THAT THE VOICE ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE IS A HUMAN BEING, NOT AN INANIMATE OBJECT INCAPABLE OF THINKING OR FEELING, IT WAS NICE TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, I APPRECIATE•THE TIME AND TRAINING YOU OBVIOUSLY GIVE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, NEW YORK STATE SENATE ALBANY, NEWYORK 12247 JAMES L. SEWARD SENATOR 50TH DISTRICT ROOM 805 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BLDG. ALBANY, N.Y. 12247 April 17, 1990 Mr. Thomas 0. Terrizzi 714 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Mr. Terrizzi: Did you ever have a cable television program abruptly changed or cancelled without knowing about it? In the last few years, I have received calls and inquiries from cable television customers who want to know what their rights are when their cable company changes programs or an advertised service without telling them. Many times, these problems are a mere oversight on the part of cable companies. But consumers should be aware of their rights in such a circumstance. In response to these concerns, the Senate developed the "Cable TV Consumer's Bill of Rights" to ensure that cable customers get the services for which they have subscribed and paid. I voted for the legislation, which was signed into law by the Governor. The "Cable Consumer's Bill of Rights" requires cable companies to give adequate notice of program changes or provide appropriate compensation. You also have the right t� information on programs and charges. For your use, I am enclosing a summary of the "Cable Consumer's Bill of Rights" on a convenient card that you may find --helpful i f -you subscribe -to -cable -now,-- or—i-f—you-'-re -th-i nki-ng- about it in the future. As a consumer advocate, I believe that you have the right to full knowledge and information about the goods and services you buy. As always, if you need assistance with a state -related problem, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 272-4806. Sincerely, JAMES L. SEWARD State Senator Please and Date Scotccr 7664 "Post -it" Routing -Request Pad ROUTING - REQUEST READ HANDLE APPROVE FORWARD RETURN KEEP OR DISCARD REVIEW WITH ME To 6,4 / From /.lc. _ i%. City Cable Commission c/o City Hall 108 Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 ,RE GEN ED MSR 221990 March 20, 1990 Dear Sirs: Thank goodness for the Weather: Channel! I had a dental appointment for Tuesday, March 20; Monday as I checked the Weather Channel (hourly) and heard the forecast for a snow advisory and could follow the path of the weather system hour by hour I was ready when the dental office called to confirm the appointment to request a re -schedule. The secretary urged.me to wait, that forecasts could be wrong. My faith in the Weather Channel made me firm in my request and I was re -scheduled. Thank you weather channel!!! That is why I am so outraged oxtxaged when ACC is doing everything it can to turn a 24hour Weather Channel into anything but weather. With the severe weather season upon us it is vital that we have access to what is' happening weather wise. It is. very evident that Acc and the Commission could care less about the safety of their customers. True --- we CAN. get weather reports from the Syracuse TV stations at their news spots.HOWEVER--often the severe weather warned about and shown on the Weather Channel has already happened and the evening news can only report the damage ---- a great comfort to the persons who have suffered personal or property damage. Can nothing be done to stop ACC's stealing of vital viewing time from the Weather Channel? When I pay for a service I expect FULL service for my money. I have the right to 24 hours of Weather Channel just as much as (even more than) the people who watch 24 hours of CNN, ESN, etc. Mrs Julian M.. Carte -r 174 Pinckney Road, Rt #7 Ithaca, NY 14850 Ph: 347-4726 cc:FCC City Cable Commision c/o City Hall, 108 Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Sirs: February- 20, 1990 "Cable Company polishes service record" (Ithaca Journal 2/14)!!!! What service record? - NINE complaints in 1989? Probably customers would have complained .more if they could ever reach a Customer Service person. A few weeks ago it was announced that more service lines would be in and calls would go through quickly. I called 3456 andgot a recording that told me that if I had a touch tonephone to push aome buttons (numbers), if not "please hold". What is the thinking behind such rampant discrimination?Aren't all customers worthy of the same treatment - some of us do not have touch tone service! If one calls 3449 you may be lucky enough to wait fifteen minutes but when you do reach a real live voice that person doesn't even knowthat the cable is out and doesn't know what is wrong without leaving the caller dangling while they try to search down someone who might have the answer Of Course Channel 6 is useless!!! What do we have the newspaper and and buy TV Guide for?The TV Guide inthe Friday Journal is one more piece of junk mail to throw in the garbage! Channel^is more than worthless. I see no reason for an "open" channel to be given to prejudicial/radical groups so they can harangue a public that thinks they are paying for entertainment. If it wants to be a LEARNING? CHANNEL have it closed circuit for schools. Channel 7 - the Weather Channel keeps telling me it MY weather channel 24 HOURS a dayso on week -days 3 HOURS are stolen from my 24 hours. The place for 7 News is. on Channel 13!!! Now they are stealing more time by interspersing advertising!! for wrestling, movie previews .and now political issues!!! I was' especially furious and upset on Thursday, February 16! At 4:00 O'clock a warning scroll had come on Channel 7 from the National Weather Service advising of possible tornadic weather in the area. I was a nervous wreak and kept Channel. 7 on. I gladly gave up my favorite programs to keep track of the weather;but did the "gods" at ACC care about impending danger to their customers? NO!!! They went on as usual with wrestling promos (and, of .course the idiotic news)!!! I find that dispicable . NOW they are going to put WENY on Channel 7 7121'7"" Can't something be done to stop this piracy? Channel 11 is blocked out for 2/3 hours in the afternoon and when I called to protest was told they were looking for a replacement program and as usual nothing is being done. Another example of paying for a channel and not getting full service. But the most blatant discrimination of all time is the rebuilt areas having 43 channels and we on the old cable having 26. I have no quarrel with rebuilding the system; but rebuild the whole system and then turn it on so that there can be no charges of discrimination! I thoroughly agree with"Na"shville" -Cable TV is ripping people off! Cheyene, Wyo.- a new class of robber barons at public expense. Satellite City, Odessa, Texas - cable Tv is screwing the hell out of the consumer. Hurrah for them!! Telling it like it is. What has- happened to giving SERVICE? With much anger and frustration Mrs. Julian M. Carter 174 Pinckney Road, RT #7 Ithaca, NY Ithaca 14850 EC cc: Cable Commission RECEIVED OCT 12 1989 AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION October 9, 1989 Ms. Joyce E. Gordon 1312 East Shore Drive Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Gordon: ACC currently carries several network and independent stations which we receive here, in Ithaca via an array of antennas mounted on .a tower WCNY, WBNG, carried in similar if duplicative, at Snyder Hill - stations such as WIXT,- WENY, WSTII, WTVH, WICZ and WSYT. These broadcast stations are their entirety and will, from time to time, have not duplicated programming. They are not all however, and also provide variety in programming. It is also true that several of these stations provide area news, which is important to many of our subscribers. ACC has chosen to carry these programs in order to provide 26 channels of cable programming instead of the 20 channel.s required by our contract with the Town of Ithaca. Your concern about duplicated programming is certainly reasonable, but we will, in all likelihood, not be dropping these stations from our lineup. ACC will be providing an additional 16 channelsin the Town of Ithaca by the end of 1990; if not before. This will not cure the duplication Of programming -on the channels ACC currently carries, but will provide you with additional choices. Thank you for taking the time to write us. Respectfully, co— Barbara' Lukens General Manager BL/ fw cc: Noel Desch, Supervisor Town of Ithaca ;John Gutenberger, Mayor City of Ithaca 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 / 001000 /Din Jo, ob0 lib = )(o(a(a City of Ithaca Cable Commission c/o City Clerk's Office 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sirs: 114 Queen Street Ithaca, New York 14850 14 September 1989 I discontinued my cable service with American Community Cablevision on 19 July 1989. I returned my signal box then as well: The company promised - to give me my deposit for the box in six to eight weeks. I have not received my money. A company official has told me that there are thousands of other people in the same position as I. Since we are obliged to return our signal boxes to their office, there is no reason that they cannot return our deposits in full at that time. Let use make the conservative estimate that there are four thousand such cases each year. The current interest rate for borrowing money is near 10% per annum, and the deposit on a signal box is twenty-five dollars. Hence American Community Cablevision is keeping at least one hundred thousand dollars of their customers' money for more than two months per year. This is worth at least $1600 per year, and this is money that they are taking from their customers with no warning and no just cause. Please make American Community Cablevision pay back their customers' deposits in full when the signal boxes are returned. Thank you for your kind consideration. cc: American Community Cablevision Congressman Matthew McHugh Ithaca Journal, Letters to the Editor Cieti.co-a_ Sincerely yours, Eric Fisher ;ii ME) SEP19 1989 CM um URGE Ithaca, IJ. Y. -Cbre 014r'V1(SS(ox, Ms. Lukens, General Manager American Community Cablevision Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: 428 Elm Street Ithaca, New York, September 2, 1989 About a week ago we were unable to fall asleep because of a loud' humming noise. We went outside and traced the disturbance to a green metal box on the telephone pole of Elm Street and Haller Boulevard,., the corner on which our home is located. We immediately called ACC because we assumed something was wrong with the equipment. .An answer.' service told us that there was no one who could help us at that time. - We called the police who said to call ACC again and request repair ser= vice., We called and eventually a repairman arrived and checked out the=:equipment, only to inform us that everything was operating normall including the noise. The box had been installed earlier that day. Since the noise was driving us to distraction, we called the police again and requested an officer come by s'o we could register a formal complaint. Once he arrived we registered our complaint. Since then we have continued to get something done on our behalf. You were unreachable by phone. We each spoke to Mr. John Herwin, Head Engineer,on arate occasions. He made some tentative suggestions and offered some explanations, but despite his patience and assurances that something would be done, we do not have the impression that we will soon be relieved of this unbearable and inconsiderate imposition on our lives. His concern over -the cost of moving the box as 'well as our knowledge of similar instances in Ithaca give us no choice but_=` write you and pursue every means possible to resolve this problem. Mr. Herwin claims that the equipment in question could make less noise with some redesigning and would then sound like the other boxes we hear around town. A "normal -sounding" box would be unacceptable, to us. Since this pole is abput forty feet from our home and since there are several poles across Haller Boulevard up Elm Street that have no houses behind them, we propose this box be move arne of those poles. s� Cr �jO yq ► r I— r- 44.19 o'•? fQ'�r��9 Page 2 The noise from this box has adversely affected our health. We are unable to sleep well, we cannot prepare for work, and we are unable to function at our jobs with our usual efficiency. We, as well as many petiole we spoke to in Ithaca, have learned that a man on Utica Street had to wait nine months for a box that was twenty feet in front of his bedroom window to be removed. We do not want to wait anywhere near that long. In fact, we believe we suld be compensated in some way until the box is removed. If it is so costly to install and change, these boxes and if you know that they are potentially very disturbing, we wonder why we weren't asked if the noise bothered us before the equipment was installed. We urge you to give this matter your immediate consideration and t4Oacilitate the necessary steps for removal of this box to a place where we cannot hear it. Sincerely, Steve Hertzberg Mona Sulzman cc: .Cable Commission Alderman Robert Romanowsky Alderman Raymond Schlather RS . GUe p I cm a. --R. vi d o c.w kt.A d -mit- P(Q. odius comcQco , a77 7 ss3 114 -Queen Street Ithaca, New York 14850 14 September 1989 City of Ithaca Cable Commission c/o City Clerk's Office 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sirs: 7- kJ -f7 I discontinued my cable service with American Community Cablevision on 19 July 1989. I returned my signal box then as well. The company promised to give me my deposit for the box in six to eight weeks. I have not received my money. A company official has told me that there are thousands of other people in the same position as I. Since we are obliged to return our signal boxes to their office, there is no reason that they cannot return our deposits in full at that time. Let use make the conservative estimate that there are four thousand such cases each year. The current interest rate for borrowing money is near 10% per annum, and the deposit on a signal box is twenty-five dollars. Hence American Community Cablevision is keeping at least one hundred thousand dollars of their customers' money for more than two months per year. This is worth at least $1600 per year, and this is money that they are taking from their customers with no warning and no just cause. Please make American Community Cablevision pay back their customers' deposits in full when the signal boxes are returned. Thank you for your kind consideration. cc: American Community Cablevision Congressman Matthew McHugh Ithaca Journal, Letters to the Editor "•f •.