HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-2013 Telecommunications CommissionAGENDA
IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST. -TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY
FEBRUARY 25, 2013, 5:30PM
1. Call to order
2. Approval of minutes
3. Announcements of Commissioners
4. Short public announcements
5. REPORTS
Consumer Issues
Mediacom Report
Local Access Reports
Cable Administrator Report
6. Joint Access Facility
7. Broadband Survey
8. Adjournment
IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DRAFT
MONDAY, JANUARY 28,2013--5:30 P.M.
CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST. -TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY
MEMBERS PRESENT: Alexa Homewood, Matt Butler, Hans Hoerschelman, Nicholas Kilburg
MEMBERS ABSENT: Laura Bergus
STAFF PRESENT: Mike Bran, Bob Hardy, Ty Coleman
OTHERS PRESENT: Josh Goding, Bond Drager, Emily Light
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
None at this time.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Hoerschelman said that he, Bran, and Bergus met with CenturyLink representatives at their request
regarding the broadband survey. Hoerschelman said the City Cable TV Office webpage does not have
any contact information for Mediacom on the page for consumer complaints. If this was included,
subscribers could be instructed to contact Mediacom prior to filing out a complaint form. Hardy said
he would look into Mediacom's Internet complaint process and report back to the Commission.
Kilburg asked if Hardy has done any compilation of complaints over time. Hardy said he has not.
Kilburg said he would like to see data on reoccurring issues or patterns of complaints. Mediacom has
added a set of Spanish language programs to the digital tier. Hardy said he met with Goding regarding
a joint access facility. Hardy also met with a relator. The best options for a new facility look to be in
the area of the East Dale Plaza, Sycamore Mall, or the Mall on Highway 1 where Finn and Feather is
located. These locations have bus service, parking, cheaper rent and some facilities have high ceilings.
Hardy said this project needs to move faster. Hardy said he expects to have the arrangements
determined by the February Commission meeting. PATV's contract extension expires March 1.
Hoerschelman asked Hardy if he was leaning toward having the City Channel move into PATV's
facility. Hardy said the value of the City Channel office is very high and has a relatively high
operational cost. Moving to PATV appears to be the cheapest option. Hoerschelman said he is
hesitant to displace Uptown Bill's. Hoerschelman said there would be a few adjustments to the
broadband survey instrument. In the meeting with CenturyLink it was learned that 74% of Iowa City
is covered by a fiber to the node infrastructure. There are some large areas, however, which have yet
to be upgraded. In the long term, CenturyLink hopes to offer a fiber to the home service. IP video
service would come with those offerings. The service would offer download speeds of about 100 NOS
and upload speeds of 40 or 80 MBS. A customer service office will be installed in their facility on
Burlington St.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Hoerschelman moved and Kilburg seconded a motion to approve the amended December 17, 2012
minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
Hoerschelman said that he, Bran, and Bergus met with CenturyLink representatives at their request
regarding the broadband survey.
SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CONSUMER ISSUES
Hardy referred to the complaint report in the meeting packet and said there was just one complaint and
it has been resolved. Hoerschelman said the City Cable TV Office webpage does not have any contact
information for Mediacom on the page for consumer complaints. If this was included, subscribers
could be instructed to contact Mediacom prior to filing out a complaint form. Hardy said he would
look into Mediacom's Internet complaint process and report back to the Commission. Kilburg asked if
Hardy has done any compilation of complaints over time. Hardy said he has not. Kilburg said he
would like to see data on reoccurring issues or patterns of complaints.
MEDIACOM REPORT
No representative was present. Hardy said Grassley informed him that he is ill and unable to attend the
meeting. Mediacom has added a set of Spanish language programs to the digital tier.
LOCAL ACCESS CHANNELS REPORTS
Hoerschelman noted that PATV's quarterly report, the library and the City Channel have written
reports included in the meeting packet. Goding said PATV is running a small budget surplus. Light
said the February Senior Center program schedule is not yet finished so a report was not included in
the meeting packet. SCTV has initiated a process of producer meetings following their production
schedule. In the future programs will be shorter, but more programs will be produced.
CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Hardy said he met with Goding regarding a joint access facility. Hardy also met with a relator. The
best options for a new facility look to be in the area of the East Dale Plaza, Sycamore Mall, or the Mall
on Highway 1 where Finn and Feather is located. These locations have bus service, parking, cheaper
rent and some facilities have high ceilings. Homewood asked if Hardy had contacted the University of
Iowa to identify a representative to the Commission. Hardy said he had not. Coleman said he talked
with UITV staff and took a tour of their new facilities in Plaza Center 1. Coleman said UITV is
rethinking their programming strategy to emphasize the communications need of the University. More
staff producers are being added.
JOINT ACCESS FACILITY
Hardy said most of the information for this agenda item was covered previously in the meeting. Hardy
said this project needs to move faster. Hardy said he expects to have the arrangements determined by
the February Commission meeting. PATV's contract extension expires March 1. Hoerschelman asked
Hardy if he was leaning toward having the City Channel move into PATV's facility. Hardy said the
value of the City Channel office is very high and has a relatively high operational cost. Moving to
PATV appears to be the cheapest option. Hoerschelman said he is hesitant to displace Uptown Bill's.
