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HomeMy WebLinkAboutICTC Agenda and Packet Special Meeting 2017-11-30 Special​ ​Meeting​ ​Agenda Iowa​ ​City​ ​Telecommunications​ ​Commission City​ ​Cable​ ​TV​ ​Office,​ ​10​ ​S.​ ​Linn​ ​St.,​ ​Tower​ ​Place​ ​Parking​ ​Facility,​ ​Level​ ​3A November​ ​30,​ ​2017​ ​​ ​4:00PM 1.​ ​Call​ ​to​ ​order 2.​ ​Approval​ ​of​ ​minutes 3.​ ​Approve​ ​comments​ ​to​ ​the​ ​FCC​ ​regarding​ ​net​ ​neutrality 4.​ ​Presentation​ ​of​ ​approved​ ​comments​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Iowa​ ​City​ ​City​ ​Council,​ ​FCC,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​parties 5.​ ​Adjournment ​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Draft Minutes Iowa​ ​City​ ​Telecommunications​ ​Commission November​ ​27,​ ​2017​ ​–​ ​5:30​ ​P.M. City​ ​of​ ​Iowa​ ​City​ ​Cable​ ​TV​ ​Office,​ ​10​ ​S.​ ​Linn​ ​St.​ ​-​ ​Tower​ ​Place,​ ​Level​ ​3A Call​ ​to​ ​Order:Meeting​ ​called​ ​to​ ​order​ ​at​ ​5:35​ ​P.M. Members​ ​Present:Derek​ ​Johnk,​ ​Paul​ ​Gowder,​ ​Laura​ ​Bergus,​ ​Matthew​ ​Brenton Members​ ​Absent: Staff​ ​Present:Ty​ ​Coleman Others​ ​Present:Gerardo​ ​Sandoval,​ ​Bond​ ​Drager Recommendations​ ​to​ ​Council:​​ ​​ ​​None Approval​ ​of​ ​Minutes: Gowder​ ​moved​ ​and​ ​Brenton​ ​seconded​ ​a​ ​motion​ ​to​ ​approve​ ​the​ ​October​ ​23,​ ​2017​ ​minutes as​ ​presented.​ ​​ ​The​ ​motion​ ​passed​ ​unanimously. Announcements​ ​of​ ​Commissioners: Johnk​ ​asked​ ​whether​ ​there​ ​was​ ​anything​ ​within​ ​the​ ​Telecommunication​ ​Commission’s ability​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​the​ ​FCC’s​ ​proposed​ ​actions​ ​regarding​ ​net​ ​neutrality.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​said​ ​it​ ​was worth​ ​investigating​ ​and​ ​seeking​ ​assurances​ ​that​ ​Iowa​ ​City​ ​consumers​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​affected​ ​by sudden​ ​policy​ ​changes.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​said​ ​this​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​time​ ​to​ ​reopen​ ​the​ ​discussion with​ ​the​ ​Iowa​ ​City​ ​City​ ​Council​ ​regarding​ ​municipal​ ​broadband.​ ​​ ​Johnk​ ​wondered​ ​if​ ​there was​ ​anything​ ​that​ ​could​ ​be​ ​done​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Commission​ ​at​ ​a​ ​Council​ ​level​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​equal access​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Internet. Bergus​ ​suggested​ ​that​ ​the​ ​City​ ​could​ ​submit​ ​comments​ ​to​ ​the​ ​FCC​ ​on​ ​behalf​ ​of​ ​the Telecommunications​ ​Commission​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​current​ ​regulations​ ​that​ ​offer​ ​protections against​ ​net​ ​neutrality.​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​he​ ​would​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​the​ ​City’s​ ​legal​ ​staff​ ​about​ ​what​ ​the Commission​ ​and​ ​the​ ​City​ ​could​ ​do.​ ​​ ​Bergus​ ​said​ ​that​ ​although​ ​the​ ​Commission​ ​is​ ​limited​ ​in its​ ​capacity​ ​for​ ​broadband​ ​regulation,​ ​it​ ​could​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​a​ ​representative​ ​of​ ​consumers. Brenton​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​the​ ​FCC’s​ ​vote​ ​on​ ​the​ ​proposed​ ​action​ ​would​ ​occur​ ​on​ ​December​ ​14, 2017,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Commission’s​ ​next​ ​regular​ ​meeting.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​asked​ ​about calling​ ​a​ ​special​ ​meeting​ ​for​ ​this​ ​topic.​ ​​ ​Bergus​ ​wondered​ ​if​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​get something​ ​to​ ​Council​ ​before​ ​its​ ​next​ ​formal​ ​meeting,​ ​possibly​ ​getting​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​added​ ​to​ ​the Council’s​ ​agenda.​ ​​ ​Johnk​ ​acknowledged​ ​that​ ​the​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Telecommunications Commission​ ​were​ ​in​ ​agreement​ ​on​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​and​ ​suggested​ ​that​ ​a​ ​letter​ ​could​ ​be​ ​submitted to​ ​Council​ ​for​ ​its​ ​consideration​ ​and​ ​support.