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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012/10/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - Community Technology Advisory Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES ST. LOUIS PARK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 10, 2012 ST. LOUIS PARK COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Rick Dworsky, Dale Hartman, Cindy Hoffman, Toby Keeler, Rolf Peterson and Bill Theobald MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce Browning STAFF PRESENT: Reg Dunlap, Civic TV Coordinator; John McHugh, Community TV Coordinator; Clint Pires, Chief Information Officer 1. Call to Order Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 2. Roll Call Present at roll call were Commissioners Dworsky, Hoffman, Keeler, Peterson and Theobald. Commissioner Hartman arrive at 7:10 p.m.) 3. Approval of Minutes for May 9, 2012 It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Theobald, to approve the minutes of May 9, 2012, without changes. The motion passed 5-0. 4. Adoption of Agenda It was moved by Commissioner Keeler, seconded by Commissioner Theobald, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 5-0. 5. Public Comment - None 6. Action Items A. Fiber Optic Study Discussion Commissioner Theobald asked about the survey that Joanne Hovis of CTC had done, and if they’d received more responses since the earlier meeting? Clint replied they received a 12% of response from the business community (on-line and through the mail). The most significant finding was that relative to 2006 when they did similar survey, the satisfaction with broadband internet was much higher than back then. Commissioner Theobald asked what the deficiencies were? Mr. Pires replied nothing major, although everyone wanted faster service that was cheaper. Chair Peterson asked if the businesses were satisfied with broadband, or with all services, no matter how they were delivered? Mr. Pires said that satisfaction was with services delivered regardless of transport, whether via T1 line, cable modem or direct fiber. One key factor in satisfaction was reliability, and the incumbents were rated very highly. Mr. McHugh said one thing stressed was the growing need for high-speed internet speeds above the average of what is available now, for example, for double digit speeds. So it’s important to be aware of areas where those double digit speeds are necessary if we’re to partner with somebody who can use our middle mile stuff. Mr. Pires said that the consultant pointed out that incumbents were responding to the market and as they see the need for speeds to increase, they would provide that. One of the questions is whether the demand for fiber justifies it being built, and at what point will the applications will require the higher speeds. Commissioner Keeler indicated there are two areas for potential, the water tower that’s not connected and extending fiber between the hospital and Park Nicollet clinic. Are those good possibilities to recover the cities costs? Mr. Pires replied there are incremental build outs at Public Works and Park buildings as well as already being connected to major city buildings and school. One opportunity identified by the consultant was if we build to the third water tower, we could approach wireless providers about leasing our fiber for them to use for the backhaul to their antennas. Commissioner Dworsky said that sounds appealing, and asked how to get this going, how to send it to the City Council? Mr. Pires replied TAC could support recommendations from the consultant, which would include extension of fiber to those locations. It was moved by Commissioner Dworsky, seconded by Commissioner Keeler, that City Council proceed with the recommendations as proposed by CTC in the report, “Building on Fiber Success: A Strategy for Enhancing Broadband in St. Louis Park.” The motion passed 6-0. Chair Peterson said he was surprised at the depth of the study, and I’m anxious to see the City Council’s reaction to it. B. Grand Stadium Mr. Dunlap stated when this was last discussed, they left the Commission’s options open. There isn’t a lot of support from other communities to sign an agreement with Grand Stadium. Commissioner Peterson asked if there had been new proposals? Mr. Dunlap replied he hadn’t contacted them, only a few cities signed the contract. Commissioner Theobald said there wasn’t any compelling reason to consider this. It was moved by Commissioner Theobald, seconded by Commissioner Hoffman, to table this item to a meeting in May, 2013. The motion passed 6-0. 7. Reports A. Complaints Chair Peterson noted there weren’t too many issues, mostly customer service and pricing. Mr. Dunlap noted in December he would provide a chart categorizing complaints and billing issues were the most common complaints. Comcast staff will be invited to attend the meeting. Commissioner Theobald asked if the customers making the complaints had been satisfied? Mr. Dunlap replied one was left “hanging” and he would follow up. Typically Comcast Escalation Team sends an email that the customer considers the case resolved. Chair Peterson said that one was about non-Comcast people answering the telephone on the weekends, and about the call to a service center in the Philippines that resulted in a phishing call a while later. That was disturbing. Mr. McHugh said the complaints were aberrations, or our phone would never stop ringing. B. NATOA Annual Conference Mr. McHugh presented a PowerPoint presentation that he presented at the conference in New Orleans. One of the other presenters was a librarian, who mentioned that libraries are highly trusted organizations, even more than City Halls. The fiber study mentions running fiber optic lines to the library, and we’re fortunate that our library is open 7 days a week. C. Future of Cable TV trends discussion Mr. Dunlap said that franchise fees have not yet been affected by “cord-cutting,” customers that retain broadband but cancel cable TV subscriptions. Comcast has been leveraging ways of adding value to cable TV subscription, like the hundreds of free movies on demand and free access to unprecedented online coverage of the summer Olympic games. 8. Communication from the Chair Commissioner Keeler reminded commissioners that MACTA had a new web site up and the annual conference is November 14th. 9. Communications from City Staff Mr. Dunlap noted the Park Update would return in early November with a new and exciting look. Karly Werner, Comcast, introduced herself and noted they would have staff present for the December meeting. She discussed the Internet Essentials program offered for $9.99 for kids eligible for free and reduced lunch. They also have a new Xfinity experience store that opened in Roseville last week that has demos of their services (home security, 3D TV’s, internet) and can do equipment swaps. 10. Adjournment Commissioner Theobald made a motion, Commission Dworsky seconded to adjourn at 7:58. The motion passed. Respectfully submitted by: Amy L. Stegora-Peterson Recording Secretary