TC 11-04-87Cable Television Advisory Committee
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1987
Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Leonard Batchelor,
Chairperson.
ROLL CALL
Committee Members Present: Batchelor, Chiavacci, Fletcher, Mann,
Schmid
Staff Present: Krey, Margolies, McKennan
Also Present: Herb Everett, Joe Wilcox
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING HELD OCTOBER 7, 1987
Leonard Batchelor asked that Commissioner be stricken from the
Minutes. Batchelor also asked to have the vote totals be put at the end of
each action item.
Michelle Mann requested that Elliot Margolies be put in the Staff
Present section.
Jane Chiavacci requested that Also Present be used instead of Guests
Present.
Leonard Batchelor motioned to approve the Minutes as corrected. Bill
Fletcher seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Len Batchelor said that the CTVAC could give moral support to the
Mid -Peninsula Access Corporation in its petition drive to keep Access in
cable systems. Michelle Mann motioned to have Len Batchelor draft a letter
as Chair to tell them the CTVAC can't sign the petition, but will be
resource people if needed. Bill Fletcher seconded and the motion carried
5-0.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
STAFF REPORT
Donna Krey mentioned that she received only a couple of complaints,
and that Joe Wilcox had handled them. She also mentioned that she was
working with United Cable and City Officials on the Emergency Override
System, which would allow both the cities of Cupertino and Los Altos to
override all T.V. channels in the event of an emergency. Joe Wilcox said
that the equipment was in place to do this, but it needs to be hooked up.
He then explained the logistics of the override, saying that seperate
emergency information for each city could be transmitted through Channel
53. Elliot Margolies asked if this could be done with Access to
cross -program with other Access channels. Margolies also mentioned that he
never got a response from Gillcable on them hooking up both Access and the
Government Channel in Cupertino. Donna Krey said that she would write
another letter to Gillcable asking them to respond to the requests.
REPORT FROM JOE WILCOX OF UNITED CABLE
Joe Wilcox reported that Subscriber Statistics for October were up,
and that United had a 50% penetration. Wilcox also mentioned that Customer
Complaints and Phone Statistics were down. He then reported on Cable
Call -In Shows, Pay -Per -View, Promotions, Halloween activites, and the
Merger that never was. Jane Chiavacci asked about the Pay -Per -View set-up,
regarding children and others who are unauthorized to use or order movies.
Joe Wilcox said that United has locks for the converter box or that
parents can create codes on the channel controller.
ACCESS COORDINATOR'S REPORT
Elliot Margolies reported that Channel 30 usage was used for three
candidate forums, and that the T.V. Center had been reorganized with new
procedures for equipment care and checkout. Margolies also mentioned the
new woodcut logo, Access promomotions, and equipment problems.
MAINTENANCE SUB -COMMITTEE REPORT
Elliot Margolies reported on the Maintenance Sub -Committee meeting on
October 27 in which Len Batchelor, Herb Everett, and Margolies discussed
maintenance procedures and accountability. The Sub -Committee listed five
areas of concern between the City, De Anza College, and United Cable. The
Sub-Committe agreed to meet again with Joe Wilcox after he has had time to
look over the report. Margolies suggested finding out what other Access
and cable systems do to pay for maintenance and equipment buying
schedules.
BILL LAUER GRANT APPLICATION
The grant application was denied because Bill Lauer did not use the
correct application form.
DEPOSIT INTO DEANZA ADMINISTATIVE ASSISTANT FUND
Michelle Mann motioned to deposit $2000 into the Administrative
Assistant fund. Bill Fletcher seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
FUNDING FOR REGIONAL CONVENTION ATTENDANCE
Committee members decided not to attend the Regional Convention. Most
agreed the event was mainly a trade show.
FUNDING FOR WESTERN CABLE SHOW
Michelle Mann motioned to send Leonard Batchelor, Dorothy Schmid, and
Elliot Margolies to the Western Cable Show. Jane Chiavacci seconded and
the motion carried 5-0. Committee members agreed to look into setting up
scholarships for non -cable committee members to attend the convention from
the cable budget.
ADDITIONAL $367.93 FOR CHARACTER GENERAT
Michelle Mann motioned to approve an additional $367.93 for a
character generator. Jane Chiavacci seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.