TC 05-04-94Cable Television Advisory Committee
Regular Meeting
May 4, 1994
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by chairman Laird Huntsman.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Huntsman, Jane Chiavacci, Carol Marble, Donna Poggi, J.M. Winch
Staff: Donna Krey, Laura Newman
TCI Staff: Daryl Henderson (arrived 7:10 p.m.)
De Anza College: Ron Fish
Guests: Len Batchelor, Linda Grodt, Don Yeager
APPROVAL OF APRIL 6, 1994 MINUTES
Mike Wincn made a motion to approve the minutes as written; Donna Poggi seconded
and the motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS
Oral: Don Yeager informed the committee that he was asked to be a facilitator for a
workshop on the involvement of the disabled community in community access television for
the Alliance for Community Media conference in Hawaii. The members congratulated him
on this honor.
Huntsman reported that at the previous Mayor's lunch the Public Safety Commission
representative expressed interest in producing a safety program with the assistance of the
CTVAC. Carol Marble stated she would not be able to attend the May Mayor's lunch. Poggi
volunteered to attend in her place.
Written: The letter from James Webb, City of Sunnyvale, regarding the possibility of
broadcasting Cupertino Community TV on the Sunnyvale system was offered as formal
notification that they would be exploring the possibility and would inform Cupertino at a
future date.
OLD BUSINESS
Status of re-franchising effort: There was no meeting held prior to this month's
CTVAC. The next meeting was scheduled for May 12 and Donna Krey said she would report
back to the group at the June meeting.
Page 2
NEW BUSINESS
Review of grant applications: No grant applications were received by the April 15
deadline. Jane Chiavacci made a motion to extend thc grant application deadline to May 15;
Huntsman seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Ron Fish will advertise the
extended deadline in the Producers' Newsletter.
Committee's role in emerging telecommunications: Chiavacci distributed a brief
report on the subject of the committee's role in case of an emergency. She said she spoke
with Harvey Checkman of the Public Safety Commission at a previous Mayor's lunch about
this same topic. He told her that the commission was interested in working on this project
with the help of the public access director. Krey said the idea was a good one and some of the
items were already available, such as the foreign language tapes. Chiavacci volunteered to
meet with the Public Safety Commission to discuss this further. She will report back to the
committee at a future meeting.
Review of infomercial success on public acces~ channel: Ron Fish reported that he
has developed a way of tracking shows a little more closely due to the running of the
infomercials. This allows for better data in monitoring which shows are not being watched.
He has given away approximately seven prizes so far. He will provide statistical information
at the next meeting. Chiavacci urged each committee member to watch one of the
infomercials and continue evaluating the program.
I-NET/Educational: There was no report this month.
City of Cupertino: Krey reported that she and Len Batchelor attended a workshop
sponsored by the FCC about the Form 393s, which is a form that the cable company must fill
out to justify their basic rates. She said these forms will be obsolete as of May 15. A new
form, a Series 1200, will be required.
She pointed out a list of documents which had been picked up at the workshop and
requested the committee members let her know if they were interested in any of them and she
would make copies available.
Krey also told the members that the subcommittee comprised of herself, Mike Wincn,
Len Batchelor, Don Brown and Cheryl Kershner, had gone over TCI's Form 393s. A three-
page list of questions for TCI was developed following several meetings. A representative
from TCI was requested to meet with the subcommittee to explain the differences. Krey said
TCI informed her that a written response to the questions would be provided. She faxed the
list and the responses were expected within the week.
She reminded the committee that June 2 is the last day to make a finding on these
particular Form 393s. A finding on the 393s must be done before the city can get into the
Series 1200 forms. She also told the committee that TCI's rates cannot be raised until the city
agrees with what is being charged.
De Anza College: Fish said he was interested in the possible purchase of equipment
for next year which would allow for remote shoots. He said his idea included building a cart
which would fit into the back of a small track or van which would fold out into a full three-
man remote studio. Wincn suggested he include a report on the status of the current
equipment and possible maintenance for the next couple of years. Batchelor suggested the
inclusion of insurance costs as well as an agreement for whoever would use the equipment.
Fish will report back to the committee at the next meeting. Krey will request information
about public access insurance requirements from other cities throughout the state.
-- Page 3
TCI: Chiavacci told Henderson that she had neighbors who were unhappy about
TCI's decision to drop the FM broadcast in order to add a new Fox network. He explained
this was done as part of the must-carry negotiations to broadcast the channel (the new FX
channel). The FM bandwidth was the only non-video band available. The 275 customers in
Cupertino and Los Altos were going to receive notification that this was going to be
discontinued. Customers with stand-alone FM service would have the option of subscribing
to DBX at a higher cost. Krey said she received a copy of the bill insert from TCI explaining
this and felt the information was misleading.
Chiavacci felt strongly that a letter from the committee be sent to TCI protesting the
decision to drop FM from its channel lineup and the committee members concurred. She will
draft the letter and provide it to Krey for distribution.
Henderson was unable to provide a copy of his statistical report at the meeting and
said he would send it to Krey when it was available. It will be included in the packet for the
next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Poggi made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.; Chiavacci seconded and the
motion passed unanimously. The committee will meet next on June 1.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED:
Chairperson