HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 - Telecommunications Board - Annual ReportTelecommunications Board
2004 Annual Report
The Telecommunications Board met 9 times during 2004, and participated in 2
Council Study sessions. The emphasis for the Telecommunications Board in
2004 was the re -negotiation of the Franchise agreement between the City and
Comcast.
anus The Board produced a memo to City Council outlining franchise
issues and community needs. The items identified included lack of a basic cable
service package at an affordable price, inadequate resources for production for
Cable TV Public Access Programming, the need to continue service provision to
the Education community, the term of the franchise, and the need to protect
bandwidth availability for Public, Educational, and Governmental programs.
Februa A group of concerned citizens met with the Board to express
concern about the lack of Public Access opportunities in Fort Collins. The Board
and Comcast worked to resolve the issues that fell within the requirements of the
Cable TV Franchise.
March: No meeting
ril: The Board reviewed the information presented at the Council
Study session. The Board continued its active role in the process by
recommending that Council entertain funding models for PEG entities to include
either funding from the City's General Fund, including a PEG fee in the franchise
currently being negotiated, or explore requirements and opportunities to establish
a foundation or seek grant funding for public access. The Board also strongly
supports the creation of a lower cost basic package for Fort Collins.
Ma The Board continued discussion about Public access funding and
issues. A review of other cities' approach to public access found that most are
funded through a combination of PEG fee and grants and donations to a non-
profit Public access organization. The Board created a sub -committee to
continue to investigate PEG issues in Fort Collins. Herb Saperstone and Chip
Cushman volunteered for the sub -committee.
Telecommunications Board
2004 Annual Report
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une: The Franchise Needs Assessment report was distributed to the
Board, and the City's outside Counsel for Franchise Negotiations met with the
Board. The Board discussed the recommendations previously made to City
Council. The Chair asked if members had any changes to suggest. Members
agreed that the recommendations would stand, with the addition of a fourth, that
of Customer Service Standards. The Board also prioritized the
recommendations, with the lower cost basic package being the highest piortiy,
followed by technology and customer service.
ul No meeting
u ust: The Board's Chair and Vice -Chair participated in the City Council's
Periodic Review process. They reported back to the Board about the meeting,
and suggested that Council's and the Board's priorities for the franchise renewal
were the same. The Board also reviewed Customer Service topics to be
incorporated into an ordinance that would be considered by Council at the same
time as the Franchise document.
Se tember: This meeting focused on Cable TV complaints and how they
are handled. Comcast's representative reported on the how the company
processes complaints, and the Board Liaison provided a summary of complaints
received over the past few months. The Board will continue to monitor
complaints and look at trends that may point to areas the Board could provide
service to the community.
October: In October, the Board continued its practice of inviting
telecommunications providers to visit and provide information about activities in
Fort Collins. Two representatives from Qwest were present at the Board
meeting and provided information about Qwest's customer service improvements
and technology enhancements in the area.
November: No meeting.
December: The December meeting was dedicated to discussion about the
2005 work plan and a presentation by the Fort Collins Utilities regarding
Broadband over Power Line (BoPL).
Telecommunications Board
2004 Annual Report
Page 2