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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Cable Communications Commission - 06/20/2005 MINUTES CABLE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION June 20,2005 PRESENT Chairman Richard Pulido,Norma Torres,Juan Garcia,Jr.,Adria Palacios, Sylvia Dancer City Staff Lisa Aguilar, Assistant City Attorney, Susan Cable, Director of E-Government Services and Holly McCarty, E-Government Services Cable Operators Paula Kolda,Time Warner Chairman Richard Pulido called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and verified the necessary quorum. The minutes from April 18, 2005 meeting were reviewed and approved. Juan Garcia motioned to approve the minutes and Adria Palacios seconded the motion.All Commissioners approved. 1. DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS CHANNEL PROGRAMMING — Richard Pulido asked Del Mar College to provide the Commission with an update of the educational channel, Channel 19. Bud Harris presented the Commission a report of one month's program schedule. Mr. Harris explained that Del Mar is prepared to assist the other educational entities and reach the point where a second educational channel can be added. Dr, Carlos.Garcia, Del Mar College President, noted that Del Mar has made a multi-million dollar investment and it is vital that Del Mar continue to offer Channel 19 to those students who utilize the distance learning. Mr. Pulido explained to the educational entities present that the Commission wanted to inform them of the different means they could reach the community. CCISD discussed they have both short-term and long-term goals. Their short-term goal is to get the board meetings on the air. Their long-term goal is to meet the triggers of the franchise agreements to open a full channel for CCISD and establish a mobile and stationary studio. CCISD would also like the opportunity to provide the service Del Mar is now providing for them to the other school districts. Susan Cable explained that Time Warner did a presentation on video on demand that is available for discussion between the cable operators and the educational entities.Norma Torres asked Del Mar how a program would be added to the channel lineup. Mr. Harris responded that they would work with the entity to identify possible time slots. • Ms. Tones discussed current programming on public access that belongs on educational access and she asked the school districts if they had any ideas or suggestions. The representative from Flour Bluff asked if only Time Warner customers are able to view the access channels.Ms. Cable explained that Grande gets a direct feed from Time Warner;so subscribers of both services will have the option of viewing the access channels. Ms. Tones stated that she has had a lot of input from others in the community who were interested in knowing what was happening throughout • the City and she would like to see more distance learning. Sandra Harper, Texas A&M University — Corpus Christi, explained that this process would have to be a joint effort and that A&M-CC and Del Mar should rotate scheduling the meetings between all the educational entities to keep discussions going. The Flour Bluff representative asked Del Mar to hold a meeting to show the broadcasting process they currently have in place.Del Mar agreed. 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PUBLIC ACESS CHANNNEL 10 (PAC 10) PUBLIC ACCESS USERS GROUP AMENDED BY-LAWS — Richard Pulido asked Lisa Aguilar if she had any comments about the by-laws submitted. Ms. Aguilar asked about the definition of producers because it is not the same as what is in the current Rules and SCANNED -, i „ ,\ Procedures. Ms. Aguilar notedthat the change of the definition of producers is a possible change in the amended proposed Rules and Procedures to the City Council, but Time Warner does not agree with the change and they are still discussing. Mr. Pulido recommended that this item be postponed until amendments to the Rules and Procedures were approved by the City Council. 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING COYRIGHT ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAMMING—Lisa Aguilar stated she did some research on the copyright laws and found that some past programming could have copyright violations. Mr. Pulido asked Ms. Aguilar to send a copy of the memo she provided the Commission to PAUGS. 