-� tit/ Sincerely yours, C Eric Fisher 014 niiiSS( crM- Ms. Lukens, General Manager American Community Cablevision Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. Lukens: 428 Elm Street Ithaca, New York September 2, 1989 About a week ago we were unable to fall asleep because of a loud humming noise. We went outside and traced the disturbance to a green metal box on the telephone pole of Elm Street and Haller Boulevard, the corner on which our home is located. We immediately called ACC because we assumed something was wrong with the equipment. An answering service told us that there was no one who could help us at that time. We called the police who said to call ACC again and request repair ser- vice. We called and eventually a repairman arrived and checked out _ the equipment, only to inform us that everything was operating normally;:: including the noise. The box had been installed earlier that day. Since the noise was driving us to distraction, we called the police again and requested an officer come by pro we could register a formal complaint. Once he arrived we registered our complaint. Since then we have continued to get something done on our behalf. You were unreachable by phone. We each spoke to Mr. John Herwin, Head Engineer,on arate occasions. He made some tentative suggestions and offered some explanations, but despite his patience and assurances that something would be done, we do not have the impression that we will soon be relieved of this unbearable and inconsiderate imposition on our lives. His concern over the cost of moving the box as well as our knowledge of similar instances in Ithaca give us no choice but write you and pursue every means possible to resolve this problem. Mr. Herwin claims that the equipment in question could make less noise with some redesigning and would then sound like the other boxes we hear around town. A "normal -sounding" box would be unacceptable to us. Since this pole is about forty feet from our home and since there are several poles across Haller Boulevard up Elm Street that have no houses behind them, we propose this box be moved to one of those poles. Page 2 The noise from this box has adversely affected our health. We are unable to sleep well, we cannot prepare for work, and we are unable to function at our jobs with our usual efficiency. We, as well as many pole we spoke to in Ithaca, have learned that a man on Utica Street had to wait nine months for a box that was twenty feet in front of his bedroom window to be removed. We do not want to wait anywhere near that long. In fact, we believe we suld be compensated in some way until the box is removed. If it is so costly to install and changep these boxes and if you know that they are potentially very disturbing, we wonder why we weren't asked if the noise bothered us before the equipment was installed. We urge you to give this matter your immediate consideration and tOacilitate the necessary steps for removal of this box to a place where we cannot hear it. cc: Sincerely, Steve Hertzberg Mona Sulzman Cable Commission Alderman Robert Romanowsky Alderman Raymond Schlather n S, SVP pi CPm a -fie L2 c -f 0 UJB l/1/USJ-Mi-p W17 /� , Qs t`-= c 4/cQ X77 7 53 1312 East Shore Drive Ithaca, New York 14850 August 23, 1989 General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 W. State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sir: Last night represented an all-time low for programming on your cable system. The New York Yankees' baseball game was shown during prime time ON THREE DIFFERENT CHANNELS of the 26 channels we receive in our area. You are ripping off your customers by charging them for 26 channels and having such outrageous duplication of programming. There are many other stations which could be offered to Ithaca viewers (WTBS, for instance), which would provide more variety in programming. Please eliminate the duplication and offer more choices to your viewers. Sincerely, Joyce E. Gordon cc: Mayor John Gutenberger sPle ala;t4° 46/1744* A4444:44 e°,61 • TOMPKINS COUNTY Human Rights Commission Room 116 • 301 Harris B. Dates Drive • Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 • (607) 274-5305 August 14,. 1989 Ms. Barbara Lukins American Community Cablevision 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Lukins: Our office has been contacted by an individual concerned about an alleged policy of American Community Cablevision concerning work orders and access to service for married couples and individuals who cohabit. New York State Human Rights law assures that every individual within this state is afforded an equal opportunity and to eliminate and prevent discrimination in public services on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex or marital status. I contacted your office on 8/10/89 and requested a written copy of your policy on installation to determine if there was a simple misunderstanding on the part of the individual who contacted this agency or the possibility of a valid concern. Our agency can, upon its own motion, file complaints alleging viola- tions of the law. The New York State Division also has the power to issue supoenas at any stage in our investigation. On 8/11/89, Doc McQuaid denied me a copy of this policy and stated I should contact you on 8/17/89. I am requesting a written copy of your policy on service installation and changes needed for written work orders and whose signature is required; in my office by 8/21/89. Should there be any question about a specific policy, I would like to review them generally for any inequitable application pursuant to Human Rights Law. Very truly yours, Marnie Kirchgessner, Human Rights Investigator MK:ch CC: David Lytel Ithaca Common Council City Cable Commission Michael Lane, Mayor of Dryden 5 Karel] Easel 1032 6hIawshaw Roacl 'Ithaca, New York 14850 June 18 1989 American Comm. Cablevision P.O.Box 2300 Ithaca NY 14850 • Ladies or gentlemen: Separately I ani sending you -in the fee for the last 6 Stanley I have to say though,that the satisfactory,as the were late RECEIVED JUN 19 1989 JUN ` 1989 -k CITE" Man OMR Itiam I!, Y; addition to other amount - cup matches(Sports-channU). transmissions have .been un - in 4(1) matches,specifically: 1) we received it only in the end of. the at least an hour late! second period,i.e. 2) all right 3)again late more than an hour! 4)forty minutes' late 5)at least 35 or more minutes late!' Your number where to call was busy. practically all the time, and the other number 27.27272(channel 13). was simply acknowledging "some problem".. And we have never received a word. of apologies for this. rather major inconvenience,but have to pay a full price nevertheless. Sincerely cc City of Ithaca Cable Commission in care of the Mayor Ithaca Cable Commission c/o Ithaca City Clerk 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (d e'7-11 71n June 15, 1989 Dear Commissioners: I have recently received copies of ACC's mailing titled "Owning Your Cable Television Equipment: The Pros and Cons" which were forwarded to my attention by several residents of the City. As a former member of the City's cable commission and cable negotiating committee, it's discouraging to read this biased and confusing brochure. It certainly does not conform to the reasonable notice requirement of the franchise, let alone the spirit of that agreement. I recall discussing our §16.16 notification requirement with representatives of ACC during refranchising negotiations. At that time, ACC indicated its customer mailing would consist of a clear (and rational) explanation of the "internal wiring" franchise provision. What ACC has instead distributed to residents of the City is a uniformly one-sided series of arguments against customer ownership of wiring. I think it's safe to say this mailing is not what the City side of the negotiating table had in mind when the provisions of that section were agreed upon 18 months ago. Of course, the simple fact ACC doesn't like the idea of customer ownership probably indicates it's a good one from the consumer's point of view. However, since a lot of people are going to be misled by this pamphlet, and may therefore fail to note its patently self-serving aspect, let me suggest that ACC be taken to task on a couple of its statements. First, not one positive aspect of customer ownership is presented. Obviously, there are at least a few advantages in ownership of wiring, which is the reason this provision was originally included in the franchise. Not unlike the telephone company wiring ownership provision, ownership of the internal television cable wiring permits considerable savings over a monthly charge for secondary taps (unless, of course, ACC deletes these charges from its schedule). Also, ownership helps avoid the sensitive issue of ACC's right of invasion to check or inventory its equipment. Second, confusion is created in the pamphlet by ACC's bundling of its wiring ownership "explanation" with other matters such as equipment purchase rights. These are two separate provisions of the franchise, but it's not obvious in reading ACC's material. There is also the matter of charges for equipment ownership. In Section 3, the cost of acquiring a remote control from ACC is listed as $100, plus taxes. You may find it interesting to note that the last time ACC's equipment costs were included in documents presented 1 before the Commission, these remote controls cost ACC a little bit less than $7 apiece. Even accounting for inflation, that's a healthy markup! Also, the converters cost ACC about $120, in contrast to the indicated $300 purchase fee. Lastly, there are several implied threats, of which one good example reads "Should our monitoring locate a problem within your home, you will be required to repair it immediately. (my emphasis) or ACC will be required to disconnect your service until repairs are made." This statement flies in the face of ACC's clarification letter to the City's attorney of June 1, 1987, page 5, which details the actions to be taken in the event of a leakage problem. Basically, it is agreed the customer will be given up to 5 days to correct the problem, after which time ACC could, at its discretion, disconnect service. Apparently, ACC is misrepresenting fact to advance its position against wiring ownership. ACC indicates that customers who wish- to own wiring must sign up by June 29, 1989. Several people I spoke with (perhaps billed on a bimonthly basis) have not even received this notice. Clearly, the 30 day window arbitrarily established by ACC is not adequate time for customers to receive notice and complete the necessary arrangements for acquisition. This is true even if they have received ACC's mailing and somehow manage to comprehend the relative advantages and disadvantages of home ownership in spite of it. At this time, the Cable Commission might consider requiring that ACC distribute a more useful (i.e. less deceptive) description of the wiring ownership franchise provision, that ACC provide a reasonable opportunity for customers to respond to the offer by setting a new cutoff date and that ACC not intimidate or overcharge customers who might wish to purchase equipment. Thank you for the opportunity to make a few comments on this matter. Sincerely, cc: Mayor John C. Gutenberger 2 Curt Dunnam 461 Perry City Rd. T -burg, NY 14886 ACC AMEj une CQMM 1N4TY9CABLEVISION • Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Isacks The Northside Civic Assn. c/o 214 Lake Avenue Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Isacks: First, let me explain that my delay in responding to your letter dated May 21, 1989 is due to the fact that I am only in Ithaca several days a -week until the new General Manager is announced. Quite frankly, I was appalled at the crew's behavior and language and hope that the actions taken by our Project Manager, Jim Murray, listed below will serve to support our sincere apology. - Jim has discussed the incident with the Contractor Supervisor who has, in turn, reprimanded the crew members involved. - It was noted that this behavior would not be