CAC - Sept. 16th
Metting minutes continued
MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE CABLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND CITY OF TAMPA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 - @ THE EDUCATION CHANNEL
Meeting commenced at 6:47/18:47, Tues. Sept. 16, 2003. Chair, Elvin Martinez, opened the meeting with a pledge and moment of silence for reflection.
ROLL CALL of Committee Members: MARTINEZ, CRUZ, FOGLE, FRYE, LEWIS, PESTANA, SMITH, ZEGOTA.
Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of JULY 2003 MEETING. Amendment requested by Dottie Zegota to be removed from the POLICY AND PROCEDURE COMMITTEE. APPROVED as amended.
Comments from PUBLIC ACCESS:
Ms. Thompson addressed the activities and achievements of SPEAK UP TAMPA BAY management.
While at the NATOA in Denver, Public Access received an AWARD FOR IMAGING AND VOICE.
Ms. Thompson further listed all the OUTREACH AND OTHER PROGRAMMING occurring.
1. Production has been reorganized and Mary Geraci has been hired to stimulate and move that system along.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES has new guidelines:
a. QUARTERLY REPORT DISTRIBUTED TO CAC AND COUNTY/CITY STAFF AMPLIFICATION of several procedures for producers" How to Become a Producer"
b. Additional training and the need to provide "copyright training"
c. New producers are required to produce a community desk project
d. There is a new section on how to handle political "candidates". This will be good for all producers to review
e. A new "grid system" in POLICY AND PROCEDURE
f. Violations are clearly defined: major and minor and consequences thereof
g. COMMERCIALIZATION PRACTICES defined clearly in POLICY AND
PROCEDURES
Ms. Thompson invited all to come see the changes occurring and those that have occurred at the PUBLIC ACCESS CENTER.
Mrs. Ann Goldenberg from the Education Channel gave her report:
Two upcoming events: Friday, Sept. 19, TAMPA THEATRE
Saturday, Sept. 20, Independent Film Festival
Coffee at TAMPA MUSEUM for chats with Independent film producers
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CAC - Sept. 16th
Metting minutes continued
Mrs. Goldenberg had just returned from the NATOA conference in Denver and has much technical
information to share with everyone. More coming from the Internet and. the cable pipeline will be
more like the Internet with selections like "Video on Demand". The "new science project" is complete and ready for teachers. The project is on CD, the CD is free and will remain free. Another project from the Education Channel to help the teachers in the classrooms. CD will also be available in the libraries.
THE MEMBERSHIP REPORT FOR AMC :
Brad Jackson is the new President. Mr. Jackson also assumes the chair for the "golden cassette awards". Mr. Jackson will be working with the producers for this award production. The following is the action plan for the AMC and the "golden cassette award":
A. AMC will plan with the help of Dir. Thompson for the award event.
B. Director of SUTB wishes to have a closer communication with AMC
C. Very pleased to have Mary Geraci promoting the producer to reach higher
D. Awards will be of a comprehensive nature
No other reports from other Access Cable Organizations
No public comment
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance: Chair Elvin Martinez - supportive of fiscal needs and enhancements for
PUBLIC ACCESS and EDUCATION CHANNEL ... UNANIMOUS VOTE.
Policy & Procedure: Meeting 9/25, 6:30PM, will report next meeting, Nov.'03.
Outreach: Chair Marilyn Smith reported on new MEDIA PEOPLE AT SCHOOL BOARD. Will try to get the new van visits started. A delay occurred while the new school budgets were being determined. Carlton Lewis reports on the outreach efforts in the T&C area. The BOCC Commissioners attended the dedication of the new YMCA at Sheldon and Waters on 8/27/03.
Liaison to SUTB: Susan Jones ... absent...no report
Television coverage: Chair Sandy Frye - no movement of the broadcasting and we will try again before the BOCC.
Board Development: Chair Dan Pestana - 10 issues were covered at the Board Development Meeting on Sept. 8, 2003.
1. Need new speakers to cover the latest trends in the cable industry
2. Have newest tech reports along with Alliance for Community news and info
3. Ability to have CAC/CAB MEMBER go to one or two of these technical enhancing meetings.
4. Have visitors from other PUBLIC ACCESS STATIONS come to CAC meetings and give us info on what they are experiencing.
5. More legal points on copyrights and intellectual material - a telecommunication lawyer
6. Have USF/HCC people visit and give ideas on how to develop our BOARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
7. Have the CHAIR of CAC report to the BOCC on monthly or bimonthly basis, depending on agenda of BOCC and agenda discussed at CAC/CAB
8. Invite elected BOCC and City Council officials to join our meeting on a rotating basis
9. How to achieve better attendance from the extended community
10. Prepare members with summary of agenda items
GOALS
Nancy Fogle visited with Comm. Storms
Dottie Zegota visited with Ken Hagan .... most Members have had interchange with appointing Commissioner
COUNTY STAFF REPORTS:
A. Laurie Marino - Liaison for Hills. Cty. Management and Budget dept.
1. Reviewed the RICEWILLLAIVIS ASCERTAINMENT STUDY
2. The Community + Explorer received mixed review 50/50
3. Received 1,300 opposition responses, 1,100 letters, some email, and mixed. Not determined
how many live in Hillsborough County. The majority of the responses were FORM LETTERS. All responses need to be validated.
4. Staff has still not prepared an RFP for the (CABLE FRANCHISE RENEWAL TEAM
Still using RiceWilliams and County staff members
5. There is the need to check with other communities for comparison and how those communities are handling the renewals of franchises ....Buske Group is still available for input.
The major issue the CAC discussed and took a unanimous vote on was the following:
The CAC Members agreed and voted that there should be an experienced firm, and very strong to negotiate the NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT. Too many big dollars could be lost to this county's citizens if expertise is the employed. It was stated several times and examples given of: going to the dentist for oral surgery and have a cookie maker come in and attempt to perform the surgery. Members agreed that we should get the best of the bunch and county staff did not have the expertise to do the job. Money should not be the object of the firm(s) ultimately hired to handle this 15 yrs. And billions of dollars issues.
B. Ass't County Attorney Orlando Perez, discussed the 1-4% communication tax. And yes, the BOCC can vote to set aside for dedication to a specific need, such as the FIRE RESCUE FUNDING.
Producer’s comments expressed to management in the last two months:
1. Some of the rules are stifling creativity
2. The rulings in the court cases have a chilling effect and are cumbersome
3. Will be adding two more Field Producers
4. Copyright and talents releases undue burdens.
Meeting adjourned at 8:08PM
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