Agenda - Council - 12/20/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I Cable Commission Minutes 10-20-83 Page 3 Don Jacobson questioned if Group W has ever been threatened with a fine Or been fined. Mr. Reece said that they have been threatened, but doesn't know if they have paid a fine, except the $8,000 paid to the Quad Cities. Also, there could be other sytems paid something similar to the $8,000. Don Jacobson questioned the 38 full-time staff as to if they were mostly installers. Mr. O'Connell said that these included customer representatives and specialists. There will be approximately 12 employees leaving once the system is complete. Don Jacobson questioned not filling local origination positions. Mr. Reece said if there is anyway Group W can save money and save the quality of the system they will do this. Don Jacobson asked why the equipment was changed to Zenith when it was bid Jerald and other systems in the area have Jerald. Vincent Dolan explained that it was decided to use Zenith and at a later date the Gerald equipment was improved. Sue Van Wagner questioned if Group W knew the interactive tier wasn't avail~ able and did they tell the Commission. Mr. O'Connell said this was told to the Commission along with a number of other changes. Don Jacobson said_that the equipment was upgraded by Group W, but the Commission did not request this. Also, the difference in miles built was due to a miscalculation in the franchise. Mr. Reece stated he didn't mean this was a reason for the delays. This was meant to express the concern of Group W to build the system. Dan gartm~n believes that if local programing is not operational when the system is going that this i~ definitely detrimental. Also, the institutional system not going upsets him. The completion of the distribution system - the Commission did grant an extension in good faith. Mr. Harman feels that the ~atural disaster did have an effect on completion of the system. Also Tier 3 the lack of the int~ractive system is a reason for concer~ Don Melrose does not want to fine Group W exactly as':stated in the franchise. However, he would like to see the monies reimbursed from what the cable system has lost at this time. Jerry Dulgar also agrees with this. John Beissel pointed out his appreciation of the increase in service area in Ramsey. Me feels the Commission should address the fines further down the road. Dean Rick feels we don't have major problems that other communities have. However, he feels Tier 3 is a problem and that the Commission was misaddressed. Sue Van Wagner feels that the Commission should retrieve the lost revenue that it lost since September 12 and she was upset about Tier 3. Pat Lindquist questioned if there was a rate increase is it in each system or overall in all systems. Mr. Reece explained that each system has rate increases separately. She would not go along with high fines, since it would affect our subscribers with a rate increase.