4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS USER COMPLAINTS A. Appeal from Ms. Sepulveda—Tanya Sepulveda stated she understands she cannot say that an item is for sale in a certain store and used the Austin Book Store because they are leaders of the industry. She was never specific about promoting purchase of the book she was discussing, only suggested to pickup a free comic on free comic book day to promote literacy to those who are hard to reach. Richard Pulido asked Jack Gordy what his main complaint was. Mr. Gordy responded that the beginning of the tape showed the Austin Book Store sign. Ms. Sepulveda explained that she accepts responsibility because she has been very specific as to not violate any rules and her entire point to the promote literacy. Juan Garcia motioned to grant appeal to Ms. Sepulveda on basis no rules were violated. Norma Tones stated she thinks the tape needs to be viewed. Susan Cable explained that a product can be talked about, however, it cannot be said to go get that product from a particular store. Ms. Sepulveda stated she shows the book and holds it up for the viewers. Lisa Aguilar read from the advertising guidelines that a product cannot be displayed for longer than a minute. Mr Garcia motioned to grant the appeal to Ms. Sepulveda. Commissioners Juan Garcia, Richard Pulido, Adria Palacios,and Sylvia Dancer approved.Norma Tones obstained. Ms. Sepulveda then explained she would like to see something in writing that the public access meetings would be conducted in a more professional manner. She stated her few encounters with the public access group have been loud, manipulating, constant interruptions and escalating, intimidating voices. She feels public access is a public entity and should act as such. Mr. Garcia told Ms. Sepulveda that if she feels she is being harassed,there are avenues in the by-laws to report it. Ms. Tones stated that knowing the•by-laws and Rules and Procedures are important,but personalities are always different and every April new officers can be elected. . B. Channel 18 Repeat Programming—Susan Cable stated that since this complaint a new lottery period has started. Juan Garcia motioned to notify Time Warner to start pulling tapes that are repeated more than once.All Commissioners approved. C. Ronald Byars Complaint— Jack Gordy explained that Mr. Byars did not follow the proper process for submitting complaints.Richard Pulido stated before the Commission will discuss, the complaint process must be followed. 5. DISCUSSION REGARDING CABLE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONERS TERMS — Richard Pulido stated that Norma Torres's term expires and she has been a Cable Communications Commissioner for six years and he said that he will be stepping down, so two positions will be available. Susan Cable said the City Secretary's Office is asking for recommendations,"as they only have three applications now.. 6. UPDATE FROM CABLE OPERATORS — Paula Kolda of Time Warner mentioned they received an award for their "Ask Me About Voting" initiative and the J.D. Power and Assoc. 2005 Highest in Customer Satisfaction award for their commercial broadband service. Ms. Kolda also discussed the community projects they are have been working on and the new products and technology they are offering. Jack Gordy asked Ms. Kolda about the status of accepting DVDs. Ms. Kolda explained that they have installed the equipment and are ready to begin testing.Norma Torres asked Time Warner if there is a charge for video on demand. Ms. Kolda responded that it is an agreement between Time Warner and the company looking into utilizing the local on demand. 7. UPDATE FROM CHANNEL 10 AND CHANNEL 18 ACCESS USER GROUPS — Jack Gordy stated that everything is going smoothly. He has sent three letters for not turning in tapes and a letter to another producer who submitted a blank tape,but did not submit tapes the previous and following weeks. He apologized to Ms. Sepulveda if she felt intimidated, he did not mean for it to come across in that way. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT — Robert Reyna commended Ms. Sepulveda for being a teacher, but resents the comment of not being a professional because he is a pastor 24 hours a day, he pays for his own building and bills and does not get paid. 9. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS—Norma Torres thanked Lisa Aguilar and Susan Cable for all their hard work. She stated she has learned a lot about the City government process, to be more tolerant, to not be so fast in judgment, and to be fair to all. She indicated that she enjoyed her term as a Commissioner. Richard Pulido stated he has learned a lot about the pros and cons of City government and politics, and learned about the working relationship of people. He also enjoyed working as a Commissioner. Adria Palacios thanked Ms. Torres and Mr. Pulido for all their hard work. Sylvia Dancer stated she has learned a lot from Ms. Tones and said Mr. Pulido did a great job and thanked everyone. Susan Cable thanked Ms. Torres and Mr. Pulido from City staff. Mr. Gordy asked the status of the Rules and Procedures going to council and discussions with Time Warner. Lisa Aguilar explained there are a couple of items Time Warner and the City are still discussing, but what has been agreed upon could go to council. Mr. Pulido suggested following through with Ms.Aguilar's suggestion to take agreed upon amendments to Council. 10. ADJOURNMENT —. Richard Pulido motioned to adjourn the meeting and Sylvia.Dancer seconded the motion.All Commissioners approved.The meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.