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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 05/15/1997y • • TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 15, 1997 7:00 PM 11 Council Liaison: Chris Kneeland I Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh, Michael Gitter II Chairperson: Phil Wadas Phone: (W) 221-1764 (H) 221-0065 Presiding Chair: Phil Wadas Phone: (W) 221-1764 (H) 221-0065 Members Present: Members Absent: City Staff: TCI Representative: Howard Lowell Phil Wadas Ernie Powell Greg Smith Barbara Hain Liz Stroh, Communications Manager Eric Dahlgren, Light & Power Paul Eisbrenner Chairman Wadas called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Tom Maher Larry Rowland Minutes Tom Maher moved to accept minutes; Greg Smith seconded. Motion was carried unanimously. Il. TCI Report Paul Eisenbrenner reported that TCI has 31,000 subscribers currently. An inter- connect between Scripts/Howard and TCI of Fort Collins is now operational. This will allow Larimer County Commissioner meetings cablecast via Channel 27 to be viewed by subscribers in the Scripts/Howard service area. Mr Eisenbrenner reported that TCI of Greeley employees were testing the digital compression system. Howard Lowell asked about channel line up. Paul indicated that additional HBO, Pay Per View and special interest programming will be added. The line up for Fort Collins will probably be basically the same. Tom Maher asked that the Board see a tentative list of the channel lineup when it is available. Howard Lowell had questions about subscriber troublecalls. Paul explained the difference between trouble calls and complaints. Tom indicated he would be interested in seeing outage time included in the report. III. PRPA Telecommunications Initiative Eric presented information about Platte River Power Authority's proposal. The Telecommunications Policy adopted by City Council in 1996 directed the Electric Utility to investigate new roles in the telecommunications area. L&P had been looking for partners to contribute to infrastructure development and expansion. Eric went on to review activities to date, including discussions with vendors, proposals made to Poudre Vally Hospital for fiber installation. 80% of costs of installing fiber infrastructure is related to the requirement to underground the facilities. Light and Power is in a good position to use available duct banks to reduce these costs. The City is a 48% owner of PRPA. PRPA is the City's electric supplier. PRPA is planning to replace the SCADA systems for all member cities. The existing microwave system is being replaced by a fiber system. The City of Fort Collins has an opportunity to use the plan to connect PRPA substations as the basis for a fiber loop for the City. At this point, the plan is conceptual in terms of the route, but the project is definitely going to continue. The plan would connect three cities (Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins) using overhead lines, then go underground when lines reach City limits. PRPA will fund the project by allocating the cost to Light & Power. As long as PRPA needs are met, the plan can go along any route. This provides Light & Power with the flexibility to determine the route that will best suit a variety of needs. Light & Power has been working with Black and Veatch, an engineering firm, to develop a fiber design. Eric has identified other areas that may possibly be connected. Eric will explore CSU's needs in this area as well. Eric explained that right now Light & Power will be hiring consultants to help until Light & Power employees become more proficient with fiber design, installation, and maintenance. A SONET loop is planned. Larry Rowland encouraged Light & Power to include Front Range Community College on the path for the fiber plant. Phil Wadas asked how the vote in April affected the plans. Eric explained that a survey was done to find out why the charter changes failed. Most results indicated that people didn't understand the ballot language. Right now Light & Power will be doing this project to provide services for itself and the rest of the City. If Light & Power would want to offer telecommunication services, they would look to City Council for direction. Tom Maher asked whether running dard fiber would put Light & Power into the "provider" category. Eric explained that a legal consultant would be providing guidance in that area. Light & Power has also been in close contact with Colorado Public Utility Commission regarding requirements in that area. Larry Rowland commented that businesses and residents alike are interested in more bandwidth, and that competitors would be concerned about Light & Power providing this service, even if limited to dark fiber. Eric mentioned he had gone to ICG local exchange service announcements. ICG wants to work with Light & Power to be a service provider in Northern Colorado. IV. Telecommunications Policy Update Liz Stroh briefed the board on the status of the Telecommunications Ordinance. At this point, the ordinance is on hold pending the outcome of some legal decisions being made in other cities. The City is at low risk of any problems with providers since there is already a provision in the charter that requires a franchise for use of the City's rights -of -way. V. Other Business: None. Meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm.