HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Cable Communications Commission - 11/03/1999 S 29 30
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Corpus Christi Cable Communications Commission
Corpus Christi City Hall-Council Chamber, 1201 LeopardlStriet:<1L.,1;: n, coy
November 3, 1999 �c '� `"� t-id4
Committee Members Present: Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson, Norma Tori:42/6 - Fe
Vsievatrultrand Charles Spencer.
TCI Staff Present: Charles Hembree and Robert Hughes
City Staff Present: Liza Ortiz, P. C. Gracia and Susan Cable.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson at 7:04 p.m.
The minutes of the Cable Communications Commission meetings for September 27, and
October 6, 1999, were amended and approved.
Lisa Aguilar explained to the Commission that the City Council had passed the first reading of
the Clearsource, Inc. franchise agreement on October 12, as well as the Master Cable
Ordinance on October 26. Lisa informed the Commission that the second and final reading on
both documents would be voted on for final approval on November 9.
Chairperson Mary Beth Nelson asked if the documents had been made available to the libraries.
Aguilar indicated that the libraries had received copies on Wednesday, October 27, 1999.
Ray Madrigal, from the audience, asked if the documents required three readings. Aguilar
informed Madrigal that these documents require only 2 readings. There were several comments
by the audience asking when the information had been made available to the public. Nelson
stated that the Commission and Charles Irby, a knowledgeable member of the community, had
been taken out of the loop on this matter. Susan Cable stated that the City Manager had
appointed a committee and that the commission had heard a presentation in February regarding
these two documents. Nelson said that the Committee had not provided enough input and that
it seemed to be fast-tracked.
Cable added that community surveys to include school districts, City Council, various business
entities and 400 subscribers, as well as, the Cable Commission were conducted to acquire
input. Nelson stated that more community input was needed. Cable said that a random
sampling of 400 subscribers was done as part of a standard method used to conduct surveys.
Norma Torres added that not enough input and information had been received from the public
and felt that the progress was going too fast. Madrigal asked about what access channels were
going to be provided since no one had seen the contract.
Nelson stated that the Cable Commission had worked on this matter for 1-1/2 years until the
process was changed by the City Manager. She added that more input for programming and
service issues such as Padre Island, as well aspublic access channels, need to be addressed.
Commission member Charles Spencer stated that the agenda information was usually available
at the City Secretary's office for anyone to read.
Nelson asked for comments from Clearsource and AT&T. - Hal George, local attorney
representing Clearsource, Inc., stated that there had been many meetings with the City. George
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said that the City had hired Adrian Herbst who is one of the foremost attorneys in the country
on cable matters. Charles Embree, AT&T General Manager, grinned as he said that he had no
comment, so that Clearsource could not get any ideas.
The next item on the agenda dealt with a concern by Ray Madrigal regarding the scheduling of
programming on the Public Access Channel 10. Madrigal stated that AT&T advertises the first
showing of his hourly program, but does not guarantee the time of the second showing.
Madrigal told the Commission that he could not tell anyone when his show was to be aired
because AT&T would not guarantee the second time slot.
Robert Hughes, AT&T Public Access Coordinator, reminded the Commission that this issue had
been addressed about a year ago. The Commission approved a Public Access User Group
(PAUG) recommendation that only those individuals that produced a new weekly show would
be guaranteed a second showing within six days but that the time slot would not be guaranteed
added Hughes.
Hughes explained that the cablecast application contained only the show's first time slot. In past
years, users were allowed four-thirty minute shows a week but as the demand increased new
users were given a one-hour time slot according to Hughes. Some long running shows were
grandfathered allowing the two hours per week, but they have decreased over time a added
Hughes. Hughes continued explaining that the Commission had.voted last year to leave the
grandfather clause in tact.
Hughes told the Commission that even those individuals who paid to advertise were not
guaranteed any additional time slots. In responding to a question from the audience, Hughes
stated that the 98 time slots were full and that approximately 60-active members had shows on
the public access channel. AT&T believes that they are not in violation of any public access rule
or ordinance as addressed in the franchise agreement according to Hughes.
Commission member Hector Morales stated that he was concerned about the lack of additional
advertising for the public access programs. Hughes stated that the Caller-Times advertised the
public access programs on their weekly programming schedule. Commission Member Norma
Torres expressed concern about discussing this issue three or four times during the last year.
Torres stated that a guarantee time slot is advertised and that it would be an issue only if the
first time slot was not guaranteed. Anita Fillmore, RAUG treasurer, stated that it did not matter
how many shows were on the air, as long as the one show was guaranteed.
Madrigal added that the TV guide from the Caller-Times had advertised other program's times
like the Taxpayer's Association shows. Hughes informed the Commission that since May of
1998, AT&T does not advertise the access programming schedules and if there is one being
published, it could be incorrect.
Morales made a motion requiring that the second show's time be advertised in the Caller-Times.
Motion died due to a lack of a second. No other motions were presented.
Hughes stated that there is a problem with determining the status of cablecasters who indicate •
that they are a nonprofit entity and then turn out to be otherwise.
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George Balli, speaking from a consumer point of view, stated that he was concerned with
ushery. Fillmore stated that anytime you go to AT&T, you're asked to present your license to
apply. Balli stated that on May 24, 1999, PAUG approved a motion that required all non-profit
organizations to present non-profit documents, along with proper identification to AT&T to
resolve issues regarding advertisement granted to non-profits. Public access does not allow
solicitation unless you are a non-profit group, and PAUG would like to have the Commission
approve this recommendation asked _ Balli. Norma Torres asked Lisa Aguilar if this
recommendation would be legal. Aguilar responded that it was a simple case of status
clarification and would be allowed.
Commission Member Charles.Spencer made a motion that non-profit groups who intend to
solicit contributions on their programs need to provide their non-profit status evidence as
determined by the IRS to the cable provider. Torres seconded the motion and motion passed
with one member abstaining.
During Commission concerns, Spencer noted that he had reviewed the survey that Susan Cable
presented to the Commission and pointed out that it indicated that district 4 (includes Padre
Island) appeared to be more negative than other parts of town.
Next meeting was scheduled for January 10, 2000.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by
P. C. Gracia