TC 12-02-98 Telecommunications Commission
Regular Meeting
· -- December 2, 1998
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Mannion at 7:05 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners present: Bill Marmion, Ernest Tsui, Mike Wincn, Sal Algeri, L.T. Guttadauro
Staff: Donna Krey, Linda Lagergren
De Anza College: Bob Haber
TCI: Dave Walton
Guests: Linda Grodt, Suzanne Sanders (CUSD), Hema Kundargi
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 4, 1998 MINUTES
Tsui made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Mannion seconded and the motion
passed. Algeri and Guttadauro abstained.
COMMUNICATIONS
Oral: Wincn referred to a letter from Haber revoking access privileges for a producer and
suggested a review of producer guidelines and advertising on the channel in January. Grodt thanked
commission for the COPA award nomination. She also thanked Krey for all the press coverage she
received on the award.
Written: Krey distributed an article from the Mercury News and two news articles from Multi
Channel on TCI and AT&T. She also distributed correspondence from TCI regarding the system being
completed by Dec. 31 and a letter from Walton regarding the new customer service call center.
OLD BUSINESS
Project timeline: There were no updates to the timeline. It was proposed that commission start
with a new timeline in Sannary. Winch will save the timeline, which is done in Project 98, in the
previous version and then forward it to Guttadauro and Tsui. It was suggested at the next meeting the
commission discuss who will be responsible for keeping the timeline updated.
Commission agreed to take new business item - Review of educational grant proposals out of order.
NEW BUSINESS
Review of educational grant proposals (CUSD) - Commission viewed the CUSD video of
last year's project created at Lincoln School. Suzanne Sanders said the district would like to use this
grant opportunity to begin to duplicate the successful plans and projects they have done in the past and,
in addition to that, train personnel at other schools about the value of video. Wincn suggested CUSD
look for help from De ~,n~a College.
Winch moved to accept the grant proposal as submitted. Guttadauro seconded the motion. All
in favor. Motion passed.
Kr~y mentioned the recommendation would go to city council on Jan. 4, 1999, and if approved
by council, a check would be released within two weeks of the council meeting.
Review of educational grant proposals (FUHSD) - Mannion had a question about the
Casablanca Non-Linear Edit System. Guttadauro said the grant had a narrow approach. He would like
to see a more varied use of the grant money, so it would benefit more than a single class.
Commissioners were uncertain about the broadness of use for the grant. They agreed to continue the
item until the January meeting so that someone from the Fremont Union High School District could
attend and answer some of their questions and concerns.
Grant request from Ilema Kundargi - Winch asked Haber what the response was for
Kundargi's cooking show. Haber said there was a huge response. Kundargi said people hear about the
show slrictly by word of mouth. There was a question by commission if there were larger grants than
$250. Krey said that at one time there were larger grants, but accountability was a problem. Kundargi
mentioned an Indian grocery store would like to sponsor the show. She was aware that they could list
the store's name but not the telephone number or location. There also was a question whether or not
the storefront could be shown. It was recommended to not show the storefront. This will be discussed
at greater length in January.
Wincn made a motion to recommend accepting the grant proposal as submitted. Tsui seconded
the motion. Motion passed. Krey said this recommendation would go to city council on Jan. 4 and, if
approved, Kundargi would receive a check two weeks later.
OLD BUSINESS
TCI Rebuild Update - Krey distributed an e-mail from Dennis Seace that included answers to
Tsui's questions.
Walton distributed a report on the progress of the upgrade. Walton said the system design is
complete. The construction of the rebuild and upgrade is on schedule to be completed by Dec. 31.
Electronic activation to the 750 MHz system for the "Cupertino" area will occur on Dec. 28, 29 and
30. Manual activation to the 750 MHz system in the "Heritage" area is required. Field installation
representatives will exchange converter boxes and manually convert customers to the rebuilt system.
TCI provided infoLmation to the Scene and City's web site. Bi-weekly cable upgrade notices
continue to appear in the Cupertino Courier. No later than Dec. 4, customers will receive notification
regarding activation to the upgraded/rebuilt system. TCI representatives will call "Heritage" customers
begivning Dec. 20 to schedule appointments to exchange converter boxes and convert customers to the
rebuilt system. No later than Dec. 28, TCI field installation representatives will canvas the "Heritage"
area to exchange converter boxes and convert customers to the rebuilt system. TCI will provide a
doorknob hanger 48 hours in advance of canvassing. Customers will have the option to call TCI to
schedule a more appropriate date.
Walton reported TCI would begin testing three nodes the next day. Krey said with the new
system we would gain two new access channels. One of those channels has been promised to De
College. The college needs to be notified of what that channel will be so De Anza can begin
advertising. Walton said he would provide that information as soon as possible.
Tsui summarized Seace's answers to his questions. After discussion of commission's concerns,
the commission agreed they want TCI to provide test results of a represented sample. They also want a
report certifying the completion of the rebuild and the full intent of the franchise has been fulfilled by
the expected date.
Commission agreed they could walt until the next meeting to evaluate certification of the
project. They would like to present to council the certification by the second council meeting in
Commission agreed to discuss their 1999 goals work plan at the February commission meeting.
Production of videotapes - cultural diversity video: Mannion reported the video was
completed. It will be cablecast in January. The committee has already begun talking about the second
-- video.
Annual report - Mannion will submit the changes to the list of the commission's
accomplishments by the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Report on Far Western Conference - Guttadauro reported on the Far Western Conference.
He reported there were 29 submittals, 12 finalists and 5 winners. He reported that the conference next
year would be in Santa Clara Valley.
Election of 1999 officers
Nomination for Chair- Wincn nominated Algeri for Chair. Mannion seconded the motion. All
in favor. Motion passed.
Nomination for Vice-Chair - Tsui nominated Guttadauro for Vice-Chair. Wincn seconded the
motion. All in favor. Motion passed.
Wincn will end his term of office on January 15 after serving eight years on the commission.
The commission thanked Wincn for his years of service and Mannion for his year as Chainnan.
Reports from:
TCI: Commission reviewed the TCI outage report from Oct. 1998. TCI has been giving credit
to customers who have had outages. Walton reported the new call center is now open.
City of Cupertino: Krey reported the council is now hearing new expansion options for the
library. They are looking at various options for use of the old library building. Krey also reported the
Teen Task Force committee is now reviewing the results of the survey that went out to teens in the
community.
De Anza College: Haber reported the painting and carpeting of the TV Center is scheduled to
get under way the week of Dec. 7. Willie Pritchard informed Haber that there would not be a need to
cancel any production dates because of the work being done. The remote cart went on the road again to
tape a holiday choir concert at the Cupertino Union Church on Sunday, Dec. 6 and two episodes of the
Vegetarian Indian Gourmet on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
The program schedule is now on the Prevue channel and on the Prcvue Channel Web Site. The
subscription cost for this service is $65 per month and Access Los Altos is picking up half the cost.
Access Pub show #12 premiered on Thursday, Nov. 26 and featured a new band called Angora.
Tehran Television was suspended and ultimately terminated from Cupertino Community Television
for producing and airing commercial messages on the access channel. Krey provided details of the
suspension and termination in the commission packets. Two new producers for the winter quarter have
been added. The 5Cs program "Cupertino Diversity Journal" will air a first episode on Dec. 3.
Haber reported the next producer's meeting would be on Dec. 7 beginning at 6 p.m, when the
COPA would also be presented.
AI)JOURNMENT
Tsul made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m.; Alg~'i seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clork ~ Chairp~on