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Home My WebLink About1987 WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION December 3, 1987 4:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Roll Call : Miriam Tyson, Chairperson W. R. Richardson Raymond Harris Beverly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fossell Sammie Dell Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Cathy Hines Approval of Agenda ORAL PRESENTATIONS Presentation by Waterloo Cable Company--Rick Christy UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1 . Report of Nominating Committee NEW BUSINESS 1. Election of Officers 2. Evaluation of 1987 Calendar Year 3. Discussion of Consumer Complaint 815 Oregon Street OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION August 27, 1987 4:00 p.m. Waterloo School Administration Building Roll Call : Miriam Tyson, Chairperson W. R. Richardson Raymond Harris Beverly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fossell Sammie Dell Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Cathy Hines Approval of Agenda 1. Presentation by Waterloo Cable Company - Rick Christy 2. Annual Review 3. Task Force Report - Orientation Committee 4. Adoption of Mission Statement OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION August 6, 1987 4:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Roll Call : Miriam Tyson, Chairperson W. R. Richardson Raymond Harris Beverly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fos sel l Sammie Del l Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Cathy Hines Approval of Agenda 1. Introduction of Cathy Hines 2. Update on Home Shopping Network. 3. Report of Sammie Dell and Janet Walden regarding conference in Madison, Wisconsin. OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION July 2, 1987 4:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Roll Call : Miriam Tyson, Chairperson W. R. Richardson Raymond Harris Beverly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fos sel 1 Sammie Dell Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Beverly Lind Bob Moore Rick Christy Approval of Agenda 1 . Presentation by Waterloo Cable Company - Rick Christy 2. Report of Sammie Dell and Janet Walden regarding conference in Madison, Wisconsin. 3 . Discussion concerning Waterloo access to Home Shopping Network. 4. Discussion regarding Mission Statement of Waterloo Cable Commission. 5. Report of Staff. ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor It is very important that you attend Waterloo Cable Commission Meetings. If you are unable to attend, please let us know prior to the meeting . Miriam Tyson Chairperson WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION June 4 , 1987 4: 00 p.m. Waterloo Cablevision Conference Room Roll Call: Miriam Tyson, Chairperson W. R. Richardson Ron Kemp Raymond Harris Beverly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fossell Sammie Dell Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Beverly Lind Bob Moore Rick Christy Approval of Agenda 1. Tour of Waterloo Cablevision facility. 2. Review of Mission Statement. 3 . Review of materials on "National Federation of Local Cable Programmers National Convention" to be held in Chicago, Illinois on July 16-18, 1987. ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor '47/ WATERLOO CABLE COMMISSION I. Mission Statement (adopted August 1, 1985) : The mission of this commission shall be to serve and represent the public in the enforcement of existing contracts with the franchisees and to be a resource for the city council regarding cable television. The commission shall evaluate the local cable network. The commission shall serve as a c.ondui t for ci ti zens' complaints and educate the public on available services of the commission and he the vehi cl e for communi ca ti ons from the public. The commission shall advocate for, and protect the city, schools, and other public and pri vate institutions in regard to the cable system. The commission shall insure the development of com- muni t_y programming. II. Objectives of the Commission: A. To serve and represent the public in the enforcement of existing contracts with the franchisees. 1. Enforce the provisions of the franchise and work to ensure full com- pliance by the Cable Company (WJS) . 2. Encourage that cable system be extended to all areas of the city (*) . B. To be a resource for the city council regarding cable television. 1. Develop and establish regular reporting times to the city council (]0 & WJS) . 2. Advise the City Council on matters concerning cable television and the Cable Company (WJS) . 3. Promote interaction with Cedar Falls Commission and explore possibility of metro commission (19) . 4. Have an annual evaluation of the entire commission program (*) . C. To evaluate the local cable network. 