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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCable TV - 1999 - 03_11MINUTES CABLE TV AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MARCH 11, 1999 - 7:00 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Wing Bill Kapka Eric Willard Remy Tholen Doug Dreggors Carl Johnson (Arrived late) BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Sherry Delling STAFF PRESENT: Michael Stanger, Assistant City Manager Ann Maas. Administrative Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Joe Lengfellner, TCI Government Affairs Coordinator 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 7:00p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 1999, at the Municipal Annex Conference Room, One Butler Circle, Allen, Texas. The following items were discussed: II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 11, 1999, REGULAR MEETING MOTION: Eric Willard made a motion to approve the minutes as written for the February 11, 1999 meeting. Remy Tholen seconded. The Motion I carried 5 for, and 0 against. L A Committee member commented about the poor customer service, which he received from Sage Telecom. IV. TABLED ITEM: ADOPT A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING PROPOSED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS ORDINANCE The Committee reviewed draft and after discussion made changes to the Wireless Communications Towers Ordinance (as on copy attached). There being no further discussion the Committee made the following motion: MOTION: Doug Dreggors made a motion to recommend with noted corrections. Eric Willard seconded. The motion carried 6 for, and 0 against. V. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION WHICH AUTHORIZES A STUDY OF NEW CABLE TV RATES FILED BY TCI LMichael Stanger advised C2 Consulting would do a study of TCI rates at an approximate cost of $2,500. Discussion took place as to the value of having this done. Mr. Stanger gave the history and reasoning behind the need for a study; one reason being the rate forms are massive and hard to read and C2 Consulting has expertise in this area. Joe Lengfellner reviewed the rate changes and advised the following: Most of the increase in rates results from the increase in programming rather than the fiber optic charge. The most requested channels are now in the lineup. TCI will advise customers of the rate change via public notice in the newspaper and by notation on the bill prior to the change. TCI has no provisions for low or fixed income customers. Mr Lengfellner will provide the City with a cost comparison chart showing the last four years. Allen now has the same channel lineup as McKinney Question was raised about whether the City's phone number was more prominent on TCI's bill than TCI's number. Mr. Lengfellner said he would check into this and make sure that was not happening. CTTAC Minutes March 11, 1999 Page 2 III. CITIZENS' COMMENTS A Committee member commented about the poor customer service, which he received from Sage Telecom. IV. TABLED ITEM: ADOPT A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING PROPOSED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS ORDINANCE The Committee reviewed draft and after discussion made changes to the Wireless Communications Towers Ordinance (as on copy attached). There being no further discussion the Committee made the following motion: MOTION: Doug Dreggors made a motion to recommend with noted corrections. Eric Willard seconded. The motion carried 6 for, and 0 against. V. CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION WHICH AUTHORIZES A STUDY OF NEW CABLE TV RATES FILED BY TCI LMichael Stanger advised C2 Consulting would do a study of TCI rates at an approximate cost of $2,500. Discussion took place as to the value of having this done. Mr. Stanger gave the history and reasoning behind the need for a study; one reason being the rate forms are massive and hard to read and C2 Consulting has expertise in this area. Joe Lengfellner reviewed the rate changes and advised the following: Most of the increase in rates results from the increase in programming rather than the fiber optic charge. The most requested channels are now in the lineup. TCI will advise customers of the rate change via public notice in the newspaper and by notation on the bill prior to the change. TCI has no provisions for low or fixed income customers. Mr Lengfellner will provide the City with a cost comparison chart showing the last four years. Allen now has the same channel lineup as McKinney Question was raised about whether the City's phone number was more prominent on TCI's bill than TCI's number. Mr. Lengfellner said he would check into this and make sure that was not happening. CTTAC Minutes March 11, 1999 Page 3 Committee requested an update on the City channel and Mr Stanger advised is has been put on hold until the new city hall is completed. Mr Lengfellner handed out a copy of the standards and goals TCI has for customer service and since there were no further questions Mr. Lengfellner left the meeting. After further discussion the Committee made the following motion: MOTION: Carl Johnson made a motion to approve recommendation to Council. Doug Dreggors seconded. The motion carried 6 for, and 0 against. VI. DISCUSS TELECOMMUNICATION PLAN Bill Kapka banded out a copy of a report outline he put together and requested everyone review for discussion at next meeting. Mr. Kapka requested Michael Stanger call him once he has the opportunity to review the outline, as he would like further input. Mr Stanger handed out draft Ends policies, and asked members to review for the next meeting. As the hour was drawing late, a consensus of the Committee asked to postpone this item until the April meeting, but agreed to move forward with the Policy Governance method. VII. OTHER BUSINESS A. TCI Compliance with Franchise Agreement. No discussion. B. Items of Interest to the Committee. Calendar r Next regular meeting Thursday, April 8, 1999, in the Municipal Annex Conference Room at 7:00 p.m. VIII. ADJOURN MOTION: Bill Kapka moved to adjourn the meeting. Carl Johnson seconded. The motion carried with 6 for, and 0 against. This meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. I CTTAC Minutes March 11, 1999 Page 4 These minutes read and approved this 8" day of April, 1999 Don Wing, Chairman I u I / 1 Gt/ Eric Tard, Secretary