HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 03/07/2000• 0
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
**** March 7, 2000 ****
*** 6:00 PM ***
Council Liaison: Kurt Kastein Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh
Members Present: Howard Lowell, Tim Tillson, Greg Smith, Lang Bontempo, Bill Murray,
Tom Maher.
Members Absent: Braun Mincher
City Staff Present: Gary Gordier, Eric Dahlgren, Liz Stroh
Guests: Kathy Stewart, AT&T Cable Services
Chair Greg Smith called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM, and asked for a motion to approve the
minutes. Tom Maher moved to accept the minutes as submitted with a second to the motion
from Larry Bontempo. Motion was passed unanimously.
AT&T Update:
Kathy Stewart reported that the Food Channel was added March 8. AT&T cable subscription
rates increased on March I". Kathy reported she received 16 letters from subscribers and will be
contacting each of them in the coming days.
30 of 59 nodes have been certified for @Home service, with a current customer base of 500
homes. The proposed target for completion of all nodes is a May/June timeframe.
The FCC has authorized the retail sale of converter boxes beginning July I". Since AT&T
converter boxes are addressable, this will create some problems which might result in the need to
move the analog premium channels to the digital system. Kathy will keep the Board posted
regarding how this will be handled, and what types of technical issues develop.
Beginning June 0, AT&T will have digital DMX music service available — There are currently
90 analog customers, 59 of whom are commercial. The analog DMX will be discontinued, and
those customers offered the choice of going with the digital service. This will free up 18 MHz of
bandwidth.
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Kathy mentioned concerns about signal leakage at CSU. Kathy wants to accelerate the upgrade
for campus to help eliminate the problems. Needs to get plant upgraded to 550 in CSU. Tom
mentioned that the right of way issues are still not resolved for the upgrade. Kathy said that
AT&T will start construction immediately one the approval is granted.
Greg asked about the rate increase. Kathy explained that AT&T uses a formula for determining
increases, and that it is based on adding channels, cost of programming, cost of doing business
(employees, equipment, plant miles, etc). Capital piece is not included. Even though AT&T is
not required to follow FCC rate regulation, they use the FCC formula, and fall within the range
of the FCC guidelines.
Council Liaison Meeting Review
Greg asked if the discussion last month with Liaison Kurt Kastein brought up any thoughts that
would result in the need to change the Board's annual work plan. None of the Board members
believed that any changes would need to be made now, and that as the year goes along, the Board
can review and revised as needed. Everyone felt very positive about the meeting.
Aurora Visit
Larry reported that he was still working on contacts and arrangements regarding a potential visit
to Aurora.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 PM.
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