1. Develop a system for evaluation of the cable system (3) . 2. Enforce the technical standards that are required in the Ordinance and/or work to ensure that the technology used by the Cable Company keeps pace with developments in the field of cable television (WJS & 20) . 3. Develop system for feedback from the cable operators (21) . 4. Ensure that installation and maintenance of cabletelevision is done in an orderly and workmanlike manner (WJS) . D. To serve as a conduit for citizens' complaints. 1. Publicize citizens complaint process and have a formalization of the process (8) . 2. Resolve disputes between subscribers, potential subscribers and the Cable Company if the two cannot resolve the dispute between themselves (WJS) . E. To educate the public on available services of the commission. 1. Establish guidelines and procedures for the commission and publish a manual (2) . 2. Define specific services to be performed by the commission (4) . 3. Develop multi-year budget (11) . 4. Have a yearly planning seminar (14) . 5. Provide educational programs for the commissioners (15) . 6. Provide information to the public on commission services and consumers' rights (17) . F. To be the vehicle for communications from the public. 1. Have annual hearing for citizen input regarding the cable system (9) . 2. Conduct public hearings when necessary to evaluate the operations of the Cable Company (WJS) . G. To advocate for, and protect the city, schools, and other public and private institutions in regard to the cable system. 1. Insure the completion of the hook-up of institutions with the cable system (13) . 2. Hold a joint meeting with the Library Board to discuss programming (16) . H. To insure the development of community programming. 1. Do a feasibility study on establishing a non-profit organization to provide grants for community access to the system (6) . 2. Establish a procedure for giving production grants (7) . 3. Develop additional funding sources and/or creative funding policies (22) . 4. Do a feasibility study on establishing a studio (24) . 5. Encourage and develop public access (WJS) III. Prohibitions of the Commission (WJS - 5/1/86). A. The City cannot determine cable rates or whether to allow cable service cost increases. The cable company no longer needs City Council ap- proval before they can increase rates. B. The City cannot determine which programs the cable company will show or not. show, nor can they determine how many stations are aired by the cable com- pany or the level of service. In other words, the City cannot force the cable company to provide specific stations (ESPN, HBO, USA, WGN, etc. ) . The City has no editorial control over the content of the programming, except the City is allowed to prohibit "obscene" programs. The City can- not require the cable company to carry certain stations. These "must carry" rules have been found to violate the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution by interfering with the cable operator's choice of what signals to carry. C. Cities are now prohibited from restricting ownership of cable companies to those who do not have other media interests. D. Franchise fees required by the City cannot exceed five percent (5%) of the cable company's gross revenues for the year. E. The City can no longer regulate services, facilities or equipment provided by the cable company. However, a City does have the power to regulate basic service rates of cable operators who are not subject to "effective competition." IV. Objectives removed from 1985 Commission list. A. Immediately start process of rewriting the ordinance (1) . B. Establish the commission's role with the city council (12) . C. Have an annual review of rates and request itemized billing (23) . D. Develop by-laws for the commission (5) . E. Explore possibility of cable telecast of legislative forum (*) . CABLE COMMISSION February 11, 1987 4: 00 P.M. Mayor's Conference Room Roll Call - Miriam Tyson , Chairperson W. R. Richardson Ron Kemp Raymond Harris Beveraly Hinders Trost Russell Burt Judy Fossell Sammie Dell Janet F. Walden Rev. James P. Kvetko Charles Reed Beverly Lind Bob Moore Brent Zhorne Approval of Agenda UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Discussion and review of letter to McDonald Corporation --Sammie Dell 2. Board Retreat ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor ..1 AN CABLE COMMISSION February 5, 1987 4:00 P.M. Mayor's Conference Room Roll Call . Approval of Agenda. Approval of Minutes of January 8, 1987. NEW BUSINESS 1. Officer's report. 2. Presentation of Waterloo Cablevision. 3. Staff reports -- handling of complaints. 4. Deregulation of the cable industry. 5. Discussion of meeting times and dates of future meetings. 6. Board retreat. ADJOURNMENT Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor