HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 05/13/2001TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
****May 1 3,2001 ****
*** 6:00 PM ***
Council Liaison: Kurt Kastein Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh
N Chairperson: Greg Smith Phone: 686-4755 (W) 11
Members Present: Larry Bontempo, Greg Smith, Curt Cramer, Braun Mincher, Tim
Tillson, Bill Murray
Members Absent: Tom Maher
City Staff Present: Eric Dahlgren, Gary Gordier, Liz Stroh
Guests: Margaret LeJuste, AT&T Broadband
Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Greg Smith
Minutes aooroval:
A motion to approve the minutes as corrected was made by Larry Bontempo and
seconded by Bill Murray. The motion passed 6-0
AT&T update
Margaret LeJuste from AT&T Broadband was asked to provide an update regarding
recent activities. She announced a $6 per month price increase for @Home will be
effective June 15'. Literature regarding the rate increase will be e-mailed to subscribers
as well as provided in monthly bills. If subscribers are on the annual purchase plan, the
increase will not take effect until their plan expires. Tim Tillson mentioned the lack of
available information about a yearly plan — and wondered if it was available in the Fort
Collins area. He encouraged Margaret to keep subscribers informed of any cost
savings to be had, particularly with the planned increase in rates.
Gary mentioned that he was aware of a tiered plan in another state that allowed
subscribers to chose different speed options for @Home. Margaret responded that the
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plan was to make this available when the technology is installed in Fort Collins.
Concerns from Board members that subscribed to the @Home service were expressed
from the perspective of poor service from call center support, delays in getting on -site
service, and intermittent performance problems. Because of these concerns, members
were critical of any price increase. Braun pointed out that DSL will become a
competitive service that will encourage improved service levels.
Larry mentioned that previously @Home representatives promised that as more
customers subscribed, additional capacity would be added to prevent degradation of
speed and performance. Based on his experience, he questioned whether that was
happening. Margaret reminded the Board that @Home was developed for residential
use and was never intended for people who work out of their homes. The Board asked
for more information about the differences between @Home and @Work. Margaret will
provide that at the next meeting. Tim mentioned he does bandwidth monitoring, and
performance seems to fluctuate considerably at different times of the day.
The subject of microwave services as an alternative to broadband Internet access was
discussed. Tim stated that a company in the area has put a hold on new customers
until problems with Verizon cellular could be resolved. Signals from Verizon seem to be
interfering with the service from the microwave company.
Braun asked AT&T offering telephony in Fort Collins. There are no plans for this
service in 2001. However, Margaret reported that things are going well in Aurora with
the telephony service there. Margaret reported about a 50% penetration for telephony
service among existing subscribers. Front Range cities providing the service include
Boulder, Lakewood, Commerce City, City and County of Denver as well as Aurora and
result in about 70,000 customers in the market test stage. Tim asked for information
about bundled services that might include cable, telephony and Internet access.
Curt Cramer mentioned the wireless services stock program. Margaret explained that
current stockholders could change over to wireless. This would be a one-time offer.
Wireless services are being "spun off', that stock is currently a tracking stock.
Margaret passed out a flow chart depicting the consolidated call center process.
Customers can call a toll free number, and the call center can identify where the call is
coming from so they know what franchise area is involved, and have specific customer
information. Tim mentioned that when he has called the 800 number, he has difficulty
getting information about when the service people will actually be able to respond.
Larry pointed out that a raise in rates should be supported by good customer service.
Tim complimented the local AT&T staff as being very response, and knowledgeable.
A test is being conducted in Boulder to carry other ISP's over AT&T broadband.
(JUNO, Rocky Mountain Internet, etc.) By 2002 AT&T will be required to provide this
service to more companies than just @Home. Margaret reminded the board that three
different products are being offered over the cable infrastructure — cable TV, telephony
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and Internet access (@Home). She also encouraged board members with problems
regarding the @Home service to call her directly at the time of the problem.
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Cable 27 Programming Discussion
Greg mentioned that he was contacted by a citizen interested in how citizen input would
be solicited in determining programming for Cable 27, the City's governmental access
station. Liz Stroh briefed the Board on new programming initiatives including providing
governmental access for Larimer County, a growing partnership with Poudre Valley
Hospital to provide health awareness programs, and development of new programs
such as Talk of the Town (a Mayor and City Council led issues program), City at a
Glance (led by the City Manager). A recent survey of the community found that 27% of
the citizens responding use Cable 27 as their source for news and information about
the City. Based on that result, a lot of departments are interested in using the services
of Cable 27 as a way to get their message delivered. The City's Communication and
Public Involvement coordinator, Kelly DiMartino is the contact point for programming
content questions and concerns.
Capital Projects Update.
Gary presented information regarding the Capital Improvements Project (CIP) task
force and solicited input from the board regarding the two technology related items on
the CIP list, the Integrated Media (Cable) Studio set and equipment, and a network
infrastructure buildout using the PRPA fiber stands dedicated to City use. Gary
questioned whether or not the Board thought this was valuable to the community, and if
the board would be willing to recommend the projects be funded.
Curt Cramer and Larry Bontempo both commented about the City's need to be
competitive in order to draw companies to the area, and infrastructure readiness and
use was a measure that was often considered. The entire board encouraged the City
to begin using the dark fiber as rapidly as possible, citing potential reduction of costs
associated with leased lines, and efficiency of communication. Gary explained that a
cross functional team was building a design, and a consulting firm would be used to
critique the plan in order to validate the direction and recommendation of the team. The
objective of the plan is to build broadband capacity for use by City of Fort Collins.
Greg Smith commented that the kind of connectivity addressed in the plan is a given.
He and other board members encouraged the City to spend the money to get a good
design that will meet the current and future needs of the City.
As representatives for the community, all the board members felt it was important to
begin utilizing this asset. A motion was made and seconded recommending the City
proceed with both these projects. The vote was unanimous.
Due to time constraints the Board postponed a tour of the Cable control room. That
event will be scheduled for another meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM
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