​ ​​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​the​ ​next​ ​meeting​ ​of​ ​the City​ ​Council​ ​is​ ​December​ ​5,​ ​2017. 1 ​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Draft Bergus​ ​suggested​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Commission​ ​could​ ​see​ ​if​ ​the​ ​Council​ ​would​ ​endorse​ ​a​ ​comment to​ ​the​ ​FCC​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​the​ ​December​ ​14,​ ​2017​ ​vote,​ ​stating​ ​that​ ​the​ ​City​ ​is​ ​against​ ​rolling​ ​back regulatory​ ​protections​ ​for​ ​consumers.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​said​ ​that​ ​a​ ​document​ ​could​ ​be​ ​drafted​ ​to present​ ​to​ ​Council​ ​and​ ​that​ ​Council​ ​would​ ​have​ ​the​ ​option​ ​to​ ​endorse​ ​it.​ ​​ ​Johnk​ ​said​ ​that the​ ​Commission​ ​could​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​special​ ​meeting​ ​to​ ​review​ ​and​ ​approve​ ​the​ ​document. Coleman​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​if​ ​the​ ​Commission​ ​wished​ ​to​ ​involve​ ​the​ ​City​ ​Council​ ​in​ ​any​ ​way, deadlines​ ​for​ ​getting​ ​items​ ​submitted​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next​ ​council​ ​meeting​ ​would​ ​be​ ​approaching soon. Bergus​ ​said​ ​she​ ​could​ ​create​ ​a​ ​draft​ ​of​ ​the​ ​comments.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​said​ ​he​ ​would​ ​assist​ ​Bergus, thereby​ ​forming​ ​a​ ​subcommittee​ ​to​ ​work​ ​on​ ​the​ ​draft.​ ​​ ​Brenton​ ​recommended​ ​that​ ​the approved​ ​comment​ ​document​ ​should​ ​also​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​to​ ​our​ ​representatives.​ ​​ ​Bergus​ ​said​ ​that individuals​ ​are​ ​also​ ​able​ ​to​ ​submit​ ​comments​ ​to​ ​the​ ​FCC​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own​ ​behalf. Johnk​ ​asked​ ​about​ ​scheduling​ ​a​ ​special​ ​meeting​ ​to​ ​review​ ​the​ ​drafted​ ​comments​ ​before sending​ ​them​ ​to​ ​Council.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​suggested​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​be​ ​held​ ​Thursday,​ ​November​ ​30, 2017.​ ​​ ​The​ ​Commission​ ​agreed​ ​to​ ​set​ ​a​ ​special​ ​meeting​ ​for​ ​4pm​ ​on​ ​that​ ​day.​ ​​ ​Bergus​ ​said the​ ​meeting’s​ ​purpose​ ​would​ ​be​ ​to​ ​approve​ ​of​ ​comments​ ​to​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​to​ ​the​ ​FCC​ ​and​ ​also​ ​to recommend​ ​Council’s​ ​support.​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​he​ ​would​ ​check​ ​to​ ​confirm​ ​the​ ​deadline​ ​for getting​ ​an​ ​item​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Council​ ​and​ ​whether​ ​it​ ​could​ ​be​ ​put​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Council’s​ ​agenda​ ​for​ ​its December​ ​5,​ ​2017​ ​meeting.​ ​​ ​Bergus​ ​said​ ​there​ ​would​ ​likely​ ​be​ ​public​ ​input​ ​on​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​if the​ ​item​ ​was​ ​on​ ​the​ ​agenda. Bergus​ ​said​ ​the​ ​FCC’s​ ​proposal​ ​would​ ​roll​ ​back​ ​the​ ​Obama-era​ ​consumer​ ​protections​ ​and that​ ​the​ ​comment​ ​she​ ​drafts​ ​will​ ​request​ ​that​ ​the​ ​status​ ​quo​ ​be​ ​maintained. Short​ ​Public​ ​Announcements: None Consumer​ ​Issues: Johnk​ ​noted​ ​there​ ​were​ ​no​ ​issues​ ​reported​ ​in​ ​the​ ​monthly​ ​report​ ​that​ ​were​ ​still​ ​without​ ​a resolution. Mediacom​ ​Report: Coleman​ ​reported​ ​that​ ​he​ ​received​ ​a​ ​letter​ ​from​ ​Mediacom​ ​regarding​ ​upcoming​ ​rate increases,​ ​including​ ​the​ ​local​ ​broadcast​ ​surcharge​ ​and​ ​the​ ​regional​ ​sports​ ​surcharge. Coleman​ ​said​ ​that​ ​the​ ​rental​ ​rate​ ​for​ ​digital​ ​transport​ ​adapters​ ​would​ ​go​ ​up​ ​as​ ​well. Coleman​ ​said​ ​the​ ​letter​ ​reminded​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​its​ ​recent​ ​initiative​ ​to​ ​give​ ​all​ ​of​ ​its​ ​business and​ ​residential​ ​customers​ ​access​ ​to​ ​1​ ​Gbps​ ​broadband​ ​speeds.​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​the​ ​letter​ ​also mentioned​ ​a​ ​low​ ​cost,​ ​high-speed​ ​Internet​ ​service​ ​for​ ​low-income​ ​customers​ ​who​ ​have​ ​at least​ ​one​ ​K-12​ ​student​ ​living​ ​at​ ​home​ ​who​ ​is​ ​qualified​ ​for​ ​free​ ​or​ ​reduced-price​ ​lunch through​ ​the​ ​National​ ​School​ ​Lunch​ ​Program.