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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Cable Communications Commission - 09/27/1999 ,4 y// C.j MINUTES `c•A Corpus Christi Cable:Communications-=Commission Corpus Christi City Hall-Council Chamber, 1201 Leopard Str et, es,�' September 27, 1999 Committee Members Present: Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson, Norma Torres, Hector Morales, Cefe Valenzuela, and Charles Spencer. AT&T Staff Present: Charles Hembree and Robert Hughes City Staff Present: Liza Ortiz, and P. C. Gracia The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson at 7:08 p.m. Cefe Valenzuela moved that the minutes be approved with four minor changes. Charles Spencer seconded the motion and minutes were approved as amended. P.C. Gracia and Lisa Aguilar discussed the priorities and preferences list that had been developed by the Cable Renewal Committee as a result of community surveys, as well as, information gathered from a discussion with the Commission. These items will be utilized in drafting a master regulatory cable ordinance and model franchise agreement by City staff. The second item on the agenda dealt with the AT&T service extension policy to serve new customers. Mary Beth Nelson stated that she had received a call regarding a business owner at Staples/Saratoga who was unable to get cable because AT&T informed him that he would have to pay an extra $900 fee to acquire cable services. Charles Hembree, AT&T General Manager, explained that historically cable companies served residential customers and usually charged commercial customers beyond a normal cable drop distance. Hembree stated that the current franchise calls for a standard drop to be 250 feet. Hembree further stated that the customer was about 550 feet away from the drop-line and the cost to have cable services was approximately $900. Nelson said that she would recommend that the new franchise state that business and residential customers be treated similarly. The next item dealt with a PAUG recommendation that all non-profit groups that ask for donations identify themselves in their cablecasts as non-profits and present IRS documentation of the non-profit status, if using public access channels. Nelson suggested that the recommendation could be given to Robert Hughes. Ray Madrigal, 2307 Morgan, expressed a concern about the idea that these groups would be policed. He stated that PAUG should not be able to do this because these channels are for the public. Spencer stated that this was a way to keep the for-profit groups from soliciting money on public access. Valenzuela suggested that perhaps certain groups could be grandfathered. Lisa Aguilar added that if someone asked for donation(s) we could request documentation because public access cannot be used for profit. Ms. Torres stated that donations help non- profits but she was concerned on how to control the solicitations. Nelson stated that those soliciting must present non-profit documents. Morales suggested that non-profit groups should provide documents that indicate that they are non-profit such as the LULAC organization, to SCANNED • 2 which he belongs, has done. Morales further pointed out that if the donation policy is violated, once you apply as a non-profit, there is an appeals-process. Robert Hughes informed the Commission that approximately 50% of access cable participants are non-profit groups. According to Hughes, Channel 10 is the only channel that carries public, leased access and local origination. Torres recommended that the PAUG recommendation be tabled until PAUG is available to - appear before the Commission to clarify their position. Commission voted to table the item to allow Aguilar to research the way other cities handle this matter. Hembree presented a report stating that AT&T had 62,030 basic subscriber and informed the Commission about the new Theft of Service Bill that became effective on September 1, 1999. Hughes presented access channel programming hours. P. C. Gracia presented the cable complaint report for May - August 1999. Under public comment,Ray Madrigal expressed a concern about AT&T's inability to guarantee when his repeat programming would be scheduled. Nelson advised Madrigal that the item would be scheduled for discussion on the next agenda.. Aguilar informed the Commission that the Clearsource application for cable service would be considered by the City Council on October 12th or 19th. The Commission would receive copies of those documents, which will be reviewed and discussed at this special called meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Minutes submitted by P. C. Gracia Management Assistant .