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TC 02-03-93CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY CO1VEVIITTEE Regular Meeting Feb. 3, 1993 MIhqJTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by chairman Mike Wincn. ROLL CALL Present: Wincn, Len Batchelor, Jane Chiavacci, Laird Huntsman and Carol Marble. Staff: Donna Krey De Anza College: David Barney, Kon Fish and Bill Levan TCI: Daryl Henderson Guests: Linda Grodt, Jim Black, Martin Bishop APPROVAL OF JAN. 6, 1993 MINUTES Chiavacci asked that a motion she made under Discounted Rate Proposal be corrected to read that Bishop's proposal be forwarded to the city council without recommendation. Batchelor made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; Chiavacci seconded and the motion passed unanimously. COMMUNICATIONS Oral: Jim Black, a resident of Northpoint, expressed concerns about the quality of his reception. Henderson explained that the fiber optic link from Sunnyvale will be operating on April 1 and that many transmission problems would be solved, since fiber is not subject to atmospheric conditions. Krey asked Black to come back to the committee after April with a report on his reception quality. Written: There were none. OLD BUSINESS Discounted Rate Proposal: Bishop presented federal government definitions of disabled and elderly and revised his estimates to come up with 71 Cupertino residents who would be eligible for his proposed 50 to 80 percent cable discount. He said an additional 136 people could be eligible by 1995. ,.~ ~ Winch and Huntsman offered research indicating that out of eight other cable systems in California, a 15 percent discount was the highest offered and many had no discount policy. Henderson explained that a lower rate for basic only service will be offered by TCI in April. The $11 per month cost will cover broadcast and PEG channels. Those now receiving the 15 percent discount would continue to do so, but no additional discounts would be given. The committee expressed concerns about government agencies setting fees for private companies and about TCI having to qualify eligible applicants for discounts. Bishop said he was only asking that the discount for very low income elderly and disabled be a negotiated item. He brought up other utilities and the free services offered to disabled people. Huntsman said those services are required by law. Chiavacci made a motion to accept the recommendation of the subcommittee to continue TCrs current 15 percent discount as stated in its written report. Batchelor seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The committee thanked Bishop for his efforts and suggested he could appeal their recommendation to the city council. Status of Refranchising Effort: The committee received v0witten recommendations from ,subcommittees on educationfI-Net and access. It was agreed members would study the recommendations before the next meeting and discuss them in March. Wincn and Huntsman will present technical recommendations; customer service recommendations also are due. The committee also requested recommendations from Barney on the access pro,ram. Chiavacci brought up the composition of the negotiating team and suggested Huntsman represent the committee because of his negotiating experience. Winch also offered his services. Krey explained the committee's role as an advisory body, saying its only duty is to present clear, negotiable recommendations to the council and then to ensure that those recommendations, once approved by the council, are addressed during negotiations. She stressed that the committee is not negotiating the refranchise. The committee discussed the possibility of having two representatives present during negotiations. Krey said she would check with the city manager. Chiavacci made a motion to approve Huntsman as committee representative; Marble seconded. The motion passed with Chiavacci, Huntsman and Marble voting aye; Batchelor and Wincn voting no. Chiavacci said she talked with consultant Kathleen Schuler who would be willing to discuss cable issues with the committee for no charge. Members asked Chiavacci to find out if Schuler could meet with them at City Hail on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at noon. AIl recommendations from subcommittees should be available by then. In discussing the refranchising timetable, the committee decided to try and stick to the one prepared by the deputy city attorney. Grants Program: Chiavacci made a motion to approve the draft grants application with minor amendments. Batchelor seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Henderson will try to publicize on TCI system; a notice will go in the Scene and on The City Channel. Fish will post notice at De Anza. NEW BUSINESS Review of Parliamentary Procedure: Members agreed to add a bit more structure to the meeting and asked chai~J~an Wincn to cut them offwhen they wandered from the topic. Chiavacci suggested parliamentary procedure be followed, with a motion and second on the floor, discussion following and a vote then taken. Report from TCI: Henderson passed out monthly statistics and said the I-Net link to Monta Vista would cost about $3,000 to repair. He said he would like to earmark funds for that in the 1994 budget. Committee members objected and reminded Henderson of the 1980 franchise agreement. Huntsman made a motion to recommend the I-Nets for both Monta Vista and Portal be completed as soon as possible. Batchelor seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Henderson said he would move quickly to provide the hookups. Henderson also spoke about the new TCI basic and expanded basic packages and said information and definitions about the new services would be forthcoming. The new channel lineup will mean public access will be on Ch. 16; government access on Ch. 18; educational on Ch. 30. Channels will be the same in Sunnyvale. Huntsman asked what publications the city subscribes to for cable news. Krey said Multi- Channel News was the main one and up to date legal information was provided by severai governmental sources, including the League of California Cities. Huntsman suggested looking into other publications. A discussion of subscriptions to will be on March's agenda. Report from City of Cupertino: Krey pointed out the memo she wrote to committee members regarding FCC activities on the new cable bill. She added Cupertino to a list of 138 other cities as co-filers of comments to the FCC regarding rate regulations. She said cities could file individual comments with the FCC and asked committee members to consider that at any time. Report from De Anza College: Fish said new equipment will be ordered and asked for a 'copy of the current fixed asset list. He said he intends to log the number of PSAs produced for the committee, as well as the outlay of tapes. The Cupertino news show has three segments already shot and three anchor people signed up, with completion of the show slated for the end of February. Committee members stressed the importance of scheduling an air date for publicity purposes. Barney said De Anza College is collaborating with the College of San Mateo and San Francisco Community College to bring live classes on the ak and will be working on joint grants for bringing this TV approach to teaching. Regarding a request from producer Grodt, committee members agreed to consider, in March, reimbursing the college for up to 10 Hometown Video entry fees. Report on I-Net: Marble offered a summary of the I-Net by De Anza engineer Bill Levan. She said she was working with the college and the school districts to coordinate a hands-on demonstration of the I-Net for educators. Committee members asked her to work out details and report back. It was agreed the demonstration should take place at a school, probably Cupertino High School. Henderson agreed to coordinate details for the drop. ADJOURNMENT Marble made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m.; Batchelor seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The next Cable TV Advisory Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. ATTEST: City Cler~k~ APPROVED: