HomeMy WebLinkAboutTelecommunications Board - Minutes - 12/18/2006TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
December 18, 2006
6:00 PM
Council Liaison: David Roy
Staff Liaison: Liz Stroh, Communications and Technology Services; 221-6522
Board Chair: Curt Cramer
Vice Chair: Herb Saperstone
Present: Curt Cramer, Ted Funk, Chip Cushman, David Heiberg, Robert
Reichenberger
Absent: Larry Bontempo, Herb Saperstone
Staff: Eric Dahlgren, Liz Stroh, Kraig Ecton
Guest: Kat Shackelford
Chair Curt Cramer called the meeting to order at 6: 00 PM.
Public Input:
None
Minutes:
Chip Cushman introduced a motion to approve minutes, seconded by David
Heiberg. Minutes were approved unanimously.
Marketing research intern
Kat Shackelford, a Fort Collins High School student, was introduced. Ms.
Shackelford had responded to Herb Saperstone's request for a student intern to
collect information on telecommunications providers and services that are
available in Fort Collins. The Board hopes the information will help people know
what their choices are regarding telecommunications services.
The Board discussed the type of information they would like Ms. Shackelford to
collect. Providers include facility based telecom providers, sellers buying in bulk
and reselling services. The Board is also interested in if the services are being
purchased by residential, commercial or both.
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Board members brainstormed an approach to the project, and decided to
organize the information by type of service, such as data, voice, Video (cable TV
or other television delivery).
Facility based land line providers include: Qwest, Comcast, PRPA, Yipes, Level
3 (includes ICG).
Robert suggested a grid format that would include the following:
Data - Internettemail
Broadband
Narrowband, modem
Wireless
Voice
Video/tv
Voip
Landline
Wireless
Satellite
Lines
Wireless
Robert mentioned that it would be too time consuming to continually update
pricing of services, and too confusing to try and report on the various promotional
pricing offers. By providing names of providers, customers can research the price
packages and types of plans themselves.
Curt is interested in seeing what the basic price is for the various services, and
asked Kat to look into it, and determine how difficult it will be to collect that
information.
Other Business
Ted asked about the status of the Municipal Wi-Fi project
Eric Dahlgren provided a brief update. He mentioned an Request for Proposal
(RFP) that is being developed among Colorado cities. Results of that RFP will
be reviewed as part of the City of Fort Collins process. Curt asked that Tom
Vosburg be invited to a future meeting and bring the Board up to speed on
Municipal Wi-Fi
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Adjournment:
Robert moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Chip. The vote was
unanimous.
o
Date
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TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
ANNUAL WORKPLAN
2007
The Telecommunications Advisory Board will focus on the following topics, issues and activities
for 2007
♦ Monitor Comcast Cable TV services pertaining to the compliance with the Franchise
Agreement.
♦ Investigate and monitor equity and access issues regarding the availability of
telecommunications services to all Fort Collins residents.
♦ Monitor State and Federal legislation related to Telecommunications.
+ Respond to issues that may arise due to rapid changes that are typical of the
telecommunications industry, focusing in those areas that may have impact to the Fort Collins
community.
♦ Monitor services offered by major telecommunications providers such as Qwest, ComCast,
PRPA and other providers in order to make recommendations or inform City Council on
issues.
♦ Review other community's issues and communicate with telecommunications boards in other
cities.
♦ Schedule meetings with the City Council Liaison on an as -needed basis.
♦ Keep abreast of the latest technology in broadband and other telecommunications services,
particularly Municipal Wireless and Broadband over Power line, for the benefit of Fort
Collins' citizens, and for input into economic vitality efforts.
♦ Schedule meetings with telecommunications providers and other regulatory agencies, such as
the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Larimer Emergency Telephone
Authority (LETA) to present relevant information to the citizens of Fort Collins.
♦ Schedule meetings with large users of telecommunications services, including Colorado State
University, Poudre School District, etc to receive feedback and understand their
telecommunications networks and uses.
♦ Research telecommunications providers in Fort Collins and determine what services are
offered by each. Initiate community outreach to disseminate more information to the
community regarding telecommunications services using multiple communication methods,
including the use of the City's web site.
♦ Promote participation of local high school and university students in the study of
telecommunications and the use of those services in Fort Collins.
♦ Review information on the City's web site and determine what additional information (within
the context of City Policies) could be posted to help citizens with telecommunications choices
or service related questions.
♦ Support Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) programming efforts, review
procedures, policies, and uses of PEG funds.
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