Telecommunications Meeting Minutes December 6, 2010

North Liberty Telecommunications Commission
Meeting Minutes
December 6, 2010

Attendance: Katie Colony, Denise Schechinger, Valerie Hoffman, Joseph Wagner and Glen Cox

Also Present: Telecommunications Director Cheryl Caplinger, Production Coordinator Nick Bergus and Promotion Producer Erika Harper

Hoffman called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Comments from the public.  None

Mediacom Update.
Lee Grassley with Mediacom was at the meeting to discuss the current Sinclair negotiations.  Grassley stated that there was movement by both sides.  He is optimistic that there will be a deal by the expiration of the current contract which is 12-31-10.  Grassley said that news will be coming soon regarding the deal.  They are trying for a 2 year deal instead of a 1 year deal like they normally have had.
Tom Larson also from Mediacom was at the meeting to discuss the digital transition update.  Larson handed out a packet regarding the transition which will take place June of 2012.  They are phasing out analog for all digital devices.  The analog channels between 23-78 will be phased out for faster internet, 105-Meg faster downloads which is one of the fastest in the state.  The picture and sound quality will be faster.  Larson stated that DTA’s (Digital Transport Adapter/Digital Tuner) will be going out for free for analog TVs to their customers.  It’s a small device with cords and a remote that’s hooked up to your TV.  These DTAs will be stocked on trucks in January and February and can be installed at that time by Mediacom employees.  The DTAs will also be available at the call centers, can be sent by mail or you can drop by a Mediacom office to pick one up.  Larson said that in March a few of the analog channels will be turned off, just doing a few at a time.  With the analog channels being removed this will mean more channels and product enhancement.  There will be community forums four to six weeks before all channels are switched over from analog to let people know.  Cox asked if the remote has multifunction like a universal remote.  Larson stated that he didn’t believe it was a universal remote it was just for the tuner itself.  Hoffman asked what customers would see on the TV screen once the analog channel has been removed/the ones that are no longer offered?  Larson said he believed there would be a message on the screen.  Grassley also stated that there will be some sort of a crawl at the bottom of the screen.

South Slope Update.
JR Brumley from South Slope was at the meeting for updates.  Brumley said that the process to connect the fiber directly to the home started last April/May.  The copper that was being used was being pushed by customers for more such as HD and faster internet.  So due to this, fiber is being put in.  Six years ago fiber started going in in the new sub-divisions.  They have now started putting in fiber everywhere in North Liberty.  Brumley stated that they are ½ done at this point and hope to be done by July.  However, Brumley stated that the fiber directly to the home itself may not be in the mobile home parks.  When South Slope finishes with North Liberty they will move on to Fairfax, Norway and Newhall.  Dan Swick was also in attendance for South Slope.  Swick stated that more HD will be offered after the fiber project is done.  $54.95 is the top programming cost.  Swick stated that South Slope also is going through retransmission negotiations.  South Slope is also trying to keep costs down.  Justin Miller was also there as a representative for South Slope.  Miller stated that as long as the weather holds out they will keep on working on installing the fiber.  And with the current fiber that is being installed, that in the future if this is not enough they will be able to just switch out the ends instead of having to install new fiber.  Cox stated that his son has been approached at his home for the physical install of the fiber and needed to dig up his yard.  Cox’s son said no so Cox wanted to know how customers are notified and if they have to do it.  Miller said South Slope has taken a list from the Post Office and that a postcard is sent to the customer prior to this happening.  Miller said that right now the cable installation is free, but it may not be in the future.  Miller stated that the customer’s yard is fixed after the install and they make sure the customer is happy when the contractors leave the area.  If a customer chooses not to have the fiber installed at the time the contractors are in the area and later changes his/her mind the customer might have to pay for the contractors to come back to the area to do the install.  Miller said it does matter on the location of the home as to how much ground/yard interruption is done.  Miller encouraged the public not to let the opportunity go by since it’s free at this time.  Wagner asked how does South Slope re-coop the cost of the fiber install?  Brumley stated that South Slope is a Coop, a non-profit organization.  Some have one service and some have multi-services.  This is being done for all members.  Wagner asked what enhancements are we getting now?  Miller stated that the multi-room DVR is available along with 3D services and more HD.  Miller said there is no plan to raise rates.  They will be increasing services such as voice services/features for phone and computer along with other new features.  Miller said to come into the South Slope facility to see the new services.  Colony asked about the subdivisions that were done about 6 years ago that they were talking about earlier, how are they being handled.  Miller said that those subdivisions had a fiber connection that was sufficient but was updated bored/plowed in with a new backbone fiber.  Caplinger asked about the new development and how was that handled with the new fiber.  Miller said that from this point forward it will not be an issue that the backbone piece is good and would just have to change the equipment on both ends.  Brumley stated that South Slope did hire a contractor now to get the install of the fiber done faster, but South Slope does have it’s own crew that can do the install in the future.  Miller also indicated that they have employees that work with the contractors and the customer so you can work directly with a South Slope employee.  Caplinger asked if the South Slope fiber lines were exclusive.  Miller stated that they are exclusive lines.  Cox wanted to know if Mediacom could piggy-back on these fiber lines or any room for anyone else like Kirkwood.  Miller said this is a dedicated plan just for South Slope.    Swick said that there can be a fiber feedout for Kirkwood.

