TC 04-01-92CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting ~
April 1, 1992
Conference Room A
City Hall
MINUTES
CAE~'TO ORDER
The i'neeting was called to order by chairman Mike W'mcn at 7 p.m.
RO~ALL
Pre~nt: Winch, Jane Chiavacci, Laird Huntsman, Carol Marble, Walter Trefz, Jr. (entered 7:05)
Staf~"present: Donna Krey, Laura Domondon Lee
Unite~.Artists Cable: Daryl Henderson, Chris Hernandez
Cha~el.~30 staff: Dave Barney, Bill Levan
Gue~i Linda Grodt, Don Yeager
APPROVAL OF MAR. 4, 1992 MINXJTES
Ckiavacd asked that "beeping" be changed to '~eeping" and made a moved that
minu~es be .approved as con-ected; Marble seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
CO~ICATIONS '
Oral: Chris Hernandez, technical manager at United Arfists/TCI and Bill Levan, c~i6f
~ engi.~r at De Anza, were introduced. Producer Linda Grodt will talk to Lynbrook High SehOol
~tudehts about television, teleconferencing and classes at De Anza. She also will attend 'an art
exhibit by Cupertino Union School District children at the Euphrat. Producer Don,Yeager.said the
Sunnyvale School District is working with TCI to wire elementary and middle schools. He said
this could evolve into community access. ...:.
Written: Wincn distributed a letter from councilmember W.~a~lly Dean: responding to a
letter from Len Batchelor about budget concerns,. Krey distributed articles, a commissioners'
manual, a system profile from Heritage Cablevision, and a memo from Batchelor .regarding pros
and cons of non-profit access.
OLD BUSINESS , .-... :~'~,;~i v r.~-, -
Discussion of Proposed Grants Subcommittee: .. ,Chiava~C~ passed...q.uL.a, report outliiaing.
three options for a grants subcommittee. Sh~'s~ option B~c0Uld incl ~ud.~e-a premaeeti~::~.cli
allows members to ask Orcutt about applica~aat[endance "~d number of .canc~ed. time sl~ts.
Krey suggested the subcommittee meet and review grant applications and reCommend fundiitg
to the whole committee. She also received a call from a resident complaining ~tbout' former
grant recipient, POST! Chiavacci will discuss options with Orcutt. A grants'subcommittee will be
discussed at the May meeting. :.~,
Status of Re-franchmmg Efforts (Act~vthes, T'tmelm~.~Plan$, P~,c.~,,~.Wmcn.xev~ew~t
survey recommendations from other committee, members and suggest~ .~.~e~r. ~he'.sent .arid
returned by July. Marble mentioned that residents' overall oPinion~)f~'cab~ cofiid~'ibe asked
_ towards the beginning of the survey. Trefz said specific questions about: cabl~.service Should be
included.
Telephone survey: Henderson told the committee that written s'urveya,generally attract
responses that don't represent the whole community. He said a telephone survey could be
performed by an independent contractor and calls could even be monitored by committee
members. Henderson assured the committee that the telephone survey would be fair and
unbiased, even if TCI funds it.
Krey asked Henderson if the city could chose its own polling company. Henderson said TCI
would not object, but would like the city to consider a company that has done cable surveys
before. Krey reminded committee members that residents not contacted for the survey would
have an opportunity to attend a public hearing.
Chiavacci asked Krey if survey questions could be included in the Scene, so all residents
could have an opportunity to respond. Krey reported that infora-~ation on re-franchising and
public hearings were included in the April Scene and an abbreviated survey might be included.
She stressed the importance of the public's understanding that TCI could cor~duct an unbiased
survey.
Krey and Henderson will work further to get clearance and bids for the city and TCI.
Chiavacci requested that a one-half page article be written in the Scene, so residents have time to
respond. Two survey questions will be submitted to Krey for the June Scene.
Non-Profit Access: Krey said reports from Michelle Mann, former non-profit contact for
Mt. View, are available for reference. Krey suggested that committee members continue to rely
on Batchelor for technical support and that another committee member join Huntsman on the
non-profit subcommittee. Marble agreed be a part of the subcommittee.