​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​the​ ​letter​ ​listed​ ​the​ ​service​ ​as providing​ ​a​ ​10​ ​Mbps​ ​download​ ​speed​ ​for​ ​$9.95​ ​per​ ​month.​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​information​ ​about the​ ​Connect2Compete​ ​service​ ​could​ ​be​ ​found​ ​at​ ​​www.mediacomc2c.com​.​ ​​ ​Gowder​ ​noted that​ ​the​ ​website​ ​indicated​ ​that​ ​those​ ​currently​ ​subscribed​ ​to​ ​Mediacom​ ​Internet​ ​service were​ ​not​ ​eligible​ ​for​ ​the​ ​program. 2 ​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Draft Coleman​ ​also​ ​reported​ ​that​ ​he​ ​was​ ​preparing​ ​the​ ​annual​ ​letter​ ​the​ ​City​ ​sends​ ​to​ ​Mediacom to​ ​notify​ ​them​ ​of​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​funds​ ​expected​ ​next​ ​year​ ​for​ ​supporting​ ​public​ ​access services​ ​in​ ​Iowa​ ​City,​ ​as​ ​required​ ​by​ ​the​ ​current​ ​cable​ ​franchise​ ​agreement​ ​between​ ​the City​ ​and​ ​Mediacom.​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​that​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​is​ ​modified​ ​each​ ​year​ ​according​ ​to​ ​a formula​ ​that​ ​includes​ ​the​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​change​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Consumer​ ​Price​ ​Index​ ​over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​year. Local​ ​Access​ ​Reports: Drager​ ​reported​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Library​ ​Channel​ ​had​ ​been​ ​very​ ​busy​ ​in​ ​November.​ ​​ ​She​ ​also reported​ ​that​ ​more​ ​wireless​ ​hotspots​ ​had​ ​been​ ​added​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Library’s​ ​collection.​ ​​ ​Johnk asked​ ​whether​ ​it​ ​could​ ​be​ ​possible​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Library​ ​to​ ​mention​ ​Mediacom’s Connect2Compete​ ​service​ ​to​ ​those​ ​who​ ​check​ ​out​ ​the​ ​wireless​ ​hotspots. Sandoval​ ​said​ ​that​ ​November​ ​was​ ​very​ ​busy​ ​for​ ​Public​ ​Access​ ​Television​ ​(PATV).​ ​​ ​He highlighted​ ​a​ ​recent​ ​program,​ ​“Nora’s​ ​House​ ​of​ ​Dance,”​ ​that​ ​PATV​ ​had​ ​live-streamed. Sandoval​ ​said​ ​the​ ​show​ ​featured​ ​six​ ​different​ ​dance​ ​companies​ ​and​ ​multiple​ ​types​ ​of​ ​dance. He​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​the​ ​production​ ​exemplified​ ​PATV’s​ ​mission​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​the​ ​community together.​ ​​ ​He​ ​said​ ​that​ ​the​ ​six​ ​dance​ ​companies​ ​were​ ​brought​ ​in​ ​and​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​PATV​ ​studio within​ ​two​ ​hours. Sandoval​ ​said​ ​that​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​PATV​ ​services​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​increase.​ ​​ ​He​ ​mentioned​ ​that PATV​ ​would​ ​be​ ​making​ ​some​ ​modifications​ ​to​ ​the​ ​studio,​ ​including​ ​lighting​ ​and​ ​camera improvements,​ ​in​ ​an​ ​effort​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​current​ ​with​ ​technology.​ ​​ ​​ ​Sandoval​ ​reported​ ​that​ ​a soundproof​ ​podcast​ ​studio​ ​had​ ​been​ ​completed​ ​and​ ​that​ ​it​ ​provides​ ​another​ ​service​ ​that gives​ ​the​ ​public​ ​a​ ​voice. Johnk​ ​asked​ ​Sandoval​ ​how​ ​often​ ​PATV​ ​had​ ​been​ ​using​ ​YouTube​ ​live,​ ​saying​ ​that​ ​he​ ​had recently​ ​seen​ ​a​ ​live​ ​show​ ​streaming​ ​through​ ​YouTube.​ ​​ ​Sandoval​ ​said​ ​PATV​ ​and​ ​its members​ ​are​ ​producing​ ​more​ ​live​ ​content​ ​than​ ​ever​ ​before,​ ​using​ ​in-house​ ​equipment​ ​and mobile​ ​equipment.​ ​​ ​Sandoval​ ​noted​ ​that​ ​offering​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​stream​ ​content​ ​was important​ ​given​ ​the​ ​current​ ​landscape​ ​of​ ​more​ ​traditional​ ​media​ ​outlets. City​ ​Cable​ ​TV​ ​Office​ ​Report: Coleman​ ​reported​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Cable​ ​TV​ ​Office​ ​would​ ​be​ ​bringing​ ​in​ ​a​ ​new​ ​employee​ ​at​ ​the start​ ​of​ ​2018​ ​to​ ​fill​ ​its​ ​Media​ ​Production​ ​Assistant​ ​position.