TC 12-05-90Cable Television Advisory Committee
Regular Meeting
Cupertino City Hall
Dec. 5, 1990
MINUTES
ROLL CALL
The meeting wa~ called to order by chairman Jane Chiavacci at 7 p.m.
Committee members present: Chiavacci, David Keller, Dorothy Schmid, Walter
Trefz Jr., Katherine Trujillo.
Staff present: Donna Krey, Len Batchelor
Channel 30 staff: Suzanne Orcutt
United Cable staff: Daz~yl Henderson, Wayne Ezell
Cha~nel 30 producers: Jim Cochran, Judy Schmidt, Bob Ingram, Linda Grodt,
Roald Didrikson, Bill McCarty, Bill Lauer, Sherman Booth, Steve Snyder,
Laura Lockwood, Lionel Lewis, Evelyn Bolla, Shirley Powers, Kevin Windows,
George Maragolef, Joan Banick, Don Yeager, Tom Clayton, Minh Nugyen, Brent
Turner.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR NOV. 7. 1990 MEETING
Trefz made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; Schmid seconded
and the motion passed unanimously.
ORAL COM~[UNICATIONS
Producers and committee members introduced themselves.
WRITTEN COM~{UNICATIONS
Chiavacci noted a memo written by Orcutt describing a meeting held ~ov. 28
between De Anza officials Ralph Steinke and David Barney and Chiavacci,
Keller and herself, at which the future of the public access program at De
'Anza was questioned by the two college representatives. She said Orcutt
could go into greater detail when she gave her report to the committee.
Krey passed out current FPPC reports to committee mer~ers and told the
group that the City Channel (53) would shut down for about two weeks in
December to allow time for some re-wiring and signal adjustments. She also
said the government channel recently produced a segpnent on the Cupertino
Historical Museum's new antique toy exhibit. And, she passed along an
invitation to committee members to attend the opening ceremonies for De
Anza's new parking facility.
REPORT FROM DARYL HENDERSON. UNITED CABLE
Henderson talked about a promotion with the Disney Channel and offered a
stuffed Flounder to.the committee member who came closest to guessing the
current number of Cupertino cable subscribers. Trefz won. Henderson also
reported on United marketing efforts involving residents who have never
subscribed to.cable, saying there has been a 10 percent "take rate" on a
company offer of free installation and free cable for one month.
He also told th~ committee that about half of United's AGC (automatic
gain control) amplifiers have been replaced. AGCs allow automatic
adjustment to varyin~input signal levels. Henderson said he was pleased
with the Tino. event. He made note of a letter from United's chief engineer
Ezell to Barney, which explained reasons behind major outages during the
month of November. Ezell explained United's technical maintenance schedule
and said Channels 29 and 30 would be out the following day, when a cable
from Flint Center to the headend was replaced.
Henderson reported that United has lost about 1,000 Plus
subscriptions. Batchelor asked what feedback has been received about
United now charging $1.75 per month for the cable g~ide. Henderson said he
has not had to respond to any complaints. Batchelor said the guide was
largely advertising for Pay-Per-View and subscribers should not be
required to pay for it. He also referred to a clause in the franchise
agreement stating the cable company must provide space for access
advertising and program listings.
Henderson said the cable guide is optional for viewers and a dedicated
channel on the United system offers information about what is on. He said
a survey indicated most people don't use their guides and with the rising
costs of printing, United's Hayward-Alameda-Cupertino-Los Altos district
officials decided to discontinue the free guide offered previously as a
courtesy to subscribers
Other committee members expressed their objections and Chiavacci said
the group would go on record as disapproving of the extra charge. She
asked Trujillo to draft a letter stating the committee's objections and
said Krey could mail it after at least two committee members had reviewed
it.
Keller asked Henderson for an update on United's microwave problems.
Ezell replied, saying the idea to hop around the Bay~ rather than over
it--which is what is now causing signal problems--was put on hold until
United could test the signal from a new vantage point at De Anza. He said
preliminary tests from atop the new parking facility have been very $ood,
because the site is low enough to go under the smog layer, rather than
through it. Ezell said if the college would agree to having a microwave
dish on the parking garage, he would like to test the signal from there
for one year.
Henderson invited committee members to come up with a date for a visit
to the Hayward headend and Chiavacci said she would call people
individually and get back to him.
REPORT FROM SUZANNE ORCUTT. ACCESS DIRECTOR
Orcutt said the state of unusable equipment has not changed since
September. Cablecasting is done with only one out of four decks; the
switcher still doesn't work and Edit Suite C remains out of commission.
She referred to producer frustration at not being able to complete
projects and producers attending strongly agreed.
Orcutt talked about her memo regarding the Nov. 28 meeting, saying the
college spoke of relocating the public access program, possibly to
Sunnyvale. Committee members expressed their surprise at such an idea,
with Trefz saying the move wouldn't do the equipment any good and Keller
saying he felt public access was getting squeezed by both De Anza and
United.
Henderson stressed his personal commitment to public access and stated
that he intended to spend more time at the college studio and keep in
better touch with problems there.
Krey told the c~mmittee that at chiavacci's request, a meeting with
the city manager, Dot, Brown, had been set up. Attending were Chiavacci,
Batchelor and Krey. The city manager had been brought up to speed as to
the state of ~ublic access and had agreed to speak with both Bill Cullen
of United Cable and Steinke.
She informed the group that a conversation between Brown and Cullen
between t~e 001legs and ~e 0a~le company could be reac~ed. Brown reported
Cullen was concerned about the amount of money De Anza had requested to
maintain and repair equipment each year. The $40,000 was put forth by
former United general manager Joe Wilcox and Cullen indicated it was not a
company offer. But, he said he did not wish to have United perceived as
not fulfilling promises and that he would take a closer look at the
figures. According to Brown, Cullen also admitted United needed to make
speedier repairs and would authorize Henderson to take action on some
crucial repair work.
Krey said the city manager hopes to lock in the public access program
at De Anza for at least the next five years, at which time United's
franchise is renewable and another option may present itself. Krey also
said any fear that De Anza will shut dow~ the program is unfounded,
because the college is legally bound by the tripartite agreement to
fulfill its obligation to public access.
Producers expressed more concerns about the environment at De Anza and
the apparent lack of commitment on the part of both United and the
college. Several of them offered to pay for editing privileges if they
could be assured of working equipment.
Chiavacci expressed hope that the city manager's involvement would
result in some positive action and said some time needed to be given for
higher level negotiations. She said the short term goal will be the
signing of the amended tripartite agreement.
To conclude her report, Orcutt presented the committee with a
'perpetual plaque in recognition of past and present members.
DISCUSSION OF HANDICAP ACCESS AT DE ~=NZA
This was agendized at the request of On the Move producer Yeager, who told
the committee that the college president had been out of town and was
expected to respond to his letter outlining accessibility problems on
campus when he returned.
APPROVAL OF $500 GP~T FOR CO~dUNITY BOOSTERS
Following questions to applicant Bill Lauer, Trefz moved to accept the
proposal; Trujillo seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
UPDATE ON TRIPARTITE AGP. EEMENT/EOUIPMENT PROBLEMS
orcutt provided Henderson with switcher product comparisons and he will
look into replacement; Batchelor suggested United also take a closer look
at its depreciation schedule and revise it. Orcutt also provided copies of
United equipment repair forms, with problems detailed.
Trefz made a motion to approve a $1,500 reimbursement to De Anza for
Edit C repairs, and the college is to provide a 5-year equipment
acquisition/replacement plan by the end of February 1991. Schmid seconded
and the motion passed unanimously. Orcutt said Edit C would be in
operation by the end of the Christmas vacation.
chiavacci asked that discussion of a task force be placed on January's
Cable TV Advisory Committee agenda.
Keller made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.; Schmid seconded
and the motion passed unanimously.
ATTEST:
City~Clerk~~
APPROVED:
rperson