Present: Barbara
Stone, Karol Gorman, Jonathan Shipman, Andrew Barbano (Chairperson),
Jackie Inman, Peter Padilla, Trudy Cross, Sharon Spangler, Kate Marshall,
Robert Sepe.
Absent: Noel Thornsberry
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. with a quorum of six members
present.
II. INTRODUCTIONS
Each member present, along with employees of the city assigned to the
Citizen Cable Compliance Committee, introduced him/herself to the other
members. Each member gave a brief description of why they had applied
to the Citizen Cable Compliance Committee.
Kate Marshall stated
that she had experience with the Public Utility Commission of Nevada
and the Federal Communications Commission. Andrew Barbano stated that
he was a writer and media consultant and founding member of SNCAT who
was very interested in media issues and a heavy user of CATV. Barbara
Stone stated that she was retired and an advocate for senior citizens.
Karol Gorman stated that she was a Branch Manager for a mortgage company
and interested in improving customer service and increasing consumer
satisfaction. Jonathan Shipman stated that he was the assistant city
attorney designated as council for the Committee. Jackie Inman stated
that she had worked in the cable industry for much of her career starting
out as a customer service representative and retiring as the area network
administrator for Reno. Sharon Spangler stated that she has worked for
the City of Reno for the past eight years and is the liaison between
the cable company and the City and between the media center and the
City.
III. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 6077.
Jonathan Shipman reviewed Resolution No. 6077 (see attached). Resolution
No. 6077 created the Citizens Cable Compliance Committee to monitor
franchise contract compliance. Paragraph three which discusses the purpose
of the committee engendered discussion.
Paragraph
3 (a): The city may from time to time provide information to the committee
as issues arise in order to have the committee assist in determining
whether the cable committee is in compliance with its franchise. For
example if the city receives information from NATOA or if the committee
collects and reviews the cable companyís own records of complaints
it has received, the committee may then provide its opinion and analyses
to the City Council. The committee must request from the cable company
its complaint/reliability records. The franchise contract delineates
the types of information and materials which may be requested from the
cable company.
Paragraph 3 (c): The City's jurisdiction and therefore its ability to
regulate cable rates is restricted to basic cable rates.
Paragraph 3 (d): The definition of "unresolved complaint"
is within the purview of the committee to determine. Such issues may
be marked for discussion and placed on the agenda of a future meeting.
Paragraph 3 (f): This subsection also involves a review of access to
PEG, the media center, and what could be recommended to include in the
next franchise contract in order to ensure that Reno citizens are getting
maximum benefits from what the cable company can provide. Andrew Barbano
stated that another goal identified by this subsection is outreach to
the business community to determine what needs the business community
has and how the cable company may play a part in satisfying those needs.
The existing
franchise contract is available on the internet at
www.munico.com or www.munico.org
There was
also discussion regarding the ability of this Committee to review the
draft report to be submitted to the City Council by Action Audits regarding
renewal of Charter Communications cable franchise. It was determined
that the draft has not yet been produced. Once it is submitted to the
City Council staff, which is likely to occur the week before the City
Council's January meeting, then it will be made available to this Committee.
Dr. Sepe stated that he would expect his consultant group, Action Audits,
LLC, to provide the City Council staff copies of his draft report approximately
three days before it was scheduled to be reviewed at a City Council
meeting. Sharon Spangler stated that, since the City Council agenda
is made public three days before a meeting is held, the report would
be publicly available at that time for review by this Committee. Andrew
Barbano requested that if the draft was available before then the Committee
be informed so that it could submit a request to the City Council for
earlier access to the draft report.
Jonathan Shipman also advised that the role of this Committee is to
oversee ongoing compliance of Charter Communications with its franchise
requirements. This Committee should be providing a solid record analyzing
whether the cable company has met its ongoing compliance requirements
for consideration in the next franchise renewal in ten years. In addition,
this Committee can provide the City Council with information on the
cable company's current compliance status. Such information will be
relevant to the franchise renewal process underway at this time. However,
franchise renewal is a separate matter and not within the purview of
this Committee. Jonathan stated that he could provide a staff report
on this issue. One concern regarding this Committee's involvement in
the current franchise renewal process is that it would further delay
the City's abilities to meet its deadlines in the franchise renewal
process. Andrew Barbano expressed concern that restricting this Committee's
involvement in the current franchise renewal process would deny citizen
involvement in the process. He also requested an electronic version
of resolution no. 6077 for posting on his website.
Jonathan Shipman reviewed paragraph 8 which provides for election of
committee officers and requires that this Committee meet a minimum of
once a year.
Under paragraph 9, this Committee must comply with the open meeting
law and a quorum shall equal four (4) members.
Staffing of the Committee shall be determined by the City Manager.
Under paragraph 11, this Committee shall establish bylaws. Jonathan
Shipman handed out the existing bylaws for the Neighborhood Advisory
Boards (see attached) to be used as a model for this Committee. He agreed
to send a draft of bylaws for this Committee prior to the next meeting.
IV. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE OFFICERS
The following officers
were elected:
Andrew Barbano — Chairperson
Karol Gorman — Co-Chairperson
Kate Marshall — Recording Secretary
V. PRESENTATION
BY ACTION AUDITS ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE FRANCHISE RENEWAL PROCESS.
