HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Cable Communications Commission - 10/13/1997 1.
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Corpus Christi Cable Communications Commission {
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Minutes of the Cable Communications Commission meeting held October 1\1997,in the Council/
Chamber at City Hall, 1201 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, Texas. `�� �
Meeting called to order by Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson at 7:05 P.M.
Members present: Mary Beth Nelson, Sandra Eastwood, Mark Patterson, Cefe Valenzuela
City Staff Present: Lisa Ortiz Aguilar and P. C. Gracia
TCI Staff: Randy Grimes and Robert Hughes
Nelson had some clarifications and additions to'the draft minutes of July 21, 1997. After some
discussion,Mark Patterson made a motion to pass minutes as amended,second by Sandra Eastwood
and Motion was passed by Commission.
Nelson,introduced new Commission member Cefe Valenzuela.
Nelson reviewed the following occurrence that lead to this violation hearing of the Channel 10
Public Access Channel operating rules as follows: Coffee Club taped program on March 27, 1997,
Program aired March 29 April4th,TCI mailed letter to Coffee Club stating that they had received
complaints regarding their broadcast. TCI asked the Coffee Club to provide written documents
whereby all candidates had been invited as per the PAUG operating rules. On April 11, TCI
received letter from Coffee Club with what amounted to a no response. On April 22, TCI notified
Coffee Club and Mr.Rey Madrigal of a.violation due to no response on written documentation. On
April 29, Coffee Club mailed a letter to TCI denying the violation. Nelson also stated that the
Coffee Club was allowed a presentation on July 21, 1997 at which time the Commission gave the
Coffee Club an additional 30 days to submit the written documentation. Nelson pointed out that
Coffee Club to date had not provided requested information.
Mark Patterson asked Mr.Madrigal if they had submitted the request information. Mr.Madrigal did
not answer the question but stated that the Coffee Club has asked the city for a list of candidates.
Again,Patterson asked Madrigal if he had submitted documentation to anyone and Madrigal stated
no. Madrigal asked legal for an opinion from the City on the equal access rule and attorney Ortiz-
Aguilar said it was still being prepared.
Nelson reminded Madrigal that he had signed application with TCI regarding broadcasting rules to
include those dealing with no advertisement on programs and in particular those dealing with no
advertisement for political candidates. By signing the application,Nelson told Madrigal that he was
aware of the rules to be followed during broadcasts. Nelson told Madrigal that the rules did not
apply only to Coffee Club but to all other broadcasters who seemed to be the abiding by the rules.
Madrigal stated that he had not violated rules and Nelson told him that Commission had to enforce
SCANNED
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Corpus Christi Cable Communication Commission
October 13, 1997
Page 2
rules approved by City Council.
The commission acknowledged that someone had complained to TCI thus the process for this
hearing was initiated. Madrigal stated that he had submitted notice to TCI about notification of
candidates. Patterson reminded the Commission that at the previous meeting they had asked
Madrigal to submit written documentation whereby all candidates had been invited to the Coffee
Club political broadcast. Nelson saidthat the notification of all candidates was part of the rules.
Nelson stated that for the record,Mr.Madrigal had walked away from the podium without answering
the question regarding notification of all candidates in writing. Madrigal did state the he felt that rule.
was not fair. Again Nelson asked Madrigal about the written notification of all candidates and noted
for the record that Madrigal did not answer a second time.
Cefe Valenzuela asked if the complainant had removed their concerns. Robert Hughes, from TCI,
stated that only one complaint had been removed. As part of public comment,Ron Hudson, 3556
Austin, stated that he agreed that a violation had occurred and that everyone should abide by the
rules. However,he disagreed with some of the rules. He also states that he believed that some of
the rules on public access went against the intent for having the channels.
The commission had a brief discussion regarding rules, rule making and their enforcement. They
passed a motion by Sandra Eastwood, seconded by Mark Patterson,that the rules before them had
been violated by the Coffee Club. Cefe Valenzuela state that perhaps the rule could be changed and
that he could not vote for motion. Motion passed 3-1 with Valenzuela voting no. Robert Hughes
informed the commission that the first violation called for a letter of reprimand with suspensions of
programming for a second or third violation of the public access rules. Nelson asked Ortiz-Aguilar
to prepare letter notifying the Coffee Club of the violation and their right to appeal within thirty days
from the date of this hearing.
Randy Grimes,TCI manager,reported that constructing in new subdivisions continued through the
quarter. Several subdivisions were pending extension such as Stoney Creek, Jackson Woods,
Victoria Park Unit 4, and Overland Meadows. Grimes reported that TCI had 59,566 subscribers
through September 1997 along with 69,449 pay subscribers. In addition, he reported that TCI
sponsored Nickelodeon's "Game Lab" which was a big hit at Bayfest.. Grimes reported that the
recent De La Hoya/Camacho fight on PPV was a very successful event with 1,144 subscribers. TCI
employees cleaned approximately two miles of beach on September 20 as part of a fall beach clean
up according to Grimes. Grimes announced that on October 30, TCI will launch Tejano Music
Videos(MTV)on Channel 6. On January 1, 1998 the station will become the new VPN affiliate in
Corpus Christi. Robert Hughes presented the public access programs hours of 875,969 and 1,035
for July,August and September, respectively.
Corpus Christi Cable Communication Commission
October 13, 1997
Page 3
Commission voted to hold its next meeting on January 12, 1998 Meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
Submitted by:
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P. C. Gracia Management Assistant