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Telecom & Video Services Agency Report

July 21 - August 18, 2008

Thank you for this opportunity to highlight some of the things that the Telecom & Video Services Agency has been involved with during the past month.

RULES & PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING

The Telecom & Video Services Agency appeared before the Rules & Public Policy Committee of the City-County Council to brief them on the recent award won by the Agency for digital access. Our appearance was at the request of the Committee Chair and it allowed us an opportunity not only to share with them about the details of the national award won by the City and the Agency but to also provide them with a demonstration of our video on demand service component. My impression of the briefing and demonstration was that the Committee was pleased as to the additional transparency the Agency provides with this constituent service. For those interested in viewing our programming over the Internet by title and individual proposals, go to www.indygov.org/tvsa and scroll down to ‘meetings on demand’.

BRIGHT HOUSE FRANCHISE FEE REVIEW

The City’s auditor as of this writing was still waiting on some bad debt data from Bright House Networks with respect to the Bright House audit review period of 2004-2006. He needs the data so he can participate in a conference call with Bright House’s counsel and financial folks. He has made repeated requests to get the bad debt allocation data from Bright House’s counsel and financial personnel.  BHN’s attorney is supposed to hook up with auditor next week.

NON-COMPLIANCE LETTER SENT TO BRIGHT HOUSE

As per their report for the month of June at our last Board meeting, Bright House noted that they were non-compliant with respect to the FCC Customer Service Standards on telephone answer time. We sent them a letter, a copy of which is included in your Board packets, to respond to the City in writing with respect to how they plan to address the matter and we anticipate receiving a response from them near future.

BRIGHT HOUSE TO TERMINATE LOCAL FRANCHISE

Bright House Networks has advised the City that upon its local franchise expiring this fall, that it intends to terminate said franchise and apply for a State issued certificate with the IURC.

FILING WITH IURC

Pursuant to House Bill 1279 that moves video franchising to the State, the Telecom & Video Services Agency and its counsel have been preparing documents to be filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) with respect to the continuation of all public service drops and the institutional network (INET). The law requires a municipality to file such a request pursuant to the law under Section 29 by the end of the year to continue said services.  The INET is utilized by Public Safety as a closed circuit communications system for internal training and certified continual education, Homeland Security, remote roll call and other services.

FOLLOW UP WITH COMCAST PUBLIC SERVICE DROPS

The Agency contacted Comcast officials who were working with us regarding two public service drops requested by the Parks Department for Comcast to provide. The locations are Sahm Park and the Windsor Village Family Center . The Sahm request is one that they have had for some time to turn around.

REQUEST FOR CONTINUATION OF INET & PUBLIC SERVICE DROPS

Counsel advises that they have made a request on the Agency/City’s behalf for the incumbent video operators to continue to provide the institutional network (INET) and the provision of continuing the public service drops. This is part of the City benefits under the local franchise agreement that carry forward under the State’s authority, but it must be requested by the City.  

MEDIATING CABLE COMPLAINTS

The Telecom & Video Services Agency has been serving as a consumer advocate to Indianapolis and Marion County video subscribers in assisting them in mediating complaints on their behalf.   

Customer Complaint Log

July 1st through July 31st, 2008