tolerated by American Community Cablevision and that further incident would be cause for having the crews dismissed from working on the Ithaca rebuild. - Please be assured that Jim's offer to have the "Japanese Lilac" trees examined by a specialist and pruned and sealed if required stands firm. Please forward the invoice toour office for payment. It is our intention to reinforce with all of our contractors the importance of maintaining proper decorum in the field at all times. Sincerely, Leonore Glowacki Acting General Manager cc: John Herrewyn, Chief Engineer Jim Murray, Project Manager 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 CHARLES L. SMITH/ASSOCIATES 110 HANSHAW ROAD • ITHACA. NEW YORK 14850 6 Jun 89 American Community Cablevision PO Box 519 Ithaca, NY 14851 Dear Folks: With all of the "letters -to the Editor" in The Ithaca Journal, and The Journal's own editorials, we...as charter subscribers to Mr. Ceracche's post World War II TV cable.... feel we should write to you folks once more, as evidently (see attached) we last did in 1984. As subscribers since the beginning to the "basic" service, we got for our money much more cable "service" in those days than we do now, at approximately one third the annual charge. Not only did Mr. Ceracche give us full 12 -channel service, but when, say, a Syracuse network station was duplicating a networkprogram also carried by, say, Binghamton, he would automatically switch one of those channels to a Rochester or Scranton,etc. prgsram, thuse giving actual much more than just the basic 12 -channels. What do we now have ? All during the month' of April we hesitated writing to you about this new yrogramming of the channels, since it was "Cable Month" and we were under the (false) impression that you would return to the old set-up at the end of th month. Of course, you did not. Let's take it channel by channel: Your decision to give us the CNN network (what does CNN stand for?) on one of the previous three Syracuse channels was abeneficial one and we think you selected the correct Syracuse station to replace with the CNN channel. Unfortunately, however, the three network channels are no longer grouped together (2,3,5) so that if one has forgotten on what channel a favorite program is being shown, it is no longer a simple matter to dial the three in succession to find the correct channel. Now we must go from either 2 or 3 to 12, which obviously is inconvenient, but we guess necessary. In our humble opinion Channel 13 could, for the most part, be thrown out entirely, and especially the less said about Ithaca College broadcasts the better. Viewers should be paid for having to watch that unbelievable stuff, poor lighting, poor sound, poor camera work, poor scripts, etc. The College has a wonderful music department and we always enjoy their concerts, but their TV work is for the birds. AVIATION CONSULTING. RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENT - 2. In your change of channel 10 from a Binghamton station to an "all -sports" channel, we thznk,.you.have lost a lot of viewers. Such a specialized channel can appeal to.only a minority and most of the important baseball, football and basketball games, cannot only be seen on other regular channels, but such games are Usually. presented in capsule form during regualr news broadcasts. This channel could, in our opinion, be much better used to present New York Channel 5, which. we, once had for many years. The present stuff on channel 6...and we have never been quite sure WHAT that channel is supposed to convey...if deemed necessary by a majority of your viewers, and we think it won't be....could be joined with other unwatchable items on channel 13, and run, say, quater of each hour , etc. Channel 6 is another total loss to us now, and we would not even watch it if WE were paid to do so. Certainly the public should not have to pay for• ;this stuff. Lastly, we draw your attention to the paragraphs marked in red on the attached copy of our 1984 letter to you. All of this still stands, especially the maddening inability to ever get in touch with anyone in your employ when the cable "goes out," as we all know it does much more often than any other "utility." We note, in closing, that you have often ref'ered to viewers which you supposedly made before this recent As a charter cable subscriber, WE never received any can find no one amongst our friendswho did. Why not take _a true 'survey" of ALL of your viewers customers you satisfy, the more future customers you Sincerel CHARLES L. SMITH cc: Chairman, County TV Commission City Hall, 108 East Green Street a "survey" of your cable service change. questionnaire, and we ? After all, the more probably will get. ,12A The Ithaca Journal Thursday, April 27, 1989: EDITORIAL Basic .cable viewers 14, pay more for less -f Network duplication on the' basic 12 -channel service was a long-standing complaint against American Community.' Cablevision. Viewers asked formore' variety in programming in place of the extra ABC,_ NBC,. and CBS channels. But when the cable company finally ended duplication and revamped the channel lineup .this month, what did basic -cable customers in the Ithaca area gain? The answer is, not much. The .emptyslots were. filled -with Cable News Network,: little more than non-stop news; ESPN; now offering such sports gems as college baseball, monster trucks and midget auto races; and Prevue Guide, which touts ACC's extra -pay offerings and gives listings in roller -towel fashion. All this, and the Weather Channel too: Basic service now has less real programming than ever. You want more programs? You pay more. That's ACC's message. "I feel raped, I don't know about other. viewers," one man told the Ithaca city cable commission this month. "They got a raise in rates, and they cut the service:" • Despite its franchise, the city has virtually no control over channel placement and offerings. With few restrictions, federal •: rules allowcable companies to do pretty much as they please: What are viewers to do? First, they: can complain to ACC. Customercomplaints evidently restored the National Hockey League playoffs on a pay-per-view basis; after ACC had announced it had dropped SportsChannel. But ACC does not disclose viewer ratings or numbers of programming complaints. So people also should mail complaints to the Television' Cable .Commission: in Ithaca's City Hall. Are basic -cable customers dissatisfied with the new lineup? Do they miss the Syracuse Channel 5 news team, which- even ACC admits was the second most popular? Are they annoyed that Ted Koppel's "Nightline" can't be seen until midnight? Armed with enough complaints, the commission might shame ACC into providing better service uFinally, viewers: should write their 'congressmen: Congress is taking an interest in cable monopolies, rate hikes and program • . t.*; manipulation. Sentiment for re-regulation,of•cable TV_ is ; growing, and Ithaca cable viewers can encouragethis trend. *P41 I HEAL PEIRCE • CHARLES L. SMITH/ASSOCIATES 1 1 0 HANSHAW ROAD • ITHACA, NEW YORK 1 4850 31 OCT 84 , American Community Cablevision PO Box 519 Ithaca, NY 14851 Dear Folks: I am returning your "Customer Survey" questionnaire herewith. In addition to the indications I have placed thereon, and in view of the general hubbub over the cable service that is currently going on, I thought you might like ip few impressionsfrom one who was a charter subscriber when Anthony Ceracche first started stringing cable . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I feel that in recent times we have been getting much less service for approximately three times the cost that we did originally. Ceracche not only gave us 12 truly different channels (we subscribe to the basic cable service only) but on at least one of the 12 channels he gave us two or three different stations during the day at tinges, when otherwise they would be repeating a program already coming -to us on one of the other channels. He also gave us a Rochester station, a Scranton station etc. in this manner. At the present time we do not truly have 12 channels, since 2,5 and 6 are usually the same, and 4 and 8 are often the same.. Thus we have 10 or less true channels at around three times the previous cost. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I am personally extremely sorry you were forced, as 1 read it, to discontinue k) New York City channel 5N . In a time when the Federal government is priding 4�i+ itself on deregulating everything from the airlines to tucking, etc., it is difficult to believe that it still seems to control what stations I can see on my television ! We were happy in "the old days" when we got both Rochester and NYC channel 5N, since we were able to get the news of Rochester where or oldest son lives and also NYC news at lOPM, where our youngest son lives. (While it is true that Channel 11 also carries NYC news, supposedly at lOPM, the time slot is often taken up with baseball games or other sporting events.) We also enjoyed other local New York City programs on channel 5N, and certainly hope you are able to reinstate it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I feel that your response, when the cable service goes out for any reason, could be vastly improved. We never know, when our cable service goes out, how widespread the malfunction is. For this reason we sit by the telephone and try and try to get your number, which in such a case is busy for extremely long periods of time, or so it seems. ( The answering service which formerly took your night calls used to keep their phone off the hook so they would receive no more "out of service" calls. We know this because we also happened to have their (OVER) AVIATION CONSULTING, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT 1! f 2. own office number, which/ would finally in desperation call, and which was always answered pr•ijtly, although they were annoyed by our doing this. With all the telephon=•evices on the market, it would seem that you could employ one that7"'iaces wa ting calls as they come in, taking them turn by. turn, or at least get an automatic recording machine which would at least record our call. Cable service goes out more than telephone service or any of the utilities that come to our house. It would also seem that, when you know ahead of time that you will be working on certain cable channels, you could publicize the fact on the lower half of the "w ather'crawl" on channel 13. You have the greatest external access to our home, yet we never know when you are going to tinker some way with the cable. It is frustrating to hurry other duties so that one can see a favorite program, only to find nothing but static on that channel, because you are working on it . Lastly, we hope your accounting methods have improved. Since the beginning we have always paid by the year, which is supposed to give us a "free" month at the end of the period. If during one year we pay thus on January 1st, the next year we should not have to pay until February 1st, etc., but in the past we have always gotten our bill right at the end of the 12th month, and have had to call up to get the matter straightened out. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sorry for a long letter, but as you can see we are concerned about several matters. In closing, it might be said that your statement at the bottom of your survey sheet which says "we will accept the survey no later than November 10" is a little presumptuous and might better have said something like "please get this back to us by 10 November," etc. The fact that, although this survey is for your benefit, WE have to put a 20Q stamp on the envelope, also did not seem quite kosher. Sincerely CHARLES L. SMITH (Captain, American Airlines, retired) r/ --#c: Robert Fletcher, Chairman County TV Commission, City Hall, 108 E. Green Street NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman May 31, 1989 Honorable John Gutenberger Mayor City of Ithaca 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Case # 8906002 THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissioner BARBARA T. ROCHMAN Commissioner JOHN A GUSSOW Commissioner JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director Dear Mayor Gutenberger: You will find enclosed a copy of correspondence we received from a resident of your municipality. We received it and forwarded a copy to American Community Cable asking for a reply within ten (10) days. This correspondence is for your information since this company operates within your jurisdiction. If we can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at 518-474-2212. Should other residents of your area be experiencing cable television related problems, please give them our toll-free number 1-800-342-3330 for assistance. law enclosure erely, Cz.`v Susan A. Mulhern Complaint Investigator LALL„, t-\rQ • STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT 9.WICE THREE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, ALBANY, NY 12223 T`' `•r' `' PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PETER A. BRADFORD Chairman HAROLD A. JERRY, JR. GAIL GARFIELD SCHW ARTZ ELI M. NOAM JAMES T. McFARLAND EDWARD M. KRESKY HENRY G. WILLIAMS Mr. Steven Youra 316 East Court Street Apartment #2 Ithaca, NY 14850 '89 HAY 26 P 2 :17 May 25, 1989 00 v WILLIAM J. COWAN General Counsel JOHN J. KELLIHER Secretary Dear Mr. Youra: The New York State Public Service Commission is responsible for ensuring that utility customers obtain reliable and reasonable service from the gas, electric, water and telephone utilities operating in New York State. Your letter of complaint dated May 15, 1989, concerns a company over which this Commission has no regulatory authority. We have forwarded your letter to the agency listed below that we believe has jurisdiction in this matter. We are requesting by copy of this letter that they respond to you directly. Sincerely, )7 %14/x' %>t ). 2' %►' Marg4et M. Ryan Consumer Services Division cc: New York State Commission on Cable Television Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 mb10 May 15, 1989 General Manager, American Community Cablevision 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850-5221 Dear ACC: 316 E. Court St. #2 Ithaca, NY 14850 RE-CEI\EE? MAY 181999 :,i./ri3a, :N.Y. I am writing to express my disgust at your billing practices. I am certain that I speak for many ACC subscribers when I demand that you stop insutting me any with advertising for other programs and for services and products unrelated to television. Correspondence with those on a utility's mailing list should be restricted to bills and pertinent information only. Every month along with the service invoice, I receive advertisements for cable services that I do not want. It's bad enough that you recently raised rates dramatically. But ACC adds insult to this injury by trying to seduce customers into paying even more! (We are captive audience for your monopoly, since in Ithaca it is impossible to receive TV signals without ACC or a satellite dish. I wonder whether your rates would drop if you were faced with competition in this market.) This month, this irritation simply went too far. The bill envelope was stuffed with separate glossy ads for programs featuring Wayne Newton, The Grateful Dead and the Mickey Mouse Club. Who pays for these solicitations? (I trust that the recent fee increase you fought for does not cover such ads). In addition to these nuisances, I was also assaulted with advertisements from Encyclopedia Britannica, from National Car Rental, and from Citibank Visa and Mastercard! What do these businesses have to do with cable TV? My neighbors and I get enough junk mail already. I suspect that in most homes, as in mine, the ads (usually printed on unrecyciable paper) go straight into the garbage can. In you own small but significant way, ACC is contributing to our terrible landfill problem. Please stop badgering me to spend more than the $17 I already pay each month for a cable ser- vice that is mediocre, compared to those I've seen in other cities. Furthermore, it is unethical, if not illegal, for you to exploit the, list of cable subscribers for your own extra profits by "selling your customers" to other businesses. Stop harassing local cable subscribers with unwanted trash. ACC should focus instead on improving its broadcast capabilities and programming. Steven Youra cc: Paul Gioa, Chm. NY Public Service Commission Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Protection Div. RECEIVED MAY 19 1999 CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION i Mai AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION July 5, 1989 Mr. Steven Youra 316 East Court Street Apartment ##2 Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Youra: Thank you for taking the time to relay your concerns and suggestions to us with regard to billing advertisements specifically related to 1) other cable related programs and services and 2) advertising products and services unrelated to cable such as Encyclopedia Britannica and Mastercard. We believe, at American Community Cablevision that cable has more to offer than ever before and that it simply makes good business sense to use each opportunity to communicate cable's growing value to our customers. Our subscribers are more. sophisticated and, like yourself, want to be more informed of new and provocative programming. One of the most reliable ways of communicating this to current subscribers is through bill messages and bill "stuffers". It is one of several distribution techniques that can be accomplished at a modest cost that contributes in maintaining lower customer rates. Your letter also stated your concern in receiving non -related cable advertisements in your bill. The cable industry sees this tactic as a new business and in fact, an additional way to keep cable rates down through the revenues provided by reputable national firms that advertise in our bills. While this method of advertising is new to American Community Cablevision, it is still under evaluation as to its effectiveness. Your comments will be forwarded to our National Division Headquarters to be included in its review of this practice. In closing, American Community Cablevision has just completed a very thorough franchise renewal process with the City of Ithaca by which we have firmly committed ourselves to“examine cable issues with the City of Ithaca's Cable Commission.The franchise was issued on a non-exclusive basis which means that the City retains the right to issue franchises to other cable operators willing to build, operate and maintain a cable system within the 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 city limits. We not only see our competition in the form of satellite dishes, as mentioned in your letter, but also in video stores, VCR's and theaters to name a few! We appreciate the opportunity to discuss, if briefly, these issues with you and hope we have come to a better understanding. Sincerely, ,2G� / Va.01 Lee Glowacki Acting General Manager LG/fw cc: City of Ithaca, Cable Commission-- N.Y. ommission-N.Y. State Commission on Cable Television attn: Susan A. Mulhern •r May 15, 1989 General Manager, American Community Cablevision 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850-5221 Dear ACC: y 316 E. Court St. #2 Ithaca, NY 14850 RECEIVED' PEt lir s .' l.i:•i s'�sd1SS9W( MAY 18 1999 A B AI ,I , S•t.Y.. I am writing to express my disgust at your billing practices. I am certain that I speak for many ACC subscribers when I demand that you stop insulting me any with advertising for other programs and for services and products unrelated to television. Correspondence with those on a utility's mailing -+ list should be restricted to bills and pertinent information only. Every month along with the service invoice, I receive advertisements for cable services that I do not want. It's bad enough that you recently raised rates dramatically. But ACC adds insult to this injury by trying to seduce customers into paying even more! (We are captive audience for your monopoly, since in Ithaca it is impossible to receive TV signals without ACC or a satellite dish. I ,r wonder whether your rates would drop if you were faced with competition in this market.) This month, this irritation simply went too far. The bill envelope was stuffed with separate glossy ads for programs featuring Wayne Newton, The Grateful Dead and the Mickey Mouse Club. Who - pays for these solicitations? (I trust that the recent fee increase you fought for does not cover such ads). In addition to these nuisances, I was also assaulted with advertisements from Encyclopedia Britannica, from National Car Rental, and from Citibank Visa and Mastercard! What do these businesses have to do with cable TV? My neighbors and I get enough junk mail already. I suspect that in most homes, as in mine, the ads (usually printed on unrecyclable paper) go straight into the garbage can. In you own small but significant way, ACC is contributing to our terrible landfill problem. Please stop badgering me to spend more than the $17 I already pay each month for a cable ser- vice that is mediocre, compared to those I've seen in other cities. Furthermore, it is unethical, if not illegal, for you to exploit the list of cable subscribers for your own extra profits by "selling your . - customers" to other businesses. Stop harassing local cable subscribers with unwanted trash. ACC should focus instead on improving its broadcast capabilities and programming. Steven Youra cc: Paul Gioa, Chm. NY Public Service Commission Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Protection Div. 41, MAY 1 91989 CONSUMER Sf-RVIC + NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON CABLE TELEVISION CORNING TOWER BLDG., EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223 (518) 474-4992 WILLIAM B. FINNERAN - Chairman May 31, 1989 Mr. Michael Withiam American Community Cable 519 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Case # 8906002 Dear Mr. Withiam: THEODORE E. MULFORD Commissioner BARBARA T. ROCHMAN Commissioner JOHN A GUSSOW Commissioner JOHN A. PASSIDOMO Commissioner EDWARD P. KEARSE Executive Director The attached correspondence was received in this office recently. Please give this matter your prompt attention. Commission Rules [Section 590.5(a)] require you to send a reply within ten (10) working days of receipt of this letter., Your written response must contain a statement of what steps your company has taken to resolve the situation and any action to preclude the recurrence of the matter. If the resolution of this situation is not within your jurisdiction or if you feel that the complaint is unjustified, briefly explain the circumstances in your letter. Please be aware that the Commission is authorized to make further inquiry which may be formal or informal, and may include a hearing or oral argument, or both. A copy of the attached correspondence to this Commission has been forwarded to the City of Ithaca. A copy of your response should be sent to the municipality and complaintant. Your cooperation is appreciated. law attachment in,yerely, Susan A. Mulhern Complaint Investigator STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT 9FJJiC$ERVICE THREE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, ALBANY, NY C12-2:23 TLLEVISIo.`! PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PETER A. BRADFORD Chairman HAROLD A. JERRY, JR. GAIL GARFIELD SCH W ARTZ ELI M. NOAM JAMES T.MeFARLAND EDWARD M. KRESKY HENRY G. WILLIAMS Mr. Steven Youra 316 East Court Street Apartment #2 Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Mr. Youra: '89 HAY 26 P2 :17 May 25, 1989 WILLIAM J. COWAN General Counsel JOHN J. KELLIHER Secretary • The New York State Public Service Commission is responsible for ensuring that utility customers obtain reliable and reasonable service from the gas, electric, water and telephone utilities operating in New York State. Your letter of complaint dated May 15, 1989, concerns a company over which this Commission has no regulatory authority. We have forwarded your letter to the agency listed below that we believe has jurisdiction in this matter. We are requesting by copy of this letterthat they respond to you directly. - Sincerely, Marg1et M. Ryan Consumer Services Division cc: New York State Commission on Cable Television Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 mb10 cc: Cable Commission 1312 East Shore Drive Ithaca, New York 14850 May 11, 1989 General Manager American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sir: It's NBA Playoff time again, and again Ithaca residents are deprived of the opportunity to watch games broadcast on WTBS. True, CBS does 'televise some playoff games on weekends, but an estimated 90% of the televised playoff games are not seen by Ithaca residents because ACC chooses not to offer WTBS, even in areas which have the expanded service. Instead, ACC offers duplication of major network programming (two channels each), and televised Yankee baseball games appear on two channels simultaneously. What is the purpose of expanding the number of available channels and having the same programs appear on two channels at once? WTBS, which we have had the pleasure of watching in other cities, offers balanced programming, including live basketball, football, and baseball games (both professional and college), movies, travel and nature programs, and reruns of popular television series. The programs and sporting events which appear on WTBS are not available on other stations or networks. Why must we have duplications of programming on channels offered in Ithaca when this popular alternative is available? Other cable systems in this area offer WTBS; why cannot ACC? Please, let's not let another year go by without those fantastic NBA playoff games televised by WTBS being available for viewing in Ithaca. (Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson aren't going to be playing forever!) We know WTBS would be very popular with viewers, as it is elsewhere. Sincerely, (2.,e4.41 %4 Alan and Joyce cc: Mayor John Gutenbergerv/'. Jed Gordon 312 Winthrop Drive Ithaca, New York 14850 9 May 1989 Ms. Doc McQuade Customer Service Manager ACC 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Ms. McQuade: When we spoke by telephone about a month ago, you insisted that I was the only ACC customer who had taken exception as I did to your new plans for basic service. To judge from the material I enclose herewith, that may have been because I was the first to call you, because your customers no longer see any point in complaining to your firm about policies it is going to maintain in force anyway, or because you prefer not to acknowledge receiving such complaints. But the enclosed material from The Ithaca Journal makes it crystal-clear that it was certainly NOT because others don't wholeheartedly share the objections I expressed to your way of doing business here --in fact that material is very nearly uncanny in the way it independently reiterates the arguments I put to you. In view of this, and of your chief engineer's continued failure to get in touch with me about the interference I described to you that still chronically affects the picture on your Channel 3 in prime -time, I shall be very much interested to see whether Mike Withiam's successor as General Manager will initiate steps to turn things around when he or she takes over. Ithacans will not be in the least surprised, however, if nothing changes except for the worse. It will thus become even clearer to us that the policy of your parent -company is to let the public be damned until re -regulation requires otherwise. Yours very truly, Charles S. Levy encls. 