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Home My WebLink About02-25-2013 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 t? 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 Ultra -Fast 'Gigabit Wi -Fi' Inching Closer to FCC Approval http: / /mashable.com/2013 /02/20 /fcc -g abit- wifi/?utm source=feedburner &utm medium= feed &utm canrpgjgjj d —Mashable + %28 Mashable %29 Verizon expands lead over Cablevision in FCC Measuring Broadband America report http: /lwtiwv.fiercecable.com /story / verzon- expands -lead- over- cablevision- fcc - measuring= broadband- america -repor /2013 - 02- 15 #ixzz2LS c2veTe Genachowski Hypes North Carolina Broadband Backwater FCC Boss Lauds 1 Gbps Efforts, Ignores Myriad of Real State Problems http:! /wv✓w.dslreports.com/shownews /Genachowski - Hypes- North -Carol iia- Broadband- Backwater- 123155 ss�':ii7re io dr: ";ve =; iobai broadband rel%P..ul- growth,0 2018 http: / /www.telecoms.com /93 822/ fibre -to- drive - global - broadband- revenue - growth- to -2018- 2 / ?utm source = rss &utm medium= rss &utm campaign= fibre -to- drive - global- broadband- revenue- growth -to- 2018 -2 Former FCC Chair Says Broadcasters Need Dereg Help http: / /www.mtiltichannel. com /teclinology /former -fee- chair -says- broadcasters - need- dereg- help/141792 NAB: Congress Should Consider Expiration of Distant - Signal License http: / /www. multichannel .corn /distribution /nab- congress - should- consider - expiration - distant- signal- license /141687