​ ​​ ​Coleman​ ​said​ ​the​ ​selected person​ ​has​ ​been​ ​doing​ ​great​ ​work​ ​for​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​Ames​ ​and​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​excited​ ​for​ ​her​ ​to begin​ ​her​ ​work​ ​with​ ​Iowa​ ​City. Coleman​ ​asked​ ​the​ ​Commission​ ​how​ ​it​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​handle​ ​its​ ​December​ ​meeting,​ ​given that​ ​the​ ​regular​ ​meeting​ ​date​ ​of​ ​December​ ​25,​ ​2017​ ​is​ ​a​ ​holiday.​ ​​ ​Johnk​ ​suggested​ ​that​ ​the Commission​ ​continue​ ​its​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​a​ ​special​ ​meeting​ ​on​ ​November​ ​30,​ ​2017​ ​and​ ​cancel its​ ​December​ ​2017​ ​meeting.​ ​​ ​All​ ​commissioners​ ​agreed. Adjournment: Brenton​ ​moved​ ​and​ ​Gowder​ ​seconded​ ​a​ ​motion​ ​to​ ​adjourn.​ ​​ ​The​ ​motion​ ​passed unanimously.​ ​​ ​Adjournment​ ​was​ ​at​ ​6:05​ ​p.m. 3 DRAFT ombudsperson@fcc.gov openinternet@fcc.gov Ajit Pai, Chairman Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov Michael O'Rielly, Commissioner Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov Brendan Carr, Commissioner Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov Senator Charles Grassley 135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Joni Ernst 111 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Representative Dave Loebsack 1527 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Senators, Representative, and Commissioners: We write to urge continued protection of a free and open Internet. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should not vote to remove the current Title II regulatory protections for broadband consumers. The FCC itself openly identifies the present regulations as rules that “protect and maintain open, uninhibited access to lawful online content.” (https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/open- internet) Iowans who rely on the open Internet for their work, education, health care, and political and religious expression are poised to suffer from the rollback of these rules. Further, recent reports show that many public comments in support of the proposed rollback were not genuine. Under these circumstances, undoing a carefully vetted prior rulemaking raises serious concerns. The principle of nondiscrimination is a longstanding part of the American legal tradition, associated with the idea of a common carrier, a concept traditionally but not exclusively applied to transportation enterprises such as railroads. In the Mann-Elkins act of 1910, Congress recognized that telecommunication enterprises are like railroads in their public importance and market power, and classified all "telegraph, telephone and cable DRAFT companies (whether wire or wireless)" as common carriers. Then, in 1934, Congress enacted the Federal Communications Act, which required telecommunications providers to publish and charge nondiscriminatory rates. The details of telecommunications common carrier regulation have changed over the years, and the application of these principles to cable companies in particular has long been contested. Nonetheless, the core wisdom of applying common carrier principles to critical telecommunications dominated by entities with substantial market power has been recognized for over 100 years. It should not be casually set aside. For decades, Iowa City has maintained a volunteer commission, with members appointed by the City Council, to advise on matters relating to telecommunications. The Iowa City Telecommunications Commission’s duties include monitoring and reviewing State and Federal legislative and regulatory action or change. Upon review of the proposed regulatory change, this Commission has unanimously recommended that Iowa City ask your help to prevent blocking, throttling, or discrimination of lawful online content by Internet service providers. Until a carefully vetted and permanent legislative solution is in place, the FCC’s current rules must stay in place to protect consumers. Thank you for hearing these serious concerns regarding the process and substance of removing current FCC protections for consumers. Please keep the Internet open and free. Respectfully, XXXXXXX