Telecommunications Minutes November 2, 2009
North Liberty Telecommunications Commission
Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2009
Attendance: Joseph Wagner, Denise Schechinger and Katie Colony
Also Present: Telecommunications Director Cheryl Caplinger, Production Coordinator Nick Bergus and Promotion Producer Corinne Lemmage
Absent: Glen Cox and Valerie Hoffman
Wagner called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm.
Comments from the public. None
Mediacom Update.
Lee Grassley talked about the Mediacom rate increase. Grassley said that Mediacom owns nothing and that they have to buy everything. He said that sports programming is very expensive, 60% of total budget is from sports. Next month he is going to put some information together for us. He doesn’t believe that the lawsuit to the FCC will see the light of day. He said that as costs increase the consumer has to pay for it. Grassley stated that the management team for Mediacom saw no pay raise this year and that their benefits were changing. Mediacom is trying to give their customers more for their money as far as more HD channels. Grassley said they’re at the mercy of someone else their just a rebroadcaster. He said that the Sinclair contract is up for renewal. They have filed a lawsuit with the FCC against Sinclair. Grassley said they believe Sinclair has a monopoly. Grassley is hoping the Mediacom customers won’t lose the Fox stations as of January 1st when the contract is up. He said there was no additional increase based on Sinclair alone. Grassley said that some contracts were supposed to be up December 1st and that didn’t happen at that said time and so they needed money for quarter 3 when they were up causing some of the rate increase. He said that 60% of customers are paying lower than the published rates and that it is possible to get lower rates – the more you have with Mediacom the lower their prices will be. Grassley stated that other companies do control the rates and that we do need to care about those companies controlling the costs for everyone else. He said the retirement of analog will bring some more expense. Grassley said there will be no more increases for 2009 and shouldn’t be for the 1st and 2nd quarter for 2010 as far as he knew.
South Slope Update.
Name changes for channels that were included in the packet.
Commissioners’ comments.
Wagner congratulated Caplinger for being a nominee for volunteer of the year for the Iowa City Chamber.
Telecommunications staff report.
Cheryl thanked Nick and Corinne for their work with Coral Vision. Cheryl also thanked Janet Lubben. The November 12th banquet video will be played on the channel. Cheryl encouraged people to vote. Nick was working with contractors for new equipment for the council chambers, cameras and audio equipment. Cheryl and Corinne took pictures at the Haunted Happenings and there are lots of pictures available on the city website.
Approval of October 5, 2009 meeting minutes.
Schechinger moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Colony. Motion passed with all in favor.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2010.
Colony moved, seconded by Schechinger to adjourn the meeting at 6:34 pm. Motion passed with all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Schechinger, Secretary