312 Winthrop Drive Ithaca, New York 14850 9 May 1989 The Hon. Matthew F. McHugh, MC 2335 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Matt: In light of our correspondence last year about deteriorating postal service here and elsewhere in the country, I was very much pleased to learn from The Ithaca Journal for 22 April that you are now taking an active personal role in this regard, and also that by assigning Ms. Principe as official Congressional liason, for one thing, the USPS itself acknowledges the legitimate interest of the Congress in its efficient operation. Citizens, it must be clear, have only their elected representatives to whom to turn when a Federal agency starts acting as if it were not closely accountable to the citizenry, and I would hope that with a somewhat less aggressively confrontational Administration now in office, the Congress will more readily move to seek better accountability from such agencies. Recent deregulation has apparently created a not dissimilar situation -- in which we have little effective recourse except to the Congress --when TV -cable operators like ACC here in Ithaca take the bit in their teeth, profiteering in ways accurately described by the recent Journal editorial of which I enclose a copy. The robber barons of this past decade have been far too successful in portraying much necessary regulation as unjustified governmental interference; in reality, of course, that kind of regulation has for years in this country simply represented the banding together of an independent people to protect its system of free enterprise from abuse by the holders of monopolies. We join the Journal in its public-spirited initiative and very much hope you will join in obtaining the Congressional action that will permit communities like ours to put an end to this kind of price- and program -gouging. Yours sincerely, Charles S. Levy encl. xc: Ms. Janice Streb, Chair Television Cable Commission City of Ithaca 4 7 z", 1207 Hanshaw Road Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 May 2, 1989 American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Dear Sirs: • rt. I am extremely disappointed in your recent change of programming. We were quite willing to tolerate Channel.6 as it was, so that we could receive "Nightline" at 11:30 p.m.. Channel 6 is • now a basic solicitation. .Channel 7 has also been adulterated, and Channel 10 was quite accept-.-_ able before your change. Since Channels 5, 6, and 10 have been moved to the upper tier, that portion of the service is also less interesting. Please restore the basic channels,- or at the very least, restore Channel 6. We were all hoping for improvements across the boards, and this has not been the case. Sincerely, (Mrs.) Joan Beeler Ithaca Television Cable Commission C c c, • C SLS 946 Cayuga Heights Rd. • Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-0159 c r p t L.) f r L, U � r-- 'LLS e-)( CC) rt. r ACX t cr-6, S Q • .c / f Cf Y> • ,mac:_ AA C 1ti c51,,:`c L L� c r fc-'r c kL l z Cr -C_ - sr5J-1---;1 OS 5- . nj L_Q-;•-(2- 4) CULd f ; b) (Ls - r. SSLiAA -/` F ' Li.�, b L.`' c _ . cC \O 771 0. cam` Lk.. c1� �-{ w1(( --(61fG- cJ'. r Cm - I i_.,� b Cz _5(>) keit �,�- Cry 1 I?� M 2 Groton Avenue P.O. Box 136 Freeville, NY 13068 I don't.know when I have been more upset and disappointed than in the changes you have' made in my cable programs. Channel 5 has always been my fecorite for news; Ron Curtis and his crew. I care little for the programs you have added; the old ones were part o our family life. I am not a lawyer. I do not know if what you did is a legal issue:but I'd sure bet it is a moral one; we aren't getting what we paid for. CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ITHACA, NEW YORK 14853-3201 Department of Romance Studies (607) 255-4264 283 Goldwin Smith Hall Matthew F. McHugh, Congressman Terrace Hill Ithaca, N.Y. Dear Mr. McHugh: April 28, 1989 We write to express a long -simmering annoyance at our exploitative cable service (American Community Cablevision): this is clearly a case of monopolistic dominance debasing the quality of our entertainment. For years, we have been held hostage to their commercial convenience while they imposed a limited choice featuring many duplicated programs. Later we were asked to pay more for such additions as TV shopping, weather and rock channels. Now, they are once again raising the price of subscriptions while replacing an ABC station with around-the- clock advertising for their pay cable offerings, taking away the second most popular channel (Syracuse 5) and apparently relegating to late nighttime hours cultural programs they are unable to eliminate. These self-serving changes by ACC represent a continued erosion of cultural opportunities in our community. It is no secret that ACC has been less than responsive to viewer complaints about programming. Our own TV Cable Commission has battled them for many years but ineffectually. Since the record shows long-standing and widespread community dissatisfaction with a service that has become increasingly inadequate because it is not subject to competitive pressures, it is clear that we are facing an unacceptable monopoly that must be resisted through Congress. That is why we urge you to act quickly and forcefully on this matter. Sincerely, David I. Grossvogel Glenn C. Altschuler Stuart Blumin Anthony Caputi Philip E. Lewis cc: ACC TV Cable Commission )AJAJ -` nL E 'J FF n,: L�i� CLEK'S Ithaca, ;'i. Y. 7/- �� L, Mrs. Leona W. Gelder .%,� ' �,>'_. ori 209 Christopher Lang° s\-\ " . Ithaca, NY 14850 = • as / U l >� -_ /f ^ / ' -ir :177- ' //lye/ s J^� ' /// . I a&ewi 424 Dztee. xz_&e t. 0S8i71 AN 'L+1 eucri Jeticlappt.i0 603 Jopiee •AN Duoal r, f/ 7)7 _•_J ;1TV :1.01`N Y N- 1 1 ,„,„7-v/ ejt .. a9 r -am- /P7 .e.L);71 a.14 co.771. ecJz-4-//ede_ ,3 ,J7t- foceET /re5-0 (Tr\R F C�- 946 Cayuga Heights,Rd.^r Ithaca, NY 14850•:! 607-277-0159 yet L,:)k&- c. CLQ ( S1 C, to F2i L .SL �jc C )-h (L -Act cy-6„ S (4 Q f� Q c r (A) 1\% hLA,. DVS v' L, ' -Pv-u ( cad 6\,a\p / 6) IL.s_ ) L -1.{ Jole- � j c '31 I . LS c9 f t l,, uA5 rev, S, 036 Le "4-1-00 ivy .o cat. r (( (( _.72te 0 ,C1 ,�,.- Cry l I ;) 1�uie. itAi2/ 946 Cayuga Heights Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 c " CD 2 MAY /389 oac. Co-kAtut_, (-C-N\ 3.207 Hanshaw Road`% Ithaca, N.Y. 14850?-, May 2, 1989 `t . `�, yam) � citil,,C � � \\%Pt �\ cv { ti5V6 6 American Community Cablevision 519 West State Street Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 Dear Sirs: I am extremely disappointed in your recent. change of programming. We were quite willing to tolerate Channel 6 as it was, so that we could receive "Nightline" at 11:30 p.m.. Channel 6 is now a basic solicitation. Channel 7 has also been adulterated, and Channel 10 was quite accept able before your change. Since Channels 5, 6, and 10 have been moved to the upper tier, that portion of the service is also less interesting. Please restore the basic channels, or at the very least, restore Channel 6. We were all hoping for improvements across the boards, and this has not been the case. Sincerely, (Mrs.) Joan Beeler_, Ithaca Television Cable Commission Joan R. Beeler 1207 Hanshaw Road Ithaca, NY 14850 1 /,0 c leU(S.(0e) L 4, 6n/r). (rY 11 ( \R) Mrs. C. Fitts Monroe 2 Groton Avenue P.O. Box 136 Freeville, NY 13068 May 1, 1989 ,Teleuision Cable Commission City Hall, Ithaca., N.Y. Gentlemen; I don't know when I have -been more upset and disappointed than in,the changes you have made in my cable programs. Channel 5 has always been my facorite for news; Ron Curtis and his crew. I care little for the programs you have added; the old ones were part of our family life. I am not a lawyer. I do not know if what you did is a legal issue but I'd sure bet it is a moral one;' we aren't stetting what we paid for. LT/ Sincerely, %`�a `%, • 1 CORNELL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ITHACA, NEW YORK 14853-3201 Department of Romance Studies (607) 255-4264 283 Goldwin Smith Hall Matthew F. McHugh, Congressman Terrace Hill Ithaca, N.Y. Dear Mr. McHugh: April 28, 1989 We write to express a long -simmering annoyance at our exploitative cable service (American Community Cablevision): this is clearly a case of monopolistic dominance debasing the quality of our entertainment. For years, we have been held hostage to their commercial convenience while they imposed a limited choice featuring many duplicated' programs. Later we were asked to pay more for such additions as TV shopping, weather and rock channels. Now, they are once again raising the price of subscriptions while replacing an ABC station with around-the- clock advertising for their pay cable offerings, taking away the second most popular channel (Syracuse 5) and apparently relegating to late nighttime hours cultural programs they are unable to eliminate. These self-serving changes by ACC represent a continued erosion of cultural opportunities in our community. It is no secret that ACC has been less than responsive to viewer complaints about programming. Our own TV Cable Commission has battled them for many years but ineffectually. Since the record shows long-standing and widespread community dissatisfaction with a service that has become increasingly inadequate because it is not subject to competitive pressures, it is clear that we are facing an unacceptable monopoly that must be resisted through Congress. That is why we urge you to act quickly and forcefully on this matter. Sincerely, David I. Grossvogel Glenn C. Altschuler Stuart Blumin Anthony Caputi Philip E. Lewis cc: ACC TV Cable Commission (/111F -k FQin\/ c C r ( . ,31 MAY 0 . 1989.4,: CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Ithaca, N.Y. April 27, 1989 Ithaca Journal "Letters to the Editor" 123 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 "The Rape of Basic Cable Viewers" Mike Withiam, ACC, and the Ithaca Cable Commission should certainly be proud of their revamping of the Basic Cable TV. As a result of their actions, we are now receiving fewer stations for our increase in costs. Channels 5, 6, and 10, which were ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates, have been replaced by Channel 6, which shows repetitive "roller -towel" advertising for Pay Cable Previews, and that is it; Channel 7..where we can get all the weather, from China to Timbucktoo, and then Channel 10, which Lord knows we couldn't wait to get to see the "tractor -pulls", midget car races, wrestling, etc. It is a disgrace what they have done, and certainly the Common Council's Cable Commission deserves a lot of the blame for their lack of concern for the citizens of Ithaca in allowing a "15 year franchise"...I would dare say that Ithaca is the only place in the United States that ever gave a 15 year contract, and now the City admits they have virtually no control over the cable company...shades of the Octopus: There are no doubt many viewers who may not wish to subscribe to the extended channels for many reasons; maybe they cannot afford the extra costs due to their limited incomes such as, Social Security recipients, the elderly and disabled, whose only recreation may be watching television, and now they have to pay more to receive less. I also would be very interested to know about the ACC so-called surveys they did with their customers, I have yet to talk to one person who was ever surveyed, and I also think it is very interesting that ACC does not disclose viewer rating or numbers of programming complaints. I am sure that the Congress and FCC would be most interested in these complaints, and in taking another look at regulation of cable monopolies. I agree with the Editorial, the Journal (4/27/89), that it is time the viewers voiced their complaints to "the people who will listen", which obviously does not mean our local politicians or ACC. .cerely, 1 P. H. Stone 509 Lake. Street Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 cc': Congressman Matt McHugh FCC - Washington, D. C. Common Council -Cable Commission CITY Clff„�{�•� �989 SoFIe Ithaca, N. v. '12A The Ithaca Journal Thursday, April 27, 1989 Deploring ACC cutback in basic cable choices Do the rest of you basic cable us- ers out there think American Com- munity Cablevision is treating us fairly? They raise our basic cable rate and take off one of our good stations, namely Channel 36 WENY Elmira. We can't use what they put on there, but westill have to pay for it. Let's hear some comments from the rest of you out there and maybe we can get it back. EDITORIAL. Isabel Burris Trumansburg Basic cable viewers pay more for less Network duplication on the basic 12 -channel service was a • long-standing complaint against American Community . Cablevision. Viewers asked for more variety in programming in place of the extra ABC, NBC and CBS channels. • But when the cable company finally ended duplication and . revamped the channel lineup this month, what did basic -cable customers in the Ithaca area gain? The answer is, not much. The empty slots were filled with Cable News Network, little more than non-stop news; ESPN, now offering such sports gems as college baseball, monster trucks and midget auto races; and Prevue Guide, which touts ACC's extra -pay offerings and gives listings in roller -towel fashion. All this, and the Weather Channel too: Basic,.service now has less real programming than ever. te5 . You want more programs? You pay more. That's ACC's. r• message: "I feel raped, I don't know about other viewers,":one • man told the Ithaca city cable commission this month. "They got • a raise in rates, and they cut the service." 1 - "�`' Despite its. franchise; the city has virtually no control over:: .Nechannel placement and offerings. With few restrictions, federal . rulesallow cable companies to do pretty much as they- please. ;3.. What are viewers to. do? First, they can complain to ACC. r . Customer complaints evidently restored the National Hockey. t League playoffs on- a pay-per-view basis, after ACC had • ;„ announced it had dropped SportsChannel. But ACC does not disclose viewer ratings or numbers of programming complaints. ';So' people also should mail complaints to the Television Cable Commission in Ithaca's City Hall. Are basic -cable customers ;;.'dissatisfied with the new lineup? Do they miss The Syracuse Channel 5 news team, which even ACC admits was the second most popular? Are they annoyed that Ted Koppel's "Nightline" can't be seen until midnight? Armed with enough complaints, the commission might shame ACC into providing better service. .^.Finally, vieyvers :should :write their congressmen.: Congress: is taiciiig"an'interest in cable monopolies, rate hikes'and program manipulation. Sentiment . for re -regulation of cable TV is growing, and Ithaca cable viewers can encourage this trend. .. 20.iii.89 (PROF.) MATTHEW A. NEUSURG 214 STEWART AVENUE ITHACA NY 14850 Ms. Janice Streb Chair, Cable Commission City Hall 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Streb: Supposing you had arranged to buy something — an appliance, say — on the strength of its having certain features you wanted, which were demonstrated to you in the showroom. And suppose that when the time comes for delivery, you are told that those features won't be included, and by the way the price will be somewhat higher. Wouldn't you be; to say the least, outraged? and wouldn't you refuse to buy, and look for a comparable item elsewhere? That is the situation with those of us who have subscribed to ACC's Cable FM radio service. Except for one thing: we have nowhere else to go. We are the victims of an unresponsive, irresponsible monopoly. At least, I am. Perhaps I had better speak only for myself, for my own case is the only one I know. I am currently in dispute with ACC over their FM service, and it seems, as is usual with these mighty monopolies, that they are going to win. The situation will end with their disconnecting my service, and having learned nothing about really serving the community. And why should they? They're sitting pretty — unless the Cable Commission intervenes to help. Here's the situation. I listen exclusively to Classical music and National Public Radio stations. I subscribed to Cable FM because they offered WFMT Chicago, a good Classical station, and WAER Syracuse, a National Public Radio station which frequently has NPR programs not carried by the local WSQG. I was also offered some hope by their Customer Service people that they would eventually offer WRVO Syracuse, in my opinion the best NPR station in the East. In the last year, ACC has dropped WFMT without notice. (They claim to have notified their customers, but I was certainly never notified.) Now they longer carry WAER, although when asked about this they hem and haw. They have added no new stations to the roster. And they have just raised their FM cable prices! I have written to ACC about this. I have complained that I subscribed on the basis of stations which they have unilaterally and without notice to or consultation of their customers ceased to carry. I have asked what they are doing about supplementing their NPR service, and whether they intend to include WRVO (which you can actually receive from the air if you live in Trumansburg and have a high antenna, but not in Ithaca). I have offered to pay a pro -rated, lesser monthly fee for their lesser service. I have received no reply, except for threats to cut off my service for non-payment. But I da want to pay: I just want to pay a fair price for what I am actually receiving. At the moment the only station I listen to is WSQG, which I could receive without cable, so the value of cable service to me is currently zero; but I would be willing to pay, say, $5 per month. ACC, however, is uninterested in this or any other 1TUrvT€S avepwrod Tov EtSgVe a opg'y0vTa6 CIvved cont'd 2 compromise offer. They are a monopoly; they are not under pressure from the free market, from the desires and tastes of their customers. I'm sure that FM -only customers make up a tiny fraction of' their profits, and that NPR listeners make up a tiny fraction of that fraction. But we are an important- segment of the community nonetheless, and if ACC were not a monopoly, it might be to their advantage to pay attention to us, or at least to treat us with courtesy. But they aren't, and they don't have to. - It seems to me that under these circumstances it is up to the Cable Commissionto consider and stand up for the needs, tastes, and desires of the community that ACC is supposed to serve. I' beg you to consider this letter, on the grounds that it may represent genuinely a -wronged segment of the community. If there is anything you - people can do for me, I would surely appreciate knowing of it. Many thanks. If I can provide you with any further information, or if there are further steps I ought to be taking, please do not hesitate to call on me. Sinc = y jiours, Matt Neub li&VTa. yap EmaTaw$ad aya$ov SOKEL & va6 g Cfre4 a -4A 'SS ccAl C1 40.P �jl V'�v��'ye) DEAR Corrn 14.t55cnneRS ..► i+.sy $I t' 8q tit Your r Dec c," t)er ry i . et 1,,) ", aw+ t ec 1-u rtd yo -`c avk wheal- he tkavaih.t were vim'. ct►,t,+i g s . A41Ito 4h lie. sat at he eo..iocccl latelope-�►tl ►e press an,d pkto 1.c. w ns+- mis 1sd In -E0 taei ievi^^� ACC has ari place an the i+5 c.t,1�tatt"S. ! 0 SSS►Mis "'t/soi' �� r�v►sS c o»� or ► n of -l-ha 10-0 r `� le a SS�u't`Q-S tk.enA -liter �•0�1 Q. Ct C at tA�M1eks�" '1 'hg. Fra•+nC.:�tBe. . du -e ®1S e. t�" 1S cdR n-fs Of Corm., Comp., A/ of f i.c. at s aff'e-id ihrwai'ty +v a n:s ife r Aes-'I rl s iab 0Nfr Fr i' cln I. se c t, 0,1 Ce . -i31 - c4 he 4� +h a 1►t9 eara-vce o {hi 1Ai al 'CT" "i at' 3-A adj tLdi t. kes ow The ape . e ( -f t� . f bo a `1 Crwed►«�, i Gov. -'plat Ms , +h a C�r►rmssZen b 1 mat eon.c Nsed . worse , k% tr•e- erwpita,n ' cif re cedu�GaS G , in -►- a, reew►e+.} may b e seer► as v i t i a t i +h w, +e hac lt ; n e InaY' 0 a CC ey ocka#i.�n 'ems 'te 1 t1h c o�r+ed co�•ps+n, v i.o 1a hems (R. . 5 ec.t- ,vi xiii Bt -t )• Cin 144 art s ume. tux%) fa. a i k.t1 me ivrt:o + M a+ a n a* .G`t" bastic res P n. sI O I I �i-1 a� i'he Gati».+►� zs�0 i.s to K1 :iii,LrA.F"a+LA:tit•rt. J-e+"r�C;K►dePanyCann'pt >,�,ce1ran-c.r�11 a -r► tC. a c.�►�r i s C such as r�.- fr U tS �,,r- rt vocZ ) S itio wla b e baserl. o -r, as clear c.crA t.e.�e a curd a s ro ss I b t e •� �^'►cs s c.pt) . rV inu.-Ley . as w•e It ascompo ri_ , ,r€r errca - 14 eizriuj am W r 1.14-4,1rs� Q a -{-o c e s v co 1 nn ai- � noh ts.s art A e lo a s :c. r teocd of A. Cc 's P - r•-r.e c . toi-hLs- -ue ey T .ond1 YnCoyv►d'ro' r..iss COY� �oneClai ra► rICesit sSNrv.eeS c.s1 ta ebrbC h.AL ,,ot vl s people. b y 1-eacA t a cel r % re -1-a res ire. The. MItr►i c�1pz'1 rt, hf 40 rev. ra+es. C r.essA.a.,► IVB 1.1,‘,..i, Inas expressed wt til n.ess -1v -exp l +ke ts5At d news *4eio-rts Il c ;talc the. rtiew re.s s wta be ► n t+he mood co r rest 'Me ''teIceesses - , e rej " hl an . Wcwir<till ua k tit. S CoYv.rw�` w imca7V—eit 1.2.e4% 3 ro up s, jam Go u tcl t.cse -the. Carts r*.csswiss. 'as a. "13u►tj pKtP,t" aria as a b►to4 a stick -% p•rocl, oY ressudv.al ack4m. LET me- Kwd•a IP T Cn-N i-lai LJ.l1:A»7 M 54;2M•c dlii Si'. 2-744e,-. LIM!":79.5ALLJ c4.mxte.evts- o yce. Gh 104-0 p os.2 c..646Le- cop.missmkA • . Mccert-Trr!.:,-Fr• ACC- that it proves roughly $100,000 of the prjrchase..-s kE'ctl.mmmel,-dde,c, by - the Cable Common at - its December eeeting. ACC CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROPOSAL permissible under 1:ranchis-ir: para'.,14:1.C.2 1. Studio Basics: Add -On Audio 500 3, Control. Room Upo.-ade: MixablE.:.in tape Chains,- Routihg 8Witcher, TBC, VHS Tape Chai.n; F!lc.ne SyStem • 5F, 12,000 . 4. Existing 8.VHE Ecuipment Edit Suite C(3 Drive,. Waveform Monitor .. . . 40,000 5. Additio.qal Edit L. Portable Equi:pmet7.; (6) E VHS Cam;:orders. (3)Handhe1d 11 (2) Lavalier 1.4.000 7 'Viewing Booth: SVHF VCR,Cuu,vus..Luncn. $1,Prin 8. Playb,,..:ck Unit LJtori€ 8 VHS VCR.... . .... $2.000 9. Fortable Equipment Yor coveraoe-of City Hall meeting asapies on ons "nal $ 13,000 • C.....ve cae, LE• CCNMPA t SS LoNS ., . IIfurther infoirm ACE thatdispositign of the remaining $65000 in purchases is Suibect to further public consideration and ACC -City neqptiations. 1. Studio • Basis: ,tightinc::, Grid, Curtain Track,,B3ack Cyclorama3 Grey Cyclorama ---(Standard'Equipment) Rack Units --(Opp EE.7) TeiA Ectiipment: Synch Bar Generator --(replaces decade -old equipment)' Second Waveform Monitor ---(Standard Equipment) "On-Aru. and other monitor:. ----'(App [EJ.) Audio Board ---(replaces decade old equipment) Wiring',. Hardwarep, Connectors ---(Standard Equipment) , . ...... . ..... .-..,..$ 82'0(30 2. Studib Cameras: (3) 3 -Chip 'Camera pkgS. --,-(appEE]) 6. Portable Equipment: .Portable Light Kit -;.--(eisting egLikpment - adequate) 8. Playback Unit Upgrade: Monitors, T8C ---(app EE:3) Rack Mount ---(Standard Equipment) • . . $ 8,000 - , (2: . . 111:22=m-eaffiesignate as •'--z.1, negotiator the chairperson of the Cable', Commission' and -- - - the commission in its:next public ' session : (lather a list of additional' equipment needs..!' WAS AlgidD . #41Common Councilthe City Attorney's opinion 'whether a --" 'Purchase value of. $165,000" rightly includes, as, ACC claims, sales tax (a.nd, freight costs. (The difference of $15,000 represents a great.deal of additional heeded.equipment.). M c el GLC Com tv.issLer.1 - w o•nr y Am ski -w itAriNici i1V.3 pork setrwa 22 mit! Me Ciry Be mews AL.C. 1%) DePttut,r OP , Para , ,14..i 1:0 ) not 11. v i Al op:414ton e a . 1.1 sra, go since .bec.. 5, (I$ a . .Acc rv..... it, re6e0•44 vA w4v3tiAl toorfkift 30 DA'451 , . , . • . .. Mod encs or PR-0fosih.s l.. StNce fcc c o,ns+4-uc.han plans Hale ca.useht PE4 pradl.uctioh In-ERA/Pm ptusn S a+nd. o1Kwv' c tffic.ul es a -l-kt Co sstas s Io04 wr5't ACC 'ta exptc -e (welt 3hea.d of 'f'Itit: Pr-aKau sc dlead1/41 o� MSK ►, `em) five f (4,ro,h,a se t n S't'd 1(ahrtt of '1R S V' u S C c,ort sped ii -ti as a e , 1 'i4 Play baCW(( b� la'�tes �' S� of food fJ. .1-A Stgm% ► ti -ia pre. J erre, t 4.s Deck,.". Coy..MSSScon car% a yci)Iain that cloSe.r ev.arr►►e, ai7,m of e pKg Inas Ca I ted trio utsh;IYI Cowl) ern aSSoral%ces at these Ltv. aSeS a,ry a pp,ropr ztc 17 a sS1-1 n a bk. tc the fa'a C(z) fund. -f-ke cow►4vuuss Gen o►p?,res 'i'kt rc.1% s e a� -i-hts c v p r+ht: low -t- not its f u nd t l -t-he Cow""r,.Zs si o i $ to•o U.t -1=is.a o $ haw ^4W—di ita s wall beer o•rck ul y F YL ecb C:e+ oe44-c p A ra% a S t po t t <y eel s e l or41-e 5-‘14"4. o4 s piac± t.9 i—.s arc b ickd;Ail 10,E v ehdArsi t rffle of -4h is yvaa N-66abb acaval l bgev► (ooLteht • -The 17ec¢w0442-v dectsia1 p.m ba-bI S1 -1'!I reVQ,rsitoIt. or of teas+i- dlela b! -e., le TIE Go,MAAA, SS i,a4 STP. 461 13 4I NL 4)0 3 MAW SI N cG q cc h a S , V es f eat d 111-ere4f in 9ra.d ►' f rt I erneHt- Of S to E u t.Qn� P over 8a=c4.ks oTHe aLAAsE 77-te Soivesb F4 C t L Ty k 1 c,c of.L1 TTLt: Cq.,i c lii-1, c4 £ TO TM twt. F L 5o) I N keys-IN./cc,1a T cmjil C'e4M i s T}! E fn.d}ro1 c+u �O41stor.► T 1,ar P Cc. cable casf Courted MTC Mes Stf' ACC tv sf bM Nth C �"�" y ' e i j'h� f W /mow G;,� l � access �.44.c Sfuac,o (the old Shato Cot%e.r s tItc4 o ib INt Ntc� L ). 0b v (GUS (7 4 cc W O u ..D kctC14 ,Qetz. 7). s1 NCE OtJ Ly Thew t oL b IT "S I4,tE 1ir /JE%MNoL AND, of c-o�RSE g Tke tat NeVAGrsr OGy. w1)4!:FailN CNtSu- Fr9dort,S 71441" c t T( .s t NTeat Pe Eng r( . MlS RESoLu-r (MA5 Cps»ps.tr}NC.er Recato.Butt-0Iav A 4.5 "� 1-7141 �P Receo estor Fort sra«r coo.. �Pc� GE ev y tF etivtICT1ts nre4E Irl►tvst7vi Ly wNvtYJ 4f5fria. rigc,r-Frnr01Ns4 , Aa G5S FUJI; NCI tvG TgE SNR-R,Eb -FAC 1 L 1Ty tQGLE Franc -In t S e `-� ccM r i. .i of ftct,veanuary ` 1,x&8 (r s) Tricz,n r unr'ti evtsrcn ACC /' Tc The- FR WI C Ta ofiNA('E A eft5U S`ISTE'R ‘'` baht A the... p 1K 4.14)44 04. the Clivi and erfyneke 41 CmmERcI t✓ p toW Pc'T'Et,.E Vrioni t�UZ 0 —ice somplow wing -4.• ertki TtWaca (non s cd ) r shared-- —3 144ajee `Ex%sk,nqu ea,prnen-t I If t 11.1 C (Zaaa )S STuolots) 19t(.1 -D �EsS ?Pt lc lists Alf DIA ll ' I A,audhe�ncc• tris -b t l solo ter' —°m; nta ted afti fol' ---144" "0"-41 waer w,d I ruptacad by ACC 14.1C00 • aimuat 20/0 foe to a Ina woes, eons'sttot l�ei.al oil% Prtat.