HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2008Municipal Telecommunications Utility (MTU) Board Minutes
October 21, 2008
3:30 p.m.
Board Members Present: Jim Waterbury, Doris Kelley, Randy Pilkington, and Scott Crowley
(quorum)
Staff Members Present: Jim Walsh and Linda Craun
Moved by Doris Kelley, seconded by Randy Pilkington that the minutes of
August 19, 2008, as submitted, be approved. Motion carried.
Moved by Scott Crowley, seconded by Doris Kelley that the budget report be approved as
submitted. Motion carried.
Steve Dust from Greater Cedar Valley Alliance submitted a timeline for the survey of
approximately 500 businesses with completion in January of 2009. Questions were answered,
including that the survey is being paid for with private funding. Mr. Dust indicated he would be
at the Board's November meeting with an update on the progress of the survey.
Mayor Hurley had indicated he would be late as he was coming from another meeting. While the
Board was waiting for the Mayor, several items were discussed.
Jim Walsh reported that the estimated total cost of activating the McLeod (now PAETEC) wires
would be in the area of $150,000—this includes two pair of fiber in their ring (approximately 30
miles of fiber) and three access points. The payment to PAETEC would only be part of the
cost —connections have to be made and equipment purchased, engineering, etc. The City could
purchase the fiber or authorize a private company to purchase it; there would still be the cost of
connecting to the fiber ring. Doris Kelley recommended that the City should have control of the
fiber in the right-of-way and could possibly charge an access fee. She is concerned about open,
equal access. Ms. Kelley also wanted to determine what the cost would be to purchase the entire
backbone in the City from McLeod.
A question was asked as to whether providers had added any services since the creation of the
Municipal Telecommunications Utility Board. Qwest evidently has not. Mediacom has added a
high-speed option for businesses.
Mayor Hurley stated that telecommunications is essential for economic development and that we
need to get elected officials more engaged. Mayor informed Doris Kelley the City contact person
for the RFP for a fiber network design proposal would be Wendy Drinovsky from the Police
Department.
What should the Board be doing and by what time? Closing the gap with city government access
and communications is one priority. Waterloo is under -armed regarding telecommunications for
economic development. Mayor suggested a work session with this Board and the City Council to
Municipal Telecommunins Utility Board
October 21, 2008
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discuss what should be done. The Board will have a better idea after the results of the RPF and
the business survey. However, Mayor felt the work session should probably be held within the
next month. Jim Walsh said the Council will eventually need to decide —should this Board
disband, allow the private sector to provide service, or spend some money for fiber.
Mayor was reminded that Bob Heaton's term expired in January of 2008 and a replacement has
not yet been appointed. Another member's term will expire in January of 2009; Linda Craun will
check to see whose term it is.
There was no new business.
We heard comments from Carl Blake and Doug Nix (Mediacom). Mr. Blake indicated that he
has set up wireless and is currently testing it. Mr. Nix informed the Board that Mediacom has
coax everywhere in the City.
Randy Pilkington moved, Doris Kelley seconded, that the meeting be adjourned.
Linda Craun
Secretary