IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DRAFT MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011--5:30 P.M. CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST.-TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Bergus, Alexa Homewood, Hans Hoerschelman, Saul Mekies MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Brau, Bob Hardy, Ty Coleman Josh Goding, Beth Fisher, Michael McBride, Kevin Hoyland, Emily Light RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL None at this time. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION Hardy suggested that in the future the access channels submit a written report that summarizes their activities and forego the oral reports. Mekies said written reports would make more information available to the public. The Commission agreed to request written reports from the access channels. Goding said he would be interested in exploring the possibility of getting a high definition channel for the local access channels. Hoerschelman said the access channels need to be moving to digital modulators. Hardy said he would inquire of Mediacom about the possibility of a high definition channel and what their technical needs would be to cablecast high definition programs from the access channels. PATV will be closed for 2 weeks beginning December 20. Programming will continue uninterrupted. ICCSD Superintendent Morley has directed the principal of each of the school to provide content for the Education Exchange program. Coleman reported that the Community Television Service was quite busy in October and November. Nineteen programs were recorded in October and sixteen in November. Typically eight to twelve programs are recorded each month. The In Focus program featured the City s leaf vacuuming program and a look at the Neighborhood Centers. The next In Focus will feature information on snow emergencies, the Winter Farmer s Market, a tour of the fire station, and a segment on Table to Table. Hardy reported that channel 5 now offers a video on demand service for City Channel 4 programs. Hardy said that he discussed a new process for allocating the $17,500 in community programming funds with Kara Logsden. Hardy suggested that in the future requests for funding be sent to him and he would inform Community Television Group (CTG) members by email. Small items would need no approval. Hoerschelman suggested that for items $2,500 or greater that the Commission be informed. Hardy said he would inform the Commission of all expenditures. Hardy said the funds would not be used for personnel. Bergus said that any request for funds should be sent to all CTG members so they could have some input. Hardy said he would develop rules outlining a procedure and make them available at the next Commission meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bergus moved and Hoerschelman seconded a motion to approve the amended October 24, 2011 minutes. The motion passed unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS It was agreed to move the next meeting up one week to December 19, 2011. Hardy suggested that in the future the access channel submit a written report that summarizes their activities and forego the oral reports. Bergus asked if the preparation of written reports in addition to attendance at Commission meetings might be a burden for the access channels. Hardy said he spends about the same amount of time gathering and preparing the data for an oral reports as it would take for a written report. Hoyland noted that there is a time lag between the period when a written report would need to be provided for inclusion in the meeting packet and the meeting itself and noted there may be some significant events that occurring in that period. Hardy said new events could be brought up at the meeting. Mekies said written reports would make more information available to the public. The Commission agreed to request written reports from the access channels. SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS None. CONSUMER ISSUES Hardy referred to the complaint report in the meeting packet and asked if there were any questions. Hoerschelman asked about Mediacom requesting a subscriber s social security number. Hardy said Mediacom s customer service representative was asking for the number to verify that the caller was who they claimed to be before processing an upgrade. It should not be necessary for Mediacom to use social security numbers for that purpose. Hoerschelman asked what time service calls are switched to the Philippines. Hardy said he would find out. Hardy said that Mediacom does not communicate well with subscribers regarding planned outages for maintenance. Hoerschelman asked about the complaint regarding a misplaced digital to analog converter and asked if consumers have adequate information that the converters are not the property of the subscriber and need to be returned to Mediacom when service is terminated. Hardy said written materials provided consumers make that clear. Hoerschelman suggested that Mediacom apply a sticker to all consumer equipment owned by Mediacom. MEDIACOM REPORT Hardy said Grassley informed him that he would be unable to attend the meeting. Hardy said that Mediacom s rate increase in large measure could be attributed to increased programming costs. Mediacom has been involved in efforts to change federal law and regulations regarding retransmission consent agreements. Homewood asked about the termination of the dollar discount for electronic bills. Hardy said Grassley told him that few people took advantage of the program and it took more money to administer than it was worth. UNIVERSITY OF IOWA REPORT
