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help delineate the communities special needs for telecommunications <br />services via the cable TV system. <br /> <br />Gerald Cotten stated that he believed that applying the "2010" class is a <br />good resource and that Middlefeldt is a very active and positive person. <br />Cotten also stated that he would like to get involved and that if <br />O'Connell needed help to inform him. <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS - 7 <br /> <br />7,1 <br /> <br />7,2 <br /> <br />ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT <br /> <br />O'Connell began his report by informing the Commission that on <br />August 7, 1996, the FCC released their second order regarding Open <br />Video Systems (OVS) and have adopted this one. There is a lot <br />municipalities should be concerned with the adopting of the FCC Order <br />and there are things to be happy about. One main point is that PEG <br />access support was fully supported by the FCC. The FCC agreed with <br />local governments and other parties that argued that OVS operators <br />should "negotiate" or "match" PEG obligations, not just "share". Also, <br />local authorities will not be able to collect franchise fees from the OVS <br /> <br />operator. <br /> <br />It is still not clear what types of technology the OVS system will use or <br />deploy. Two-Thirds of an OVS system has to be "open" to outside <br />programmers who want to use the service. <br /> <br />O'Connell believes that the OVS systems will be the earliest form of <br />competition in the form of "video home entertainment" that will <br />come to challenge the cable companies for subscriber's viewing and <br />entertainment dollars. <br /> <br />O'Cormell reviewed the section of his report in which it informed the <br />Commission that TCI is seeking a FCC ruling that it may provide <br />telecommunication services without a local franchise or other similar <br />authorization. TCI kas alleged that the City of Troy, Michigan has <br />violated several provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. <br />TCI also alleges that the city's actions are discriminatory. Both NATOA <br />and the NLC are supporting Troy, Michigan. <br /> <br />MEREDITH'S REPORT <br /> <br />Kathy Donnelly-Cohen informed the Commission that the Quad Cities <br />area is continuing to see a net gain, and with the growth of new homes <br />the subscribers are still increasing. <br /> <br />Meredith has subscribed to a new system called "Sky Trends", this <br />covers the DBS systems actives in the area. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> <br />