Commissioners’ comments.
Cox thanked the cable representatives for being there and answering questions.  Brumley said that the copper had reached the end of it’s life and needed something new.

Telecommunications staff report.
Bergus said that the playback system was acting sick and died last week.  Bergus said that they now had a nice big video server.  We now have a system that we needed.  The new system was built for playback of videos on PEG channels.  You can access it remotely which makes scheduling easier.  Bergus said he is still figuring out how to do things with it, but it’s easier to use and is happy with it.  Caplinger stated that before this new system for example snow emergencies had to be posted before leaving the office, but now can be done from home.
Caplinger said that Code Red is a new system on the North Liberty website.  Residents could sign up for the new Code Red system which is a notification system that can use either emails or text messaging.  This new system is similar to the Hawk Alert system.  This is also free.  Customers can choose where the notifications are sent either via emails or text messages.  The public can sign up for this on the North Liberty website under Community Links.  The alerts are specified by address and not by area codes.  Wagner asked what policy dictates when messages go out or for what.  Caplinger said there is a contract with Johnson County that the city council approved.  It is specific to emergencies only and not used for things such as PR.  Wagner wanted to know if the website says what it can be used for?  Caplinger said that they will put the info on the website to explain what it’s used for.  Colony asked if there was a way to track the number of people that sign up.  Caplinger said yes that messages come back if calls are answered or for bad phone numbers or failed attempts.  Wagner asked if the system was designed for lots of notifications and for how fast the messages can go out.  Caplinger said the system will continue through the list even if it gets stuck on one.  We will see how the first year goes.  Caplinger encouraged residents to sign up for this system.  Colony asked who can residents complain to or if they have suggestions.  Caplinger stated that it depends what the complaint/suggestion is, possibly it would have to go to Code Red itself.  Caplinger said that this is not an automatic sign up, that residents have to physically sign up themselves.
Caplinger said that the new Playback system is a little noisy so they will be putting it in the closet and getting rid of the broken and unused equipment that’s currently occupying the closet.  The NLTV’s current projects are listed in the packet and there is info on the website, newletters and TV channels.  Caplinger said that it’s been a busy but good year.

Approval of August 2nd, 2010 meeting minutes.
Wagner moved to approve the minutes from August, Colony seconded.  Motion passed with all in favor.

Determine Next Possible Meeting Date.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 7, 2011.

Cox moved, seconded by Wagner to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 pm.  Motion passed with all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,
Denise Schechinger, Secretary