BROADBAND SURVEY
Hoerschelman said there would be a few adjustments to the survey instrument. A better mapping
system has been developed. There will be some wording changes on some questions. The speed test
site will be changed to one that does not use Java. A question will be added inquiring if the respondent
works from home. In the meeting with CenturyLink it was learned that 74% of Iowa City is covered
by a fiber to the node infrastructure. There are some large areas, however, which have yet to be
upgraded. In the long term, CenturyLink hopes to offer a fiber to the home service. IP video service
would come with those offerings. The service would offer download speeds of about 100 MBS and
upload speeds of 40 or 80 MBS. A customer service office will be installed in their facility on
Burlington St.
ADJOURNMENT
Kilburg moved and Hoerschelman seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved
unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:13 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
15FN/\
Michael Brau
Cable TV Administrative Aide
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CABLE TELEVISON ADMINISTRATOR
CITY OF IOWA CITY
February 20, 2013
To: Iowa City Telecommunications Commission
Fm: Bob Hardy, Cable Television Administrator
Re: Issues Report January 2013
1/18/13: Remote for DVR began failing. Got a new remote from office. It didn't
work. Got another. It didn't work. Several phone calls to MC finally resulted in service
call. Said could only get a phone call 5 minutes prior to arrival. Tech said DVR was bad
but didn't have one and none available for two weeks. Customer believes misdiagnosing
DVR problem is poor support and not having extra DVRs on hand is extremely poor
business practice. Desired to report incident to ICTC. Resolved 2/18/13
1/22/13: (email) Customer received a special rate for a variety of channels from
Mediacom retention in November of 2011 and claims that she was told she would not
have a rate increase for 2 years. Since this time Mediacom has raised her rate 3 times.
Efforts to resolve this issue with Mediacom representatives and what she has been told
about her account status have been inconsistent. To Rick Karnes. Customer went to
local Mediacom office. Mediacom notes that "she has been getting extra channels for
free... has been told this... and MCC is not willing to do so any longer. No follow -up
contact from customer. Resolved 2/2/13.
City of Iowa City Cable N Division
Update on recent and upcoming programming and initiatives
02/19/2013
Media Unit
Recent programs covered:
• City of Iowa City City Council Budget Work Sessions
• Metropolitan Planning Organization Area Policy Board Meeting
• A short video on Bicycling in Iowa City concerning the "Light the Night" program
• Photos of Public Work employees for a web pamphlet
• Live cablecast of ICCSD RPS vote results from the County Auditors office
Coming up:
• Public forum on recruiting and training women for civil life and elected offices. Sponsored by League of Women Voters of JC
• Legislative Forum. Sponsored by the LWV of JC
• Two programs sponsored by the Human Rights Division - Careers in Foreign Service and Fair Housing
• Police Citizens Review Board Annual Meeting
Live cablecast of election results forthe open Johnson County Board of Supervisors position
Communitv Television. Service
Recent programs covered:
• Local AARP chapter presentation about food assistance in Johnson County
• The 3rd annual local food summit, sponsored by Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development (IVRCD), the Iowa City Area
Development Group (]CAD Group), and others
• Systems Unlimited Mardis Gras - themed gala fundraising event
Coming up:
• The Compeer Benefit Concert - "The Sound of Friendship"
• Preucil School of Music's orchestra festival
• A Mercy Iowa City lecture about eating disorders
Features and Information Unit
Recent segments covered:
• Information on ActiveNet, the new online information and registration system recently implemented by Parks & Recreation
• Feature on updates in and around the indoor pool at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center
• Segment featuring the historic Grant Wood House
• The first episode of "Eyes on I.C." hosted by Adam Bentley, featuring the first part of his visit to the IC Landfill & Recycling Center
Coming up:
• The second episode of "Eyes on I.C. ", featuring a continuation of host Adam Bentley's visit to the IC Landfill & Recycling Center
• An interview with ICPL Director Susan Craig, on the recent updates and remodeling at the library
• Feature on the Iowa City Tango Club and its activities at the Senior Center
• "Notable Non - profit" episode featuring Compeer of Johnson County
Interactive Services
City Channel 4's new online streaming video web app is now live. This improved page features aesthetic enhancements,
increased speed, is more secure, and allows more ways to browse our video library. It also works on smart phones and tablets,
though additional optimization for mobile devices is planned. Find it here: httQ7/Icitvchannel4.com/v!deo/ It's also available as a
Facebook app on our City Channel 4 Facebook page: httt)s,//www.facebook.com/citychannel4/agP 123458464420489
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http: / /mashable.com/2013 /02/20 /fcc -g abit-
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Mashable %29
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ss�':ii7re io dr: ";ve =; iobai broadband rel%P..ul- growth,0 2018
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2 / ?utm source = rss &utm medium= rss &utm campaign= fibre -to- drive - global- broadband-
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Former FCC Chair Says Broadcasters Need Dereg Help
http: / /www.mtiltichannel. com /teclinology /former -fee- chair -says- broadcasters - need- dereg-
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NAB: Congress Should Consider Expiration of Distant - Signal License
http: / /www. multichannel .corn /distribution /nab- congress - should- consider - expiration - distant-
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