McBride reported that UITV had an encoder fail and was off the air for about 12 hours last Wednesday. UITV has been busy editing a number of programs including four concerts and four dance performances. Three commencement ceremonies will be recorded at the end of the semester. KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE No representative was present. PATV REPORT Goding said he would be interested in exploring the possibility of getting a high definition channel for the local access channels. Goding reported that the annual membership meeting was held in November. Professor Noodle and Cold and Grey were given awards for their programs reaching the 10-year point. Yale Cohn received the volunteer of the year award. The next guidelines workshop will be held December 5 at 7 p.m. The next board meeting will be December 15 at 7 p.m. PATV will be closed for 2 weeks beginning December 20. Programming will continue uninterrupted. PATV recently recorded 8 hours of a symposium at the University of Iowa on civility in politics. Bergus said that when Mediacom was looking to recover some of the spectrum space occupied by the access channels they offered a video on demand service and suggested that would be one possibility for a local access television high definition outlet. Hardy said it would need to be determined which of the access channels could provide high definition content. Bergus said Mediacom should be asked what they would require. It may be as simple as providing programs in the proper file format. Hoerschelman said the access channels need to be moving to digital modulators. Hardy said he would inquire of Mediacom about the possibility of a high definition channel and what their technical needs would be to cablecast high definition programs from the access channels. Hoerschelman said each access channel needs to be asked if they can provide high definition programs. Mediacom also needs to be asked about providing digital modulators. The difference in costs between a high definition and standard definition digital modulator needs to be explored. SENIOR CENTER REPORT Light thanked Ty Coleman for his assistance in setting up equipment for the Generations of Jazz program recorded at the Englert Theater. Holiday concerts will be a major source of programming in December, including the Voices of Experience and the New Horizons Band. A program titled Celebration of Dance will also be featured. SCTV has been transferring many older programs on videotape to DVDs. Some of the best material will be pulled out for future programs. SCTV provides a tape to DVD transfer service to Center members so they can archive and have a more permanent collection of their home videos. LIBRARY REPORT Fisher reported that a new employee to manage the library channel has been hired. There were six children and five adult programs in November. The last program in the International Writers series was recorded. A program on the Iowa presidential caucuses will be recorded. Ten children s programs are planned for December. ICCSD REPORT
Hoyland reported that the move to the new facility is complete. The first recording of the board of directors meeting encountered no major problems. Superintendent Murley has directed the principal of each of the school to provide content for the Education Exchange program. The Chamber of Commerce has a video on education on their website. Hoyland will see if he can make it available on the school channel. Hoyland is working to get some of the video content on the school s website made available for the channel. CITY CHANNEL REPORT Coleman reported that the Community Television Service was quite busy in October and November. Nineteen programs were recorded in October and sixteen in November. Typically eight to twelve programs are recorded each month. Many programs were recorded regarding the city council elections including many forums, the Meet the Candidates programs, and live election results. A two-day marathon of election programming was carried on channel 4 on the two days prior to the election. The Media Unit produced programs on the new fire station and the East Side Recycling Center. The In Focus program featured the City s leaf vacuuming program and a look at the Neighborhood Centers. The next In Focus will feature information on snow emergencies, the Winter Farmer s Market, a tour of the fire station, and a segment on Table to Table. Hardy reported the channel 5 now offers a video on demand service for City Channel 4 programs. PASS THROUGH FUNDS Hardy said that he discussed a new process for allocating the $17,500 in community programming funds with Kara Logsden. Hardy suggested that in the future requests for funding would be sent to him and he would inform Community Television Group (CTG) members by email. For small items no approval would be needed. Hoerschelman suggested that for items $2,500 or greater that the Commission be informed. Hardy said he would inform the Commission of all expenditures. Hardy said the funds would not be used for personnel. Bergus said that any request for funds should be sent to all CTG members so they could have some input. Hardy said he would develop rules outlining a procedure and make them available at the next Commission meeting. BROADBAND SURVEY Hoerschelman said the table of broadband service providers included in the meeting packet should be put on the City Channel 4 website. The next item to be addressed is how broadband impacts economic development issues. A draft of questions to ask the population of Internet users also needs to be developed. There appears to be five categories of users: residential users, large businesses, small business, governments and schools, and nonprofits. ADJOUNMENT Bergus moved and Hoerschelman seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:16. Respectfully submitted,
Michael Brau Cable TV Administrative Aide