TC 04-06-94Cable Television Advisory Committee
Regular Meeting
Apr. 6, 1994
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by chairman Laird Huntsman.
ROLL
CALL:
Present: Huntsman, Donna Poggi, J.M. Wincn
Absent: Jane Chiavacci, Carol Marble
Staff: Donna Krey, Laura Newman
TCI Staff: Daryl Henderson (arrived 7:10 p.m.)
De Anza College: Dave Barney, Ron Fish
Guests: Len Batchelor, Linda Grodt, Don Yeager
APPROVAL OF MARCH 2, 1994 MINUTES
The minutes of the Mar. 2, 1994 meeting were approved with one correction. Donna
Poggi said that the motion needed to be stated in the last paragraph of the Proposal to air
Cupertino public access on Sunnyvale's public access channel on page 2. The motion should
read, "After discussion, Poggi made a motion that the committee send a letter to the City of
Sunnyvale in support of the proposal and urging them to pursue the matter with TCI; ...". Mike
Winch moved that the minutes be accepted as corrected; Poggi seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Oral: Linda Grodt told the committee that her show "Silicon Kids" is a finalist for five
BACE Awards in four different categories. The committee congratulated her on her
nominations. Ron Fish said there were two other producers from De Anza College who were
also finalists.
Don Yeager informed the committee that he had one show that was a finalist in the
"docu-drama" category of the BACE Awards and he said Donna Yeager received the First
Annual Ripp King Memorial Award for the "On The Move" show. This award is not necessarily
given on a yearly basis. It is given to those who are qualified to receive it. The committee
extended its congratulations for this achievement.
Written: None.
OLD BUSINESS:
Status of re-franchising effort: Krey reported that a meeting had been set up for all the
users of the I-NET and some of the bugs had been worked out. Apparently some of the users
were adjusting the modulators the wrong way and this was found to be a source of some of the
problems.
Page 2
Bill Levan and Dave Carlson will meet to discuss a reliable way of testing the system.
The technical problems currently being experienced are causing the negotiations to proceed at a
slower pace.
NEW BUSINESS:
Committee's role in emerging telecommunications: This item was continued to next
month's meeting due to the absence of Jane Chiavacci. Huntsman said he would contact
Chiavacci and ask her to contact Dave Barney to discuss the matter.
Approval of capital purchases by De Anza College: At last month's meeting, Ron Fish
distributed copies of his request for capital purchases for the next fiscal year. Poggi made a
motion to accept Fish's recommendations for capital purchases; Wincn seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.
Review of infomercial success on public access channel: Fish requested this item be
continued to next month's meeting.
TCI: Daryl Henderson informed the committee he will continue to be the liaison from
TCI to the committee. He distributed copies of bill inserts regarding the inside-the-house-wiring
maintenance program. Customers who contact TCI will receive a postcard which must be
returned in writing prior to being signed up for the program. Henderson went on to explain that
customer caused errors are not covered under the program.
He also passed around copies of TCI's new bills. These bills contain instructions on the
reverse side on how to read the bill, where to send payments and other pertinent information.
The committee agreed that these bills appeared to be easier to read.
Copies of TCI's status report for the month of March were distributed. He went over a
few of the items, which included the fact that he was "Principal for a Day" at a local middle
school and also participated in a "career day." He pointed out that Kennedy Jr. High School was
recognized for its use of Cable in the Classroom.
A system Cumulative Leakage Index (CLI) was completed and a minimal number of
leaks were found. All repairs were completed.
Henderson and Chris Hernandez were working closely with the Cupertino Roundtree
Homeowners to improve the wiring aesthetics at the complex.
Barney asked Henderson if TCI was able to identify the unauthorized users on I-NET.
He said that users at Foothill College were splicing into the TCI cable and trying to communicate
data back and forth, which was causing the noise problems on the I-NET. He explained that TCI
walked the line at Foothill and eventually disconnected them from the system. He also reported
that the Hybrid group was not responsible for any of the problems on the I-NET and had sent
representatives to the users meeting. Huntsman suggested TCI send a letter to Foothill College
expressing concern about tapping into the I-NET system. Henderson will report back to the
committee at the next meeting.
I-NET: There was no report due to the absence o£Carol Marble.
City of Cupertino: Krey reported that the committee's request for additional funds in its
budget had been approved by the city manager, which included an additional $200 in the
materials and supplies for publicity and an additional $300 in grants. Krey explained that the
city manager will propose to the council that the fund balance accrued by the committee be 40%
Page 3
of its operating budget. This amounts to $25,000. With the appropriate percentage added,
amounting to $35,850, the total reserve fund is $60,000. The city council will be looking at the
budget at the end of May and approval of the final budget will be in June.
Due to recent revisions in the Brown Act, the committee is restricted to holding its
meetings within the jurisdictions of their appointment. Due to this fact, a short business meeting
could be held at City Hall and then adjourn to a field trip to TCI. This needs to be stated on the
agenda that immediately following there will be a field trip to TCI, the public will be invited to
attend, and the committee cannot discuss any business at that time. Arrangements for the field
trip will be made for the June meeting. Huntsman requested the amendments to the Brown Act
be sent to each committee member.
Krey announced that the CREST (Cupertino Recognizes Extra Steps Taken) Awards
ceremony will be held in May at the Quinlan Community Center. The event is open to the public
and she encouraged the members to attend.
Krey told the committee that there is still money available in memberships and dues and
suggested the committee might wish to subscribe to the Alliance for Community Media
(formerly NFLCP). Wincn made a motion to subscribe to the Alliance for Community Media;
Poggi seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
De Anza College: Fish distributed copies of his report. He reported that public access
was able to cablecast the Little League Opening Day ceremonies at Wilson Park last month and
said he hoped to do more of this type of show in the future.
He also pointed out the new column he added to his Program Review/Usage Report
which had been requested at the previous meeting.
Fish said he was providing one guest ticket to each finalist in the BACE Awards from his
budget.
ADJOURNMENT:
Poggi made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.; Wincn seconded and the
motion passed unanimously. The committee will meet next on May 4.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
City Clerk
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