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TC 05-04-88Cable Television Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Wednesday, May 4, 1988 Cupertino City Hall -- Conference Room MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Leonard Batchelor, Chairman. ROLL CALL Committee members present: Leonard Batchelor, Dorothy Schmid, Michelle Mann Absent Committee members: Jane Chiavacci, William Fletcher Staff Present: Donna Krey, Community Relations Officer Carol Frausto, Community Relations Assistant Elliott Margolies, Channel 30 Director Guests Present: Joe Wilcox, General Manager, United Cable APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 6, 1988 Joe Wilcox asked that the words "Boards of Directors" be changed to "stockholders" in his report referring to the United Cable/United Artists merger. There were no other changes and Batchelor moved to approve the minutes as corrected; Schmid seconded and the motion carried, with Mann abstaining. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS There were none. UPDATE ON CTVAC BUDGET MATTERS Batchelor reported on a meeting he attended with Krey, City Manager Bob Quinlan and Finance Director Blaine Snyder, where the total CTVAC budget was calculated by Snyder to be somewhat less than originally thought by the committee. The 1988-89 budget will total about $51,500, with nearly $14,000 allocated to the Fixed Asset Acquisition line item. Krey said she would mail final copies of the budget to the committee members. REPORT FROM JOE WILCOX, UNITED CABLE Wilcox reported eight complaints for the month of April, reduced by 5 from the previous month. He also spoke of promotions underway at United, including the HBO "Summer '88" campaign beginning May 9. Giants Vision was launched in April and 150 subscribers have signed up, with about 30 buys per game on pay-per-view. United's Cupertino penetration is now 52.1%. REPORT FROM ACCESS COORDINATOR Margolies distributed a copy of the Channel 30 newsletter and his April report. Margolies reported on equipment purchases. He also reported on a problem with a TBC in the control room. Margolies spoke of opening communication with United when equipment goes down. He also said the character generator is fixed, and will be sent back soon. No meetings have been held to address equipment replacement with United. A van should be available for the congressional primary debates. When the van is repaired it will be stored in Cupertino for easier access by CTVAC Minutes May 4, 1988 COORDINATOR'S REPORT cont. Channel 30. Two applications have been recieved for scholarships to the Tampa convention. Margolies said he would check into a request by Schmid regarding track for curtains in the studio. Margolies passed out copies of Channel 30's entry to the Hometown Video Festival. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Leonard Batchelor. CTVAC PUBLIC HEARING The committee reconvened in the City Council Chambers for a public hearing on Gillcable service at 7:.35 p.m. Chairman Batchelor explained that the public hearing was being held to determine the needs and level of satisfaction of Gillcable subscribers living in Cupertino. He said the Gill franchise was due for renewal in 1990 and the City was now beginning to gather data for that process. Batchelor opened the floor for public comments. Ann McElroy, Stelling Road, 27 -year Cupertino resident, said she joined Gillcable in 1975. It was $6.75 per month and one of the reasons they joined is because Gill advertised they would be showing new movies once a week. She now pays $18.95 per month for basic service and they have not shown any new movies for over a year on the basic Gillcable. In order to get new movies you have to subscribe to the extras such as HBO. She feels like they got customers and then did not live up to their bargain. She would also like to be able to get the local television such as Channel 30 and 53. She is glad to.recieve C -SPAN on Gill. Her basic complaints were the rise in service charges and the fact that they have not lived up to the original bargain of providing new movies. Batchelor explained some of the effects of the 1984 Cable Act regarding rate deregulation. McElroy also said this is a matter of a monopoly because she has no choice of which cable company she can subscribe to. She would like as a citizen of Cupertino to be able to choose her own cable company. Robert Browning, 18 -year Cupertino resident, in 1986 Gill came west of Stelling and he was wondering why Gill came into Cupertino when United was already in Cupertino. Batchelor informed him that neither company has an exclusive franchise with Cupertino. Browning said Gill had an appointment in February to install cable; they showed up in May and he told them to forget it. During this time he installed satellite and at the time you were supposed to call your local cable company to get the decode to work. Gill wan not polite and even though United did not know much about it they were polite. He also wants to get Channel 53. Doug Keller, Cupertino resident before annex into San Jose, had questions regarding the franchise fee for Cupertino residents annexed into San Jose. He is looking for a choice, not one company over another company. He is surrounded by United Cable, Seven Springs and other new developments. Why not bring United Cable in and give those who wanted to be a part of the City of Cupertino and not a part of San Jose a choice? Joe Wilcox General Manager of United Cable, Cupertino addressed the questions about United also servicing the areas now serviced by Gill. He explained the economic reasons and the problems with overbuilding another system that is already established. Keller said that Gill only CTVAC Minutes May 4, 1988 offers 24 channels, their prices are higher for basic service and ity of service is terrible and he is dissatisfied installation, the qual hen he calls in to report problems. He with the treatment he recieves w also said that United offers more channels at a lower price and you can get Channels 53 and 30. McElroy asked if there is a possibility of not renewing Gill's franchise. Batchelor informed her that because of the 1984 Cable Act, complete documentation is needed to not renewa franchise. before the Krey told the public there will be opportunities City Council regarding Gillcable. Tony Alexander, 7 -year Cupertino resident, said for three years he has been recieving Gill. For four years prior he had recieved United Cable, but because he moved he was now in Gill's service area. Whenever there was a problem with United's service he would call and recieve prompt attention. With Gill, he has been treated rudely, he has not been given good service, he pays a lot more money for the service, he said. He also said Gill is not interested in the people in the need a Cupertino area -they are interested in the income. The people choice or at least an opportunity to choose what they want, he said. Batchelor asked for any other comments from the public and closed the meeting by reminding the audience about the future opportunities to voice concern to the Cupertino City Council. He said this is a process that is not going to happen quickly but is needed to start renewal negotiations. The public hearing ended at 8:05 p.m.