Cable TV - 1999 - 09_09MINUTES
CABLE TV AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 - 7:00 P.M.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Don Wing, Chair
Doug Dreggors, Vice -Chair
Eric Willard, Secretary
Remy Tholen
Bill Kapka
Carl Johnson
ABSENT:
None.
STAFF:
Michael Stanger, Assistant City Manager
Ann Maas, Administrative Secretary
Katherine Poteet, Public Information Officer
OTHERS PRESENT:
Dennis Watson, AT&T Government Affairs Coordinator
Harold Nelson, Elert & Associates.
I. CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum of the Committee present, the regular meeting of the Allen
Cable TV and Telecommunications Advisory Committee was called to order by
Chair Don Wing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 9, 1999, in the
Municipal Annex Conference Room located at One Butler Circle, Allen, Texas.
The following items were discussed:
CTTAC Minutes
September 9, 1999
Page 2
El
II. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 12, 1999, REGULAR MEETING
MOTION: Doug Dreggors made a motion to approve the minutes as written
for the August 12, 1999, meeting. Eric Willard seconded. The
Motion carried 6 for and 0 against.
III. CITIZENS' COMMENTS
The Board reviewed the list of citizen complaints. During discussion Dennis
Watson advised that Bethany Creek Estates is ready and service can be hooked
up. Mr Stanger advised he is concerned about the fact that residents in Bethany
Creek Estates are still receiving wrong information from AT&T customer
service when calling for new service. The Board then posed several questions
about AT&T's customer service procedures. Mr. Watson advised that Vince
Thomae is in charge of the customer service area. Therefore, he will invite Mr
Thomae, or another customer service representative, to attend next month's
meeting to address the Board's questions.
Dennis Watson then handed out a copy of AT&T's Allen subscriber annual
report for 1998 and during discussion he advised that AT&T tracks calls within
an individual's account, but they do not have a central tracking system for
repeat calls. At the Board's request, Mr. Watson advised he would provide a
month by month connect and disconnect report.
IV. TABLED ITEM: Consider Final Report to City Council Concerning Ends
Policies Related to Telecommunications.
Michael Stanger advised that as decided at last month's meeting, he, Eric
Willard and Bill Kapka got together and worked further on the report. Mr.
Willard then gave a progress report, after which he suggested that each Board
member select a category, generate questions and complete a report to Ann
Maas by October 4 The members then selected as follows:
Don Wing - Safety.
Doug Dreggors - Will check each of the categories and make sure nothing
was missed.
Remy Tholen - Healthy Environment.
Eric Willard - Economic Well-being.
Carl Johnson - Quality of Life.
Bill Kapka - Transportation.
CTTAC Minutes
September 9, 1999
Page 3
EAfter further discussion the Board agreed to work towards finalizing this report
at the next meeting.
V. TABLED ITEM: Consider a Citizen Cable Use Survey.
The Board decided to remove this item from the tabled and will revisit after the
telecommunications report to Council is completed.
VI. Consider a Recommendation to City Council on Spending Cable TV Funds
in the Amount of $92,000 for City Hall Video Technology.
Michael Stanger advised the total cost of the new City Hall technology is
estimated at $300,000 and the City would like to use the $92,000 from Cable
TV funds towards this. The $92,000 was derived from the following sources:
74,000 from TCI liquidated damages.
10,000 TCI grant funds
The remainder is interest earned.
Katherine Poteet responded to various questions from the Board and advised that
approximately half of the present equipment will be reused at the new City Hall.
The plans are to use this equipment to broadcast meetings once the new City
Hall is completed.
There being no further questions the Board then made the following motion:
MOTION: Carl Johnson made a motion to approve the recommendation as
presented. Bill Kapka seconded. The Motion carried 5 for, 0
against, and 1 abstention. With the abstaining vote being cast by
Eric Willard.
VH. OTHER BUSINESS
A. AT&T Compliance with Franchise Agreement.
No further discussion.
B. Items of Interest to the Committee:
1. AT&T Pay -Per -View Price Adjustment.
Dennis Watson advised this is a Metroplex wide price adjustment.
I
U
CTTAC Minutes
September 9, 1999
Page 4
2. Calendar:
L Next regular meeting will he held on Thursday, October 14,
1999, in the Municipal Annex Conference Room at 7:00 p.m.
Eric Willard advised he recently encountered a scam called cramming. It came
to his attention when questioning a charge on one of his accounts. He was
advised a third party billed this, and after much research be discovered these
charges were erroneous. Mr. Willard suggested the City consider putting an
article in the City newsletter to make people aware of this. Mr. Stanger advised
he would talk to Katherine Poteet about doing an article in the next Municipal
Messenger.
VIII. ADJOURN
MOTION: Carl Johnson moved to adjourn the meeting. Doug Dreggors
seconded. The motion carried 6 for, and 0 against. The meeting
was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
These minutes read and approved this 14th day of October, 1999
Don Wing, Chair Er, illard, Secretary