HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 07/13/2004TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Council Liaison: Kurt Kastein
Chairperson: Curt Cramer
***July 13, 2004***
*** 6:00 PM ***
Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh
Phone:482-9822 (H)
Members Present: Larry Bontempo, David Heiburg, Herb Saperstone, Curt Cramer,
Chip Cushman, Robert Reichenberger
Absent: Tim Tillson
Guest: Stan Reifschneider, Comcast Cable
City Staff Gary Gordier, Kraig Ecton, Eric Dahlgren, Liz Stroh
Chair Curt Cramer called the meeting to order at 6:00
Minutes:
Minutes were unanimously approved as submitted.
Board Priorities for Cable TV Franchise
Board members reviewed the previously identified cable issues and discussed how they
might be prioritized. The four include a low cost basic package, technology, customer
service and a la carte programming.
David Heiburg mentioned that the lower cost basic cable package seems to be the
highest priority for the community. Stan Reifschneider explained that even though other
communities along the Front Range and elsewhere may have a basic service with fewer
channels and lower cost, the decision not to offer that in Fort Collins is a business
decision. All Board members present agreed that this should be the number one
priority for the franchise agreement renewal.
Curt talked about the difference between individual interest and community interest,
and how important he thought technology was in maintaining a good economically
sound community. He explained that many large corporations use technology
infrastructure as a criteria when they are deciding to relocate operations or build new
facilities. The Board discussed how this issue compared with a la carte programming
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packages, and determined that a state of the art cable system would include that type
of technology if it becomes available during the course of the franchise.
The last priority, that of Customer Service, will be handled by a separate ordinance, and
so can stand on its own.
Customer Service Standards
Liz had distributed a copy of the Customer Service Standards developed by the Greater
Metropolitan Telecommunications Consortium. The Board discussed them briefly, and
asked Liz to come back with proposed topics at the next meeting.
Meeting Day
A brief discussion was held about the possibility of changing the meeting day to better
accommodate schedules of some of the board members. The Chair tabled the item
until the August meeting, so any members that were absent in July could provide input.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM
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Chair
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