NEW BUSINESS
-- Proposal of seven-members Committee: Wincn said Batchelor recommended that two
additional members be added to the CTVAC, specifically because of the work from the re-
franchising process ahead. Krey noted that a city ordinance .would need to be changed and that
the recruiting process could run until July. Instead, Krey suggested that the committee chose
technical advisors because a formal recruitment may not attract the technical expertise the
CTVAC seeks for the re-franchising process. The assistant city attorney also could be consulted on
non-profit and legal issues.
The proposal for a seven-member committee will be discussed at the May meeting.
Letter to City Council regarding Budget: Wincn reviewed his letter to the council
proposing to cut the CTVAC budget by 5 percent and allocate more money for the government
channel. The letter also recommended keeping franchise fees the same. It was suggested that the
letter offer a volunteer savings of 5 percent ($5,700) in ways to be determined by the committee.
Huntsman made a motion in favor of the proposed plan; Trefz seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
Recommendations on Pending Cable Legislation: Wincn discussed Batchelor's suggestion
to take a more active role in recommending cable legislation to the council. Krey said in normal
circumstances, the council will ask the committee for a recommendation on cable legislative
issues. Discussion of recommendations on cable legislation will be at the May meeting.
I-Net/Educational Effort: Chris Hernandez told the committee that only two power
supplies are in use: at De Anza College and the City Channel. I-Net (Institutional Network) is
used to produce live broadcasts and "on-demand" training. It currently is part of the franchise
with TCI/UA. Henderson said wiring all schools on an I-Net would be expensive and
mentioned that key areas such as the Quinlan Community Center and Senior Center be
connected. Bill Levan told the group that money could be saved through the connection of trunk
lines. Currently, computer network lines are supplied by Pacific Bell. Levan agreed to work with
Marble and share information on advantages and disadvantages of I-Net.
Marble reported on researching teachers' interests in Cable in the Classroom. She said
Henderson also is finding out which schools use the system, and mentioned that TCI is willing to
drop cables into classrooms wanting the service.
Marble attended a producers' meeting and observed a high school group produce its final
- 'ewscast.
REPORT FROM TCI/UNITED ARTISTS CABLE
Henderson asked Krey about the city's policy on soliciting laws and permitted time
~chedules. Krey suggested that Henderson write to Code Enforcement director, Barbara BroWn,
and copy the councilmembers if he has a concern about these guidelines. Henderson noted that
at least one-third of TCI's connections are generated through 'direct sales.
Twenty-one percent of the TCI's subscribers were disconnected. Krey said the main
complaint she received was the length of time on hold while trying to contact customer service
representatives. Henderson said many of the calls were a result of confusion of Pay-Per-View
adjustments.
Henderson also told the committee he traveled to Washington to meet with TCI staff.
REPORT FROM CITY OF CUPERTINO
Krey reported that the Commissioners' Dinner was a success and that the CTVAC's annual
report was well received by the council. She told the committee she will be on a staff retreat from
April 2 to 3, to discuss budget issues.
REPORT FROM DE ANZA COLLEGE
Barney said the BACE awards will be held on May 8 in Newark. Preliminary finalists
include: Silicon Kids and POST!
Grodt said Cupertino was not well represented last year, and recommended that finalists be
-- llowed to bring only one guest because the tickets seemed to be given away to anyone. Chiavacci
volunteered to represent the CTVAC at the BACE awards.
Barney informed the group of a teleconference on May 13 on the applications of a
statewide telecommunications network. He also explained that he spoke with Daphne Siegert in
Los Altos and' assured her that De Anza's commitment to public access includes Los Altos
programming. He said Siegert expressed some concern about cooperation between De Anza and
Foothill colleges. Barney indicated that was something he and Orcutt would work on.
ADIOURNMENT
Trefz made. a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:25; Marble seconded and the motion
passed unanimously. The next CTVAC meeting will be held on May 6, 1992 in Conference Room
A at City Hall.
APPROVED:
Mi~/Wincn, Chairman
ATTEST:
City C1 erk ~/