Loading...
TC 09-06-95 Cable Television Advisory Committee Regular Meeting September 6, 1995 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by chairperson Mike Wincn. ROLL CALL: Present: Donna Poggi, Laird Huntsman, Paul Rodwick (arrived 7:05 p.m.), Ernest Tsui, J.M. Winch TCI: Kathi Noe, Bruce Dinger Cmests: Linda G-rodt, Daniel Wade and Leonard Batchelor APPROVAL OF JULY 5, 1995 MINUTES Donna Poggi made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Winch seconded and the motion passed unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS Oral: Linda G-rodt told the committee that her car had been broken into while parked at De Anza College--the first time in 10 years of parking on the campus. - Written: Donna Krey told the committee she would leave a copy of "The Journal for the Alliance of Community Media" (formerly NFLCP) newsletter for anyone interested in looking at it. A letter was received from The Better Part acknowledging the committee for the recent grant they received. They are able to provide videotapes to the Library each week for check-out. Krey said she will include a copy of the letter in the committee's packet next month. OLD BUSINESS Review of billing procedure for unincorporated areas - Kathi Noe explained that there was some confusion around TCI's rate increase for unincmporated areas in Santa Clara County. She said an audit is being performed in order to determine which addresses belong in the city limits or the county. She said it would take approximately three months to finish the audit, at which time she would give the committee an update. Schedule visit to TCI in San Jose - Since three members of the committee had been on a tour of the TCI facilities, it was decided that the two newest members would make arrangements to visit the facility at their convenience. NEW BUSINESS TCI customer service overview: Bruce Dinger introduced himself to the committee as the customer relations manager for TCI in charge of the South Bay and the Peninsula area. He said his job includes dealing with complalnts made by customers which aren't addressed in a timely fashion, as well as any complaints referred by the cities. He also acts as a facilitator between various TCI departments and customers. Discussion of cable-related educational issues: Krey reported that she and Ernest Tsni have been involved in meetings with the school districts regarding the second educational channel, to be housed at Cupertino High School. Both De AnTs College and The City Channel have generously ~ donated equipment which will be used to get the project going. The committee for the channel proposed that it be modeled after Sunnyvale's successful educational channel. The Sunnyvale channel has received a lot of support fi'om the business community, TCI and the school district. The programming is very good and is available to all the residents in Sunnyvale. The Cupertino channel would be focused on the elementary and high school districts. There will be a meeting tomorrow with the educators and TCI to try and finalize the details. The on-air target date is Nov. 1. The channel will be shared with one of TCI's home shopping channels. Ron Fish asked who the director of the Cupertino channel will be. Krey said the high school dislxict has a part-time person who handles the Sunnyvale channel. They can have this position become full-time and the person will be able to handle both channels. The district is also ready to fund any equipment that may be needed, as well as staffing. TCI will provide technical assistance. The channel placement will be 63 with broadcast hours being 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Promotion of grants program: Krey said this item was placed on the agenda because the deadline for grant applications is Oct. 15 and she thought the subcommittee would like to discuss how the grants program will be promoted. Poggi said a letter would be mailed to each access producer and Rodwick will attend the next access producers' meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. Rodwick said he will provide information for Fish to put on a slide on the access channel. Discussion of expanded role of committee: Krey asked the committee members to think about changing the name of the committee to Telecommunications Commission. She di.~ixibuted copies of the ordinance establishing the Cable TV Advisory Committee for review and said the language should be updat~xl to reflect the changes taking place in the telecommunications venue. She - has talked to the city manager about expanding the role of the committee and he agreed that the first step toward broadening the scope of the committee was taken when a telecommunications policy was established. Rodwick suggested that the new commission could take on the role of an ombudsman, looking at technology trends or other trends within the indu~ixy so that the commlmity can become educated on telecommunications issues in advance. Krey agreed with him and said the Cupertino Scene and the local media could be used to assist with educating the public. This item will be continued to the next meeting. Committee members were asked to bring back suggestions and comments at that time. De Anza College: Fish distributed copies of his access director's report. He said public access submitted 20 entries in the WAVE awards. This year, for the first time, he offered to pay for two entries for any producer who was a finalist. In the past, he paid for one entry per producer. He also said he will be going to Sacramento tomorrow to pick up 1500 recycled tapes. This will be a cost savings for public access. The remote studio is almost complete. It should be ready for production in mid-September. He wants to find a community event to try it out on. Krey informed him of the upcoming 40th birthday party for the city on Oct. 7. A new Chief Engineer has been hired by De Anza. He will be supporting the TV Center as well as the Advanced Technology Center. Wincn suggested that he be invited to attend a .future committee meeting. Training classes for new access producers are held Wednesday nights fxom 6 to 8 and 8 to 10. Mayor's Breakfast: Wincn distributed copies of his report on the August Mayor's breakfast meeting with commissioners. Poggi volunteered to attend the September meeting. -- TCI: Kathi Ncc informed the committee that TCI is bringing in a representative from the California Cable Television Association to give an overview of the industry and where it's headed on Sept. 26. This meeting is not related to the franchise renewal. The division vice president will be involved as well as some other people from the division office. ICrey asked if any member wanted to -- represent the committee at this meeting on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Winch volunteered to be the representative. He will report back at the next meeting. Noe distributed copies of TCI's monthly report. She also presented the agreed upon lang-oge for the design of a new report. The subscriber statistics will continue to be provided, as well as phone calls, the number received and the percentage answered within 30 seconds, which are in concert with the FCC and NCTA customer service standards. These standards are reported to the NCTA on a quorterly basis and Krey will receive a copy of these reports as well. The monthly report will also include a total number of request for service and installation and the percentage of those requests completed. Noe also said she will provide a list of the number, dates and times of outages affecting five or more subscribers, and the time it takes to complete those repairs. Also, the summary of complaints showing the numbers and types of complaints will be included. Dinger is working on breaking the types of complaints out into more specific categories, including an attitude and commitment complaint summary. The detail on city complaints will continue to be provided to Krey. Noe said she hopes to start the new report next month. She distributed an announcement from TCI about entering into the telephone business. The PUC recently passed interim rules that allows that begLnning the first of next year. City of Cupertino: Krey said the city and TCI are working hard to finalize the franchise agreement. The deadline is Oct. 14. The hope is that only one more meeting will be necessary in order to finalize the agreement. Krey will be attending the NATOA conference in New Mexico at the end of this month. She will bring back with her information pertinent to the committee. - The City Channel will be doing election programming this year. This will include two-minute platform statements on each candidate, as well as "Candidate Q & A," involving two reporters, one from the San Jose Mercury and the Cupertino Courier, discussing issues with each individual candidate. The League of Women Voters will sponsor a candidates' forum in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce. This is scheduled for Oct. 10 and The City Channel will cover this event as well Also, election night tabulations will be broadcast. There will be a 50s-themed party following the community parade on Oct. 7 in celebration of the incorporation of Cupertino as a city in Oct. 1955. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and finishes at approximately 10 a.m. The party will take place at the Civic Center Plaza. ADJOURNMENT Rodwick made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.; Huntsman seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The next meeting will be held Oct. 4, 1995, at 7 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk (~ C