HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 07/14/19980
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
July 14, 1998
7:00 PM
Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh, Michael Gitter
Acting Chairperson: Tom Maher Phone: (W) 491-1325 (H) 498-8384
Presiding Chair: Tom Maher Phone: (W) (H)
Members Present: Tom Maher, Tim Tillson, Howard Lowell, Dave Augustine, Larry
Bontempo
Members Absent: Greg Smith, Ernie Powell
City Staff: Liz Stroh, Eric Dahlgren, Gary Gordier
TCI Staff: Kathy Stewart
Meeting Minutes
Howard Lowell moved to accept the minutes of the May Telecommunications Board Meeting as
submitted. Tim Tillson seconded the motion; minutes were approved unanimously.
Other Business
Acting Chair Tom Maher distributed a copy of a Federal Emergency Management event. Larry
Bontempo volunteered to attend the meeting as a representative of the Board.
Franchise compliance discussions
Liz gave an update on activities regarding discussions with TCI on franchise compliance. Gary
Gordier mentioned the City had retained outside counsel that has dealt with franchise issues
involving TCI over the last couple of years.
Telecommunications Policy
Liz distributed a draft of the City's Telecommunications Policy that will be included in the 1999
Legislative Policy agenda that Council will adopt later this year. Tim Tillson asked about the
item related to collection of sales tax on merchandise sold via the Internet. Liz explained that the
ability to collect sales taxes on merchandise sold within the City's boundaries is the goal, and the
City supports legislation that allows local communities to determine their own taxing structure,
and when or if to tax merchandise sold via the Internet.
Members suggested wording changes that clarified that the City supports full cost recovery for
rights of way maintenance, and also suggested referencing the specific construction standards
that were to be followed for rights of way maintenance and repair.
TCI Update:
Kathy Stewart reported that the walk out and design of the system upgrade is being done at the
same time. She anticipated that TCI would begin getting construction permits in August. She is
planning to meet on a weekly basis with various departments as necessary to discuss utility or
easement issues. The end of 1999 is the target for the completion of the fiber upgrade.
Tom asked for information about the channel expansion and line up that will take effect when the
new system is ready. Kathy Stewart responded that the line up is not firm at this point. More
information will be provided to the Board as it becomes available.
Kathy reported that TCI would be activating the upgrade node by node rather than wait to offer
services until the construction is complete throughout the city
TCI has finished the color testing for FCC and starting CLI (leakage testing). A plan is being put
together on how to deal with student's arrival and how to implement the digital compression
system in the dorms. Kathy also informed the board of a new phone system, a new billing
system that will be implemented later this year. The new phone system will allow people to opt
out of the automated system if they wish to talk to an operator. TCI will be sending letters in
September to explain the new billing.
Kathy brought up the ATT/TCI merger. Her belief is that opportunities will expand because of
this merger, using the example of local phone service potentially being available over a cable
system. Tim Tillson asked if the ATT/TCI merger needed to be approved by Council. Liz will
contact Assistant City Attorney John Duval for more information.
Kathy went on to explain that the target date for implementing TCI's At Home Internet services
is slated for 1999.
Other Business:
Lawrence Bontempo asked about the City's plans relating to the PRPA SONET ring project.
Eric explained that the City Utilities will not be selling bandwidth or become a
telecommunications provider.
Next Meeting is scheduled for August 11, 1998 at 7 PM in the IT Administrative Conference
room. Howard Lowell asked to have Web page discussion as an item for the next agenda.
Adjournment
Tim Tillson moved to adjourn, Howard Lowell seconded; passed unanimously. Meeting
adjourned at 8:10 PM.
OTHI
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEMBERS LIST
REV 8/4/98
NAME/ADDRESS
PHONE WS
TERM EXPIRES:
David Augustine
226-2948 (H)
June 30, 2002
2401 Vajobi Court
(970) 962-7377 kvv)
Fort Collins, CO 80526
e-mail-daugus@ wgc. woodward.com
Lawrence Bontempo
484-3980 (W)
June 30, 2002
415 S. Howes Street, #308
e-mail-trge a webaccess.net
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Howard Lowell
226-6262 (H)
June 30, 2000
2625 Killdeer Drive
e-mail-ftclow@juno.com
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Thomas Maher
498-8384 (H)
June 30, 2001
1831 Westview Road
491-1325 (W)
Fort Collins, CO 80524
e-mail-tmaher@vines.colostate.edu
Ernie Powell
223-9051 (H)
June 30, 1999
1407 Cape Cod Circle
229-4474 (W)
Fort Collins, CO 80525-3393
e-mail-ernie_powell@HP.com
Greg Smith
226-4850 (H)
June 30, 2002
707 Rochelle Circle
686-4755 (W)
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Pager: (970) 490-4796
e-mail-gasmith@Kodak.com
Tim Tillson
484-9015 (H)
July 1, 2001
2231 Ouray Court
679-3219 (W)
Fort Collins, CO 80525
e-mail-twt@verinet.com
�RJ
nager
TCI of Fort Collins
1201 University Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland
City Staff:
Michael Gitter, Cable Program Director
Carson Hamlin, Cable Production Director
Liz Stroh, Telecommunications Manager
Istroh@ci.fort-col [ins. co. us
493-7400 (Fort Colli
356-1079 (Greeley)
221-6882
221-6510
221-6522