Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 09/04/2001TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD MEETING MINUTES ****September 4, 2001**** *** 6:00 PM *** Council Liaison: Kurt Kastein I Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh Chairperson: Greg Smith Phone: 686-4755 (W) d Present: Bill Murray, Braun Mincher, Larry Bontempo, Greg Smith, Tim Tillson, Curt Kramer Absent: Tom Maher Guest: Margaret LeJuste Staff: Eric Dahlgren, Liz Stroh, Gary Gordier Meeting was called to order at 6:04 PM Minutes: Braun Mincher made a motion to approve the minutes as amended, seconded by Bill Murray. Motion was passed unanimously. AT&T Update: Margaret LeJuste reported on AT&T activities and information. She met with the Mayor and others to discuss options regarding the cancellation of the local headline news report seen on CNN. That time slot can be used by others to report local news, as long as some criteria is met. Sponsorships are allowed, as long as there is no competition with AT&T Media Division. Grant money from AT&T is available to 501 c3 agencies. Greg asked about @ Home and whether AT&T would continue to provide that service over their cable system. Margaret responded that AT&T will continue to bring high speed data to customers. The contract between AT&T and @ Home expires in 2002. Braun asked about a test in Boulder to use an alternative Internet Service Provider (ISP). Margaret explained that the Boulder test was not able to take place, and that Boston has been identified as the site for the another test. The FCC has put out a request for comments on rule making regarding high speedlinternet access using cable modems. Braun asked about Fort Collins as a test site in the future. In order for this to happen, the City has to send a letter to AT&T asking to be considered. 1 09/28/01 Margaret will bring back information regarding current subscribers of @Home service Greg asked if AT&T was planning to offer local dial tone service in Fort Collins. Margaret explained that there are no current plans to add that service. AT&T's focus is on completing system upgrades in the area. Braun asked Margaret to bring information about the network capacity coming out of Denver. Margaret will investigate and bring back information. The information is usually available from "as -built" maps. Braun mentioned that @Home had changed from static to DHCP IP addressed, and that subscribers had not been notified prior to the change. Tim also commented that information about features, services and promotions is not well communicated. Tim reported that some time ago he had been contacted about being a tester for a wireless connection to the Internet. Margaret responded that some beta tests have been put on hold or eliminated, and she knows of no immediate plans to conduct that type of test. Greg asked about the local news efforts. Gary Gordier explained that a group of community leaders meet monthly, and this item will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Details of programming frequency, how the tapes would be played, whether or not it would be daily or weekly, who would provide staff support, etc,. are among the details that could be worked out should there be agreement by Educational or Governmental Access groups. Issues/Work Plan discussion Greg asked for people to think of issues that might need to be included in board's expanded focus. He suggested looking at the existing work plan to determine if anything needed to be changed or added. Based on the 2001 workplan, the Board decided the following: 1. Public rights of way item needs to remain on list. 2. Franchising Issues. Curt mentioned that Fort Collins cable was $61 per month for basic and 2 premium channels and that the same service was $51 in Broomfield. He mentioned that converters should also be an issue in future franchise negotiations, citing Broomfield as an example of a service area that does not use converters and wondered why they were still required in Fort Collins. 3. Equity and access issues would be added, revising the language about "cream skimming". 4. Monitor state and federal legislation will remain on the work plan list. 5. Fixed wireless.. Need to ask Tom Maher if he wants to keep ITFS frequency. Greg suggested taking off temporarily until check with Tom. 6. 800 MHz. Emergency Response frequency. Gary reported that the emergency communication board is moving toward 800 MHz frequency. The transmissions would be digitized, which would reduce people's ability to listen to scanners. Privacy was also cited as a potential item related to whether or not emergency communication was switched to a digital format. Board members agreed to keep this item on the workplan because of these items. 2 09/28/01 7. City's broadband utilization is another item that is to be kept on the list. 8. IT strategic plan updates are also of continuing interest to the Board. 9. Monitor other services offered by AT&T broadband, and other providers, eg. Video, dial tone. 10. Microwave — Curt suggested combining this item with fixed wireless, and include clarification regarding last mile. 11. Issues in other communities. The Board is interested in investigating whether other communities have boards, and contact them to share information. 12.Trip to Aurora. — Board would like to keep on work plan. 13. Would also like to continue to schedule meetings with providers 14. Keep up to date with technology needs to remain on the list also 15. Need to add wide area calling plan (same area code) to list The revisions made will serve as the 2002 work plan. If there are other items the board members deem critical or important to include, there will be an opportunity in the next two meetings. Other Business: Braun reported that T1 capability for a local business was delayed until December. Gary suggested contacting the PUC. Board asked Liz to contact Loveland and Greeley boards to determine if there is a way to share information, or meet to discuss common interests and issues. Eric Dahlgren reported that the City's Utility service area has a gigabit Ethernet pilot underway. Braun Mincher moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Curt. Motion passed unanimously, meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM 3 09/28/01