HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 10/13/1998TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
****October 13, 1998 ****
Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland
Chairperson: Greg Smith
*** 7:00 PM ***
Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh
Phone: 226-4850 (H) 686-4755 (W)
Members Present: Dave Augustine, Greg Smith, Tim Tillson, Howard Llowell, Ernie
Powell, Larry Bontempo
Members Absent: Tom Maher
City Staff Present: Liz Stroh, Gary Gordier
Guests: Kathy Stewart, TCI Area Manager
Chair Greg Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Minutes
Greg asked for a motion approving the minutes. Howard moved to adopt the minutes,
seconded by Dave Augustine. It was noted that KGNU is a Boulder station, not a
Greeley station. Board members voted unanimously to adopt the minutes with the
above correction.
E911
Gary Gordier reported on E911 discussions being conducted by the LETA Board
(Larimer County Emergency Telecommunications Authority). The discussions
regarding a combined emergency dispatch center using the 800 Mhz bandwidth is on
hold until after the elections in November. Greg asked about potential roles for the
Telecommunications Board regarding this topic. Since City Council has not requested
a recommendation from the Board on this issue, it was suggested that individuals on
the board should pursue contact with LETA board members if they want to provide
input or support. LETA is asking all emergency service agencies to participate in
solutions to addressing problems. For example, the City and County might have the
same street names, and would create problems as to where to dispatch emergency
services. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with by the City and County planning
offices. Additional concerns relate to the need for line of sight towers for the 800 Mhz
system and that the County has several areas that might be out of range because of
mountainous terrain. Motorola said they would lease the system to a government
agency and the rest of the agencies could come on board as they wanted.
Howard provided City staff with a name of an expert on 800 Mhz systems as a potential
contact should assistance be needed. He explained to the group that the current
system allows no direct communication between officers working for the County and
those working for the City protective services. The advantages of an 800 Mhz system
would allow different groups to communicate via radio with any number of other
individuals or groups. The State of Colorado is currently investigating the use of 800
Mhz as well. Initial analysis indicates that the state wide system would work if there
were additional towers in some of the mountainous areas. The City of Loveland is also
moving ahead in efforts to implement this change.
Other obstacles to overcome include developing an interface between the agencies
data bases in order to have complete information available about persons with police
records.
The consensus of the Board members present was that they were supportive of the
effort to combine the various emergency dispatch efforts in one center, and to move the
frequency to 800 Mhz to facilitate inter -agency communication.
TCI update:
Kathy reported answer to Tom Maher's question about.
Kathy reported that the phone is on hold. Another
Larry mentioned that he lives at Park lane, will work
Kathy will be moving to Fort Collins. Will put a manager in Greeley and other areas.
Will oversee manager in Greeley.
Kathy mentioned that the 6 minute news is being seen now every day. Updated once a
day.
Sonet Update
Gary reported that the sonet is continuing to be constructed. Goal is to have ring
completed not later than Dec. 31. PRPA is in process of getting a franchise from the
City. PRPA will then lease fibers, currently have contract with ICG. Other companies
negotiating to use fiber, including TCI>
Utility crews used to pull fiber. A coordinator for that project is being moved to the Info
technology department.
TCI engineers reported that they will be using sonet technology; and with the city using
sonet, it will be easy for the city to bridge over. Tim asked about selling to individuals.
PRPA can lease bandwidth, then those companies can sell to individuals. All the
earnings from fort Collins leases will go into a the funds for the city. City will be
encouraging Utilities to pull fiber in new subdivisions, etc. Tim asked about ISP's using
some of the fiber for this
Greg asked who would maintain fiber — PRPA will continue to do that. Gary explained
the capacity of the fiber loop — siting equivalents to phone and ds3 lines. Larry
Bontempo asked how that would be spliced. Tim asked this. Will obviously need to be
encased in concrete or other interduct. Larry asked about connecting cities. Right
now is on overhead, but will have a redundant line with ICG.
Telecomm policy:
Need to do some housekeeping things. May be some substantive things that need to
be looked at.
Greg suggested that city make some modifications, then bring it to board. Everyone
agreed on this approach. Will give a mark up next meeting, then get to board.
Howard — Northern SL1 users group in Holiday inn. This weekend.
Tim asked about upgrade to central office. Will happen this year according to US West.
Upgrade: meet Friday, construction ill start this Kathy will do DSL. She will give
presentation if interested.
Identified options.
Next meeting is next Tuesday.
Larry moved to close; Howard seconded. Adjourned at 8:05