TC 10-01-97 Cupertino Telecommunications Commission
Regular Adjourned Meeting
Oct. l, 1997
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ernest Tsui at 6:50 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Bill Mannion, Sal Algeri and Ernest Tsui.
Absent: L.T. Guttadanro, Mike Wincn
Staff: Donna Krey
De Anza College: None
TCI: Dave Walton, Brace Dinger, Rod Gotthold
Guests: Linda Orodt
DISCUSSION OF ANNUAL REPORT VIDEO
Mannion and Tsui met and compiled a list of items that they proposed should be included
in the videotape. Tsui offered to provide a written annual report summary to the city council, in
- addition to the tape they will receive. Mannion will write the actual script for the videotape. He
said this will be completed by Nov. 1.
APPROVAL OF SEPT. 3, 1997 MINUTES
Algeri made a motion to approve the minutes with one correction concerning Tsui's
negative vote on consolidating a category for videotape production; Mannion seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS Oral: There were none.
Written: Krey called commissioners' attention to the Los Altos Producer Agreement in
their packets.
PRESENTATION FROM TCI
This item was taken out of order as a courtesy to Rod Gotthold, technical trainer for TCI,
who spoke about the company's digital services. He said these new services, which will be
available in Cupertino next spring, give TCI customers "control, choice and convenience." The
on-screen, menu-driven guide allows subscribers to choose the programs they want to watch. The
digital format uses a universal remote and an interactive screen, according to Gotthold.
Approximately 40 additional channels, plus a DMX service, are featured. The pay-per-view
service will include multiple start times for customer convenience, he said.
Ootthold also told commissioners that in areas where these digital services have been
tested, there is a high level of customer satisfaction. In answer to a question about technical
improvements, he said both picture and sound quality will be better with a digital format.
Krey asked if the digital roll-out will affect TCI's schedule for rebuilding the system and
was told it would not. Walton said he would invite commissioners to TCI for a hands-on
demonstration of the digital services as soon as they were made available.
OLD BUSINESS
1997 project timeline: There were no changes.
Telecommunications liaison with other cities: Mannion said it is the commission's job
to enforce the Producer Agreement at De Anza and that this agreement should be consistent with
the Los Altos agreement. He again voiced his objection to a particular access program, Showcase
16. Algeri said he thought the programming guidelines in the Producer Agreement were well-
defined and unless there were other complaints, he did not wish to make an issue of the program.
Krey reminded Mannion of recent court decisions upholding First Amendment rights for public
access producers.
Commissioners agreed to ask Wincn to compare both the De Anza and Los Altos
agreements to see if there are significant areas of difference. Krey will ask Winch to perform this
task and to report back to the commission at the next meeting. Commissioners also agreed to
have Krey write a letter to access director Ron Fish, asking him to air the Showcase 16 program
after 10 p.m. and to add a serious disclaimer. (Tsui suggested Fish be reminded to provide
information about the TV Center repairs to him, as well.)
Production of Videotapes: Tsui reported on the "cultural richness/stewardship" project,
saying Marquita Byrd is in the process of getting students together for a spring production of four
shows on cultural diversity. Mannion suggested a copy of the script for the commission would be
useful to have. Tsui said he will try and arrange another meeting with Byrd, Michael Chang and
· - himself to ensure that the project is heading in the right direction.
Community Education Event: This item was postponed until a full commission was
present.
Promotion/awareness of channel: Krey said the Channel 16 promotional magnets have
been ordered and should be in by the next meeting. Mannion reported the channel's "bug" is up.
Algeri agreed to look into an idea for table tents in restaurants advertising thc public access
channel.
.Web page update: There was no report.
COPA SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR SPECIAL PRODUCER AWARD
Subcommittee members Tsui and Algeri met and reviewed three applications for this
award. Their recommendation for the winner will be postponed until the November meeting,
when the full commission can vote on the recommendation.
NEW BUSINESS
UPDATE ON EDUCATIONAL (]RANTS PROGRAM
Krey told commissioners she mailed out grant application forms to Suzanne Sanders at
the Cupertino Union School District and to Karen Burnett at the Fremont Union High School
District. The districts have until Nov. 14 to return proposals, which will be reviewed by the
Telecommunications Commission at its December meeting. She said a total of $10,000 is
available. In response to an earlier question from a commissioner regarding funds for private
schools in the city, Krey referred to a memo in the packet from the city attorney's office. The
memo states that the California constitution prohibits public money for support of sectarian
schools.
Relmrt from C|~y of Cupertino: Krey told commissioners that she and the city manager
met with representatives from TCI about the company's plans to rebuild the existing cable
system with a fiber optic system, as outlined in the franchise agreement. TCI will build the new
system, however, it will take about six months longer than expected to complete. The cable
company plans to begin with the old Heritage portion of the city, folding that into the existing
system. This will be completed by the franchise deadline of June 1998. The rest of the city will
be built in increments, with the final phase completed by December 1998.
TCI officials wished to amend the franchise agreement to reflect the later deadline. In
addition, the company proposed building a 550 MHz system, as opposed to the franchise-
required ']50 Mhz system, saying the additional bandwidth was not necessary to supply the city
with everything it needed. TCI was asked to put both of these amendments in writing and submit
them for staff and council review.
Krey asked commissioners for their input on these changes and, following a series of
technical questions to TCI representatives, members agreed that Tsui and Algeri would meet
with TCI for a full discussion of the issues raised. Commissioners will try to have a
recommendation for the city by the Oct. 20 council meeting.
On another topic, Krey encouraged the commissioners to watch The City Channel during
the election season, because a full slate of programming has been prepared for the city council
race.
Report from De Anza College: There was none.
Report from TCI: Dinger reviewed the company's monthly report, explaining that the
call answering time was lagging a little because of the volume of calls from residents transferring
service from Pacific Bell to TCI in San Jose.
ADJOURNMENT
Mannion made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m.; Algeri seconded and the
motion passed unanimously.
ATYEST: APPROVF~D:
City Clerk c/~ Chai~i~an