12-23-1985 Council Packet Special Meeting

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SP• ', working on a script for a local access promo tape and will begin sl. _ii.q in December. A meeting of City Managers in LMCCC communities will be held in December to discuss government access. A more in-depth video production 0,,ss will be offered through community education beginning in uunuary. Cha r Olds added that Hansen had also set up the office and files, had been meeting with Cow -Sat representives, and had been reviewing the Franchise Agreement. C. LegallCCoun�sel_ Ayotte said MACTA (MN A: sociation of Cable Television Administrators) had submitted comments to the FCC opposing a proceeding to delete the existing rules ^lating to technical standards. The FCC met on 10/31/85 and did net d- :te the existing rules; counsel is waitinn to review the final order. Also, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case out of California. The case, brought by cable operators, alledges a First Amnend- ment cliallenge to a citie's right to grant a cable franchise. Counsel doesn't know what impact this will have on the LMCCC, but is monitoring this and other Federal Court cases in the areas of Cable TV Regulation and will keep LMCCC informed. Haggerty raised a question on the status of bonding. Ayotte said he will be sending in an application for a blanket bond for check sionators and doubted if the cost would exceed $300. Gagne asked about t status of the liability insurance. Ayotte said insurance companies are unr,.,e to wrire any additional public. officials liability insurance during the reaminder this year. Other cable commissions have the same problem and underwriters with the League of Minnesota Cities Trust Fund ere reviewing an insurance application relating to cable commissions. continue to seek insurance for the LMCCC. Haggerty questiond how ...inistrator fit into the insurance policy situation. Chair Olds said ti.r " ginal intention was to mire the Cable Administrator as an independ-it contractor to avoid employee status. fie had since received a letter from our attorneys that the job does have employe status in the eyes of the IRS and we have initiated procedures for obtaining a Federal E.I. number and registering with the State. Chair Olds also said he felt our exposure was minimal at this point as far as public officials liability was concerned, but could increase local access programming increased and hoped we would have insurance lace as soon as possible. D. Dow -Sat Mary n —t reported that households passed and subscriber activity were higher for ye- ine (5/11/84 - 5/11/85) due to Dow-Sat's head -end being in place In Noun: for to the State granting the franchise. This enabled Dow- .:t to begin construction immediately and the initial service area was com- pleted in November 1984, six months prior to the 5/11/85 deadline. Pay -to - Basic is at 87%, lower than the projected 150%, the Twin Cities generally being lower than the national average. Gross revenues for Dow-Sat's fiscal year ending 9/30/85 in hte LMCCC franchise area are $1,626,973.89; this was not a final figure and may Se adjusted based on refunds, etc. Rates for LMCCC subscribers as of 12/1/85 f w: Limited basic $7.35. Tier I ;; It $12.35, iiao $9.95, r'- nax 0.95, rwtimA $9.95, Disney $9.95. additional outlet $3.25. remo'trot j1.50. Package prices follow: COMBO (basic, HBO, Cinemas) $29.f 4M1LY (Basic, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime or Disney) 93b.UG, SPOTLIGHT (basic, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Disney) $43.00. Dow - Sat plans to go on a monthly billing system in LMCCC cities in December. They hope this will reduce disconnects due to non-payment and make subscribers more aware of services and special promotions offered by Dow -Sat. An itemized service call report from 120/21/BS - 11/15/85 was included; major problem areas were service downgrades, disconnects, non -paid disconnects, and locates. No significant problems in destribution were reported. Hoseth mentioned she had received complaints from Long Lake subscri6ers reoardinq system