Cable TV - 1999 - 11_11MINUTES
CABLE TV AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 11, 1999 - 7:00 P.M.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Don Wing, Chair
Doug Dreggors, Vice -Chair
Eric Willard, Secretary
R6my Tholen
Bill Kapka
Carl Johnson
Steven Knaack
STAFF:
Michael Stanger, Assistant City Manager
Ann Maas, Administrative Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
None.
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 7,10 p.m. on Thursday, November 11, 1999, in the
Municipal Annex Conference Room located at One Butler Circle, Allen, Texas.
The following items were discussed:
II. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 14, 1999, REGULAR
MEETING
MOTION: Doug Dreggors made a motion to approve the minutes as written
for the October 14, 1999, meeting. Eric Willard seconded. The
motion carried 6 for and 0 against
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CTTAC Minutes
November 11, 1999
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III. CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Ms. Laura Robertson, 905 Ridgemont, 972-390-8329 - called Council member
Melissa Owen to complain about bleed through of offensive material on Channel
22. She has been working with AT&T Cable Services to resolve this, but the
issue has not been resolved to her satisfaction. Ann Maas called AT&T and was
advised they would send a technician out to correct this on 11/12/99 and a
supervisor will follow up and check it afterwards to verify the problem is fully
resolved.
IV. ANNUAL READING OF THE CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
ORDINANCE.
V
Secretary Eric Willard read the ordinance as required in the by-laws.
Eric Willard then left the meeting, as he had a Leadership Allen meeting to
attend.
TABLED ITEM: Consider Final Report to City Council Concerning Ends
Policies Related to Telecommunications.
Before opening the discussion on the topic, Michael Stanger advised that he
resigned his position at the City and the City Manager has not appointed another
member of staff to take his place at Telecom Board meetings at this time. He
requested the Board give some thought as to how they want to proceed with
future meetings. Concern was expressed by some members that the Council
might no longer have a need for the Telecom Board. Mr. Stanger assured the
Board that the City Council values their advice and recommendations on
telecommunication matters. Mr Stanger offered the following options for the
Boards consideration:
Meet on an as needed basis, as there are no pressing major issues on the
table at this time.
Meet on a quarterly basis.
Continue to meet monthly
After discussion the Board decided to continue meeting on a monthly basis, as
there is a need to keep monitoring AT&T Cable Services performance and
address customer complaint issues.
Michael Stanger informed the Board that City Council is expected to rescind
Policy Governance in December, and in light of that, he requested the Board
advise what, if anything, they would like to do in continuance of the report.
CTTAC Minutes
November 11, 1999
Page 3
After much discussion the Board decided to forward the document, as it stands,
to City Manager with a cover letter from Mr. Stanger requesting this be
included in the next Executive Report to Council.
The Board then made the following motion:
MOTION: Motion by Carl Johnson to forward a request to the City Manager
to include the document in the next Executive Report. Bill Kapka
seconded. The motion carried 5 for, and 0 against
VI. Consider Recommendations to the City Council Relating to HB 1777 and
Allocation of Franchise Fees.
Michael Stanger advised that he received the PUC forms yesterday and has not
had time to fully review them, but it appears the City will have to supply
extensive information including:
Total franchise fees collected in calendar year 1998.
How the City wants to allocate the fee between the following three
categories: Residential, Non -Residential and High Capacity
The Board then discussed concerns about trying to allocate the money when they
don't have access to the line count in each of the categories. Mr. Stanger
pointed out there is a true -up clause, which allows cities to re-evaluate once all
the line counts are in. There was much discussion about which category, if any
should bear the greater cost. There was discussion among the Board that
business lines generate income, whereas residential lines are considered a
necessity and do not generate income.
Mr Stanger then advised the City collected approximately $154,342 in fees in
1998, which is 4% of the gross revenue. The Board then discussed and worked
up figures based on several scenarios using ratios of 1-2-8 and 1-2-16 and after
reviewing the out come, they decided to recommend a split of 1-2-16.
The Board then made the following motion:
MOTION: Motion by Bill Kapka to recommend franchise fees in the ratio of
1-2-16. Carl Johnson seconded. The motion carried 5 for, and 0
against.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
A. AT&T Compliance with Franchise Agreement.
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CTTAC Minutes
November 11, 1999
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Michael Stanger advised he contacted AT&T and requested they complete a
formal report, on company letterhead, as required under Section 17 (a) of the
Cable Communications Ordinance. AT&T then responded the report would be
ready prior to the next Telecom Board meeting.
B. Items of Interest to the Committee:
Calendar:
Y Next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9,
1999, in the Municipal Annex Conference Room at 7:00 p.m.
Y Boards and Commissions Appreciation Dinner will be held
December 1, 1999, at 7:00 p.m. at Eldorado Country Club.
VIII. ADJOURN
MOTION: Carl Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bill Kapka
seconded. The motion carried 5 for, and 0 against. The meeting
was adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
These minutes read and approved this 9th day of December, 1999
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Don Wing, Chair
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Eric Willard, Secretary