• ' 14 .1 C (4) - +_�cpatis t oo,�� * If pt ie s same rh.% a-� a.44 / 1a ti d� 5,4avIte1 p rCc town "semlaI to gall &AS a 'PEG (IbOTh s�bar�ed attdr�on-shaaed �vi?meat) t1/45►i-�. Ib clw�tu,y tract toe • rs.� �a c e ic+►tr I arra e -� In add (ticH, ACC arttd tb Iroaace (s and -cii r*a tyre) cabfs Q f C&Imevichi Co u n ci i au Aok Com COIW lf<e rte' ('LM t!�►+�I�►f�; � l�r�ss �t� fd 1 Vt?ANAL n'E C.�c � �r�`rnun •cepa t CG-overA v,o.t) access to "a be +{1 r - of 'tom $ Pox, PkG,wh‘l Para. 14. t (c)y' co No yrs t4a. Ace /repl a El ?At 4ct .iy AcC.. evita t JT 1ssu �s --» NO. 114.1 SCA) 5€TS Condi-6ms for 114E %Stbora 'P • VO accefb Acc.+.1 p4ziposed duce-11+,ase eofltc.ea+ i t -s �rr~o tis 1 Fra eu criterion '€h#, t -he ectu•p.r.etit he'•Y1ew "addb,ons extsti;9 3 qs w e LL 2.S) add tj lb the eco f u Sion o f' s h red Us. Hoyt - s h ared r SourCcS -�H "The Ct4 hot uttwe lst ›+rinuQ1 2 % c coo) ti ocatc,) -{fir• P ECS „ cap►tal ... i`ep8 cen,er.f y, pa,rt Loc-) ,J Para. ILt, 1 C. C3). Dur Al -tile Fe-4r►oJ ,Tan. 20, 19 g$ a oft -ihie. re.sQ,nt, Access vSe.,rS X e vlo-t- aware (f a -t 0n-Skare el 'PEG eTuev►e.nt, ‘..s001 , ACC. �na�Prt na4-e U.C(3) 414 c&s fvv '`51�ared�r, .�eXrs-t r� equ "tvt-f- e sP s ►b ' l of t CC Lk►nd.14r C C4)7 n ‘1/4 ►1 et,J 7 has wade DtilQr Q�rp,ses SQs) rtp k ace v e •,- . [fie 5 aL ra 1-c Cam me_ Kt PICC w; ll l ke1� c_cry\-}esi, s ►ALc1, �n ret�fi1ons The Franck►se C-FaJo.rale + file C+1 aY►d I'EG access eJ(l�ar,siay, ). A ll acted to file �as� lea(' as i f f S uncs rs cl,tiq LA-) a '� 7'�CC's QT.). p e .1�. a,., G� all v\. o w ekre char- d d at d L s c vie -I-1 cyn . needs +c, ac-E►uate. -The Acces3 Advisory Board aS .Soon oZS 'F.0 s s ,10 l e t -o vim. o ACC 's P`^' "1 r" o n c e . Vvk ►1.e N C C -c mkssumGcnJo`is all fhc "BcDard 's ` dui .e.s and resPa�s►b�i�t�-es h cke,rI urtver-E t►ne 17, means +he ...,pl►c,} y to.as 't e �oard'5 powe..,rs skos R./ vre. --1-1,1Qt- /1 Cs BCC's +►(1 \oltties utAr--1-tu -F,rarck►se art -f ui-ct'11ec t r) a +-► w.e P v.10 \ c a,n ca W r i ++12. h- S ate► . Fed,rdl I Sf � } e I a ws a tic3, cst9 L (a .ar\s amu`,, -e `fie ACC's 124.4N., r s c e be_3 ,a5 �d b y 111h e cw-d .-Part the CSM L SS's ,res p.n.s, I ► s +11 -t,-c r -e �-�e th re cure . Frav,c-huuc trz je5: rns - \rep n s -f -k rub h a n d l e in,1 Co,r, a t tis p,N c k► 5E- V► o L Pr11 (c4. 11) a 13 2 N") art escent�� ► �ari-s of at v ecr . tECi 51ov`S ► b n" ul o f vieLJ rave IS e - rF "I no -L ornt1 6ecotvve_ PreceaQ,&ts -Far +he fRfrc,re buj wttI also de�2�vvkAe whet-11er PEG /4cc-E-5S w;tl 1'vave the \-k,-is►tal reSDufCes tZ deve(.oP Impo,}ark Cornfm) A rvve6►urr, Ns. -e�I�ca{-t,cry, a^dp k-bItc re MON in �� erJ�Ce ra P � �> rn►�rl►c►pal Se,r-vices ay, loca zXPrPSStPn, [ii19• 1`R-Ct)] 1-L5 ry,a,,claire ►ndl.e.,,- -fie Fr2nc>1�se Tese 155ueS ?, c f ect ire ti 7E& gesso IAALIAbut -Lke s-j'ea,A €xpa As coy, o f fit's eciu )p r ± res our ce base t€ ca,not 51-oInd►vc),u3t an.d Locat oc:_nAniz��,a�na1 'arli v?z'1'ion. ila.r31„1112.eci 0i-\r�n-or, -t, ,,i, PEG P}CC.ESS (N►lf lever--yi-f►11 t "FSs p' -'t se 7 . I W Clw, r -e, 6.,. r. L l rti e n, I-e,r- s oLe p �. a w\ -{ e Cc_nf n, i S s o•n . e e-1 hat thz t'� f the Carta ds rtscdervEs -FroKclnrse die d►1,5e„\.}.k,j- �.rcefvlt77 t_,pl,eld. yon are (*Dor' first and most �L,5 oLf-t, °ant, lie of djef OFFICE OF MAYOR CITY OF ITHACA 1OB EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 MEMORANDUM TO: Television Cable Commission FROM: Mayor John C. Gutenberger DATE: January 3, 1989 RE: Complaint TELEPHONE: 272-1713 CODE 607 Enclosed for your review please find a letter from Barry Kahn regarding a complaint against the A.C.C. Enc. cc: Michael Withiam, w/attach Barry Kahn 5.00eo* Celebrating ®® ® 001888 - 1988 "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" 4 vi DEC 27 1988 / o 3 l3 .‘"; / 2 - e -K• /</T 570 w v7,e. ,4c_ /x z G GLZ.- be a4/e-- , 6 — d2_ /10 7f,te/—V a`L z-6 FRO • , • ...,••• ,e v....1r: a • •:• - -• ; • • ' ". • : • • sr "ldr _ . Is/EST:,:;-S TA TE STEET 'ITkAcA:?::11.Yi71411.501::'"t • ' . - f,...• ...SAA AD •,-1•—.4..., ..—.... ,,..:.! •., ..!•,:i • — is; ,i,....-:',. 'fr:':DEC 1;18 : • gs , .• :ll.S.r,JSiAGL 2 1 , ',Zee 71-4 , - • L' r,k• , , P 1`, ••• • .• • . .6.1. 41.4 ••• . , . „ , .„ 144 cablegram • ;4: ,m.7irm.... IIMIESESOWATTORNEY ■ 136 The Commons ■ Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 . (607) 277-1916 December 16, 1988 Amy Poyer American Community Cablevision 519 W. State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 RE: Cable on Calkins Road, Ithaca Dear Amy, I was outraged by your letter requiring $714.29 per household to.bring cable up the road. When T comtemplated purchasing a home on Calkins Road, I called A.C.C. to inquire about cable service. I was promised that cable would be available that summer. (198b) This information contributed to my decision to buy a home there. There are 10`households in the Inlet Valley Coop and an additional 9 households further up Calkins Road. These 19 customers more than justify your expense in extending cable service. I demand a more complete explanation of your policy for extending cable. Thank you and happy holidays. JC:rds cc: Chairman City of Ithaca Cable Commission */ at,teet, - Sincerely, Coleman 'NJ P M 18 DEC /c)Fse, • • ATTORNEY 136 The' Commons Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 i LACIi,: • o FOB rnn il. . c.. ui•:r)1,-)i;vip-',..::>h c-f&A.,) c -A- • r 11) December 11, 1988 Ithaca Cable Commission City of Ithaca City Hall 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 To Whom It May Concern: After carefully reviewing the ACC proposal concerning the rebuild of the Public Access system in Ithaca, we find it to be totally acceptable to our needs. We feel that the studio equipment proposal will be a vast improvement over the existing facilities and that it will stimulate other residents to experiment in Community Access television. It is our hope that this proposal will be approved without any delay so that we as regular access producers can proceed with our continuing projects. incerely, Debra F edman Terry Zimmerman "Take One" P.O. Box 4391 Ithaca, N.Y. 14852 cc: Mike Withiam Lauren Stefanelli Bill McCormick /per- Matied toq '-A (, La c, f• DAVID B. GERSH ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW POST OFFICE BOX 202 404 NORTH CAYUGA STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 November 22, 1988 City of Ithaca Cable Commission City Hall 108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Sirs and Madames: TELEPHONE (607) 277-3300 1 thought --it: might= interest you to- know that ACC quietly and without notification to anyone has dropped a magnificent classical music FM station, WFMTIfrom its cable. When I called to ask why, they said they took it off their cable .about two weeks ago because "it cost too much to pick u• the signal." Can you assist in trying to have WFMT restored? Thank you. Sincerely, /� E� eery 41E4 19 �. David B. Ger ; / David B. Gersh Attoiney at Law 't 404 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Address Correction Requested 11111111 Cornell University October 7, 1988 School of Electrical Engineering Phillips Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-5401 City Hall 108 E. Green Street c/o Ithaca Cable Commission Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Sirs, I have been unable to obtain cable service because of American. Community Cablevision's policy that I be home at the time of connection. Furthermore, they are only willing to guarantee that their service people will come during a half-day period (all day on Saturdays). As an electrical engineer I can say unequivocally that there is no technical reason that requires such access. If New York telephone is able to provide service without requiring access to one's home, ACC should be able to do so also. I have heard a rumor that ACC wants access to its customer's homes in order to detect illegal additional hookups. I have no basis for concluding that this rumor is true, however, it is certainly naive to believe that a significant proportion of cheaters could be caught in this manner — one would only need to make the additional connections after the service person departs in order to avoid detection. I believe that there are many citizens of Ithaca who, like myself, cannot afford to sacrifice a half-day of work in order to serve the whims of ACC. I urge you to force ACC to drop this ill-founded policy when you next consider their contract for renewal. Sincerely, Geoffrey Brown Assistant Professor OFFICE OF MAYOR CITY OF ITHACA 108 EAST GREEN STREET ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 MEMORANDUM TO: Common Council Cable Commission Thys Van .Cort, Director of Plannin Ralph Nash, City Attorney FROM: Mayor John C. Gutenberger DATE: April 25, 1988 RE: ACC - COMMUNITY ACCESS The enclosed concerns a complaint to ACC in regard to a community access program. Enc. TELEPHONE: 272-1713 CODE 607 09900 Celebrating 1888 - 1988 "An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program" MARALYN W. FLEMING 205 THE PARKWAY ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850 April 25, 1988 Mayor John C. Gutenberger City Hall Ithaca, N. Y. 14850 Dear John, As you can see I -.directed my comments about ACC Community Access to the wrong control. If this out -of -control programming is what the license squabble is all about my vote goes to the side dibecting that some standards be set and maintained. Our community deserves better. Sincerely, i aQ AMERICAN COMMUNITY CABLEVISION April 22, 1988 Ms. Maralyn W. Fleming 205 The Parkway Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Ms. Fleming: In response to your comments concerning the programming content and more specifically the language used in the programming on Access Channel 13, American Community Cablevision does not have editorial rights to this programming. Community Access programming is produced by access volunteers from the community. Our franchise agreement strictly prohibits ACC from exercising any control over community access programming. May I suggest that you direct your comments and concerns about community access programming to your local town officials and Thys Van Cort of the City of Ithaca. Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns about the programming on Cable 13. Sincerely, ftd,aLL Elaine R. Jones Operations Manager 519 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-3456 Mr. Michael Withiam American Community Cablevision 519 West State St., Ithaca, N. Y. Dear Mike, Last night I watched the dandy 'Know Your Schools' program on Channel 13 and then waited to see what would follow against the NOAA basketball championship an competing channels at 9PM. I was sick to see what .you showed the community. Opening was a man behind 'Joe Cool' dark glasses, bathed in purple and blue-green light talking inanely about how the world started with a big .-reeze rather than a big bang. Tasteless, rambling - an attempt to be far out I suppose. The camera then panned to a drawing of a space creature in tall grass while a woman's voice described human intercourse in a mock poetic fashion using four letter words. Obscene, ugly - all at prime time: Next a pan to a photograph of a grinning girl and back to Joe Cool ad nauseum until after this minutes even the purple man had to sign off twice before he was faded by the Nadia Silk (?)producers. April 5, 1988 Do you have no control over what can come over public access? I cannot believe that this community has to endure the silly, banal, obscene shows that some few people think are amusing. It's true I can turn it off - but I am appalled and disbelieving that something as bad as the 9-9:3OPM show on ACC ever got out of the bathroom. Sincerely, do, 0 itlillse a}Lia,lutzt — )i 1 6 7). ,Eciu..64 ile-c.—tth, a2 . a.,.,..,..., - /,,,,iii. ,„__,,L4„, 5 e„..„, id,. /0,,, Jay,a-a, A alityL,E1- ,Q6 -e -n -le,- (04I AJ .A. z / / ,- /8� '` Y»`��/�' /- ', `-~__' ^-- . . . 412 Hook Place Ithaca, New York 14850 May 21, 1987 City of Ithaca Cable Television Commission 108 E. Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Dear Sirs: PfCEIVtb 11M.4y 2 2 1987 7/2 CITY CLERIC'S OFFICE /— Ithaca, N.Y. In light of the franchise renewal decision you must soon make concerning American Community Cablevision, I would like to mention some concerns of mine related to the operation of the cable system in the City of Ithaca. • I believe Ithaca to be a community that cannot receive proper television reception with individual household antennas. We are very much dependent upon a cable system to receive even the most basic television service. The original Ceracche Television Cable system came into being because of the poor broadcast reception available in the City. It therefore concerns me greatly that ACC (and even perhaps the FCC) takes the attitude that Ithaca residents are capable of obtaining viewable television reception without a cable connection. In this regard, cable television in Ithaca is like a public service monopoly, just as the telephone, electricity and natural gas services are. It therefore must be regulated as a public service utility, including specification of basic levels of service required and the costs of those services. It seems ludicrous to me that ACC wants a free hand to decide how much it charges for cable services. It concerns me also that ACC niay continue to institute nearly worthless programming on its limited channel space, dropping broadcast stations from nearby cities. Much has been said in recent years about duplication of programming on the cable because of network affiliations. While there is often duplication during prime time viewing hours, there are many times when stations pre-empt network programming for one reason or another. In addition, programming in non -prime time hours is usually quite different. I believe it would be a serious mistake to limit our selection to only one channel per network. A further consideration for providing our cable system with stations from all neighboring communities is that of local news and local advertising. One subscriber may have family in the Binghamton area and desire to view the local news from that city, while another subscriber may prefer shopping in Syracuse or Rochester and want to see commercials from there. It would not be desirable to leave it up to ACC to decide with which neighboring city we are to become most closely allied. de I would like to see our cable system provide a more flexible range of available services. Subscribers could select whichever extra channels they preferred, rather than in predetermined groups. I would like to see our cable systemcarry all broadcast stations from neighboring cities, including Rochester, even if that meant being charged for additional levels of service. beld•-; tA-0-11 %d. Com.,, , Yours very truly, Martin C. Jorgensen 71' RICE ASSOCIATES October 7, 1985 Mr. H. Matthys Van Cort Director. Planning and Development 108 East Green Sttree Ithaca, NY 14850 Dear Thys: • -66 Meoliz , /0/23 I enjoyed meeting with you, the Planning and Development Committee, and Cable Commission members. The meetings gave me a good overview of the City's concerns regarding renewal or refranchising. As you requested, following is a description of the consulting services, we could provide, that emerged as important during the meetings that were held. Task 1 Initial Consultation Initial consultation sessions would be held with the City to review its renewal or refranchising process and to discuss the latest legal, technical, and economic developmentsaffecting thecable industry. Rice Associates would work with the City in establishing a timetable and the specific procedures to be followed during each stage. Additionally, we would provide information to the Commission and the City on how the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, FCC decisions and rulemakings on technical standards, rate regulation, and must -carry rules as well as how litigation and other trends in the industry affect the City's renewal or refranchising process. Task 2 Technical Analysis Rice Associates would conduct a technical analysis. which would encompass: an evaluation of -the present cable system; and an analysis of the cost,feasibility and technical requirements of a system upgrade or various 1346 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW • WASHINGTON, DC 20036 • TEL: (202) 737-2400 Mr. H. Matthys Van Cort Page 2 rebuild options. To assess the status of the present system we would review the annual FCC and recent State Cable Commission test results. Additionally, discussion would be held with members of the Cable Commission who have engineering backgrounds to pinpoint specific problem areas. On-site testing of the system can be conducted, if neccessary. Based on the review of -the existing system including headend location, number of. plant -miles, age and make of equipment, and overall design, Rice Associates would provide cost estimates of various technical alternatives. These alternatives could include: upgrade of existing system; 54, 60 and 72 channel capacity; design alternatives including a star -switched system. Addtionally, options in providing two-way service would be reviewed in detail, taking the new ..computer developments at Cornell into account. Task 3 Community and Consumer Needs Assessment. Rice Associates would assist the City in conducting an assessment of municipal, community, ,business and consumer needs. The information collected through this process would provide much of the basis for City decisionmaking on the technical and service parameters of a new franchise agreement. This assessment, as supplemented by public hearings and other information, may also serve as the basis of the City's determination; of its "future cable -related community needs and i°nterests, ": as the term is used in the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. Two surveys would be conducted .. to. assess the community's cable communications needs and satisifaction with existing services and facilities..a community. needs assessment and a consumer market survey. A community needs assessment would consist of a survey of current and potential users of the City's governmental, public, and educational access channels and facilities, and other existing and proposed institutional services. A consumer market, survey would consist of a survey of cable subscribers and non -subscribers regarding customer satisfaction and demand for expanded cable services, facilities, and special offerings. ---- Task 4 Analysis of Operators Past Performance Rice Associates would work with -the', Commission and the city, .to analyse operators past.•.. performance.: This analysis would include a review of the operators-_:- compliance .with •.the ordinance and franchise agreement. Following:_- are some •.I"R • Mr. H. Matthys Van Cort Page 3 of the areas that Rice Associates typically analyzes for compliance.: construction completion; performance of street work; system technical standards; adherence to City procedures (e.g., transfer of ownership or control); insurance, indemnification, and performance bond; use of poles and facilities agreements; system extension, operations, standards, and procedures; availability of books, maps records, and specially requested information and reports; compliance with state and federal laws; community programming, equipment, and services; consumer bill practices; consumer complaints; privacy; and franchise fees. The City's ordinance, franchise agreement, and City records on system compliance would be reviewed by Rice Associates to determine if additional information is needed. Should .this be the case, Rice Associates would prepare'a request for information for the City to provide to ACC. In consultation with the Commission and the City, the information provided would be analyzed and a determination of the company's compliance with the elements of the franchise would be made. Task 5 Renewal/Refranchising Process Assistance Rice Associates would work with the City in the renewal or refranchising process which could include: developing.. a request for <proposal; evaluatingthe_.. proposal(s); analyzing alternative ownership options;: development of anupdatedordinance : and franchise agreement and negotiations. The Request for Proposal would be developed so that information on financial projections, system design, service to subscribers, local programming and compliance questions can be obtained. .The. RFP .would be checked for thoroughness, internal consistency,: and ;acculracy, of ;_;thefinancial and technical data. The comprehensive analysis would be based :on evaluation criteria that would be developed in conjunction with the Commission and the City. The alternative ownership analysis could include municipal and cooperative ownership structure,. financing, and legal parameters. Rice Associates would also work with the City to develop the public record, develop the Notice of Renewal or Denial and, if necessary, assist the City in conducting administrative hearings and a competive franchising process. ,Developmentof the ordinance and. franchise, agreement :would be .based] on ,City needs,, and compliance with the Cable .. Communications ; Policy Act of 1984. = Rice Associates would also conduct a general review to insure Mr. H. Matthys Van Cort • Page 4 it contains provisions of importance to the City for ongoing regulation and administration of the franchise. Rice Associates., would also be available to work with the City on the final terms of the franchise, whether it is granted to the present operator or to another. As was discussed at the Committee meeting, Rice Associates has completed and is working with several cities whose renewal activities are governed by the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. Additionally, Rice Associates has worked with a number of cities who have ATC as a cable operator. This experience provides us with a solid grounding for• the renewal or refranchising process in Ithaca. I feel that the City has.a number of options to pursue and the local talent to do it well. We would be pleased to work with the City. If I can provide you with additional information please let me know. City ought to shorten - term of cable. franchise I am as glad as anyone that months of wrangling between the city and American Community Ca- blevision, are over, and like others I am looking forward to some of the new channels we will be receiving. But I am also lamenting what we will lose. Our negotiators argued matters of public access and two-way com- munication, but most . subscribers were just asking "What channels will we get and how much will it cost?" . In those areas the new agreement is a real loser. Any well-run corporation will seek every possible way to minimize costs and maximize income. The fact that we have kept control over ACC's rates only intensifies its drive to cut costs, and one of the important ways it can do this is through its choice of programming. The most expensive services it can carry are broadcast stations, both commercial and public, which require the payment of copyright fees and the maintenance of anten- na towers and their associated land lease cost's. By replacing broadcast stations with satellite channels, the cable company not only eliminates these costs, but can further boost income by selling local advertising. The brochure recently circulated by ACC announced an- intent to drop all but the three commercial network stations in Syracuse. ACC willtout this change as "eliminat- ing duplication," but look at the wonderful new services proposed as replacements: "Electronic Pro- gram Guide" (a printed listing of what's on the other channels), "Headline News" (more print) and "Cable Value Network" (another shopping channel, which inciden- tally pays a commission on sales to the cable system). t , Still missing, significantly, is Showtime. Since Showtime has ex- clusive rights to films from sevral major studios, it is a must for those of us who enjoy movies in uncut form. But Showtime is in direct competiton with HBO and Cine- max, which are owned by ACC's parent company, Time -Life Inc. Whatever you may think of these particular services, the point is that programming choices appear to be based on corporate profit, not on public preference or level of serv- ice. Don't bother writing letters to The Journal about the channels you'd like to see. The Cable Com- munications Policy Act of 1984 —. largely written by the cable lobby — prohibits the city from regulat- ing channel selection. Without government regulation or competition, the only remaining constraint on the cable company is its desire to be refranchised in the future. ACC asked for a preposter- ous 20 -year -franchise; the 15 -year term our negotiators settled for is equally ludicrous, and is five years , more than the state normally per- mits. - ACC probably argued that it heeds long-term guarantees to justi- fy the expense of rebuilding. But every cent,it spends increases the capital value of the system and could be recovered in the sale to a new, operator if the franchise were terminated. Further, the costs will be recovered quickly — in less than five years, I'll wager — through fees for additional tiers of service and new paychannels. Finally, much of the cost will probably dis- appear as tax writeoffs. Although our, electric and gas utilities require heavy and frequent capital investment,- we are- wise enough to retain firm, short-term control over their behavior. I urge that we do the same with our com- munications utility. Common Council should accept most of the proposed agreement — flawed as it is — but sharply limit the term of the franchise. If ACC has -no plans to walk roughshod over the preferences of Ithaca view- ers, it should have no objection to that change. William Steele Ithaca Journal left on doorstep could attract» burglars I am writing to object to your de- livering -a free copy of the Ithaca Journal to my apartment on Dec. 29. Like most people, I like to be with my. family over the holidays and was out of town. - I took every precaution so that my apartment appeared to be occu- pied; for example, I had my mail held by the post office, and I in- stalled a timerthat turned my lights on and . off. Therefore, you can imagine how extremely angry I was to return today to find that your newspaper , had been on my doorstep for six days.,' Surely you must realize that with so many people away that this could alert potential burglars. At the very.. least, in the interest of the community, you should have had the undisturbed newspapers col- lected on Dec. 30. In the future when I want a newspaper, I'll buy it!', Maureen Howe Lansing 1