October 2008 Agency Report
Telecom & Video Services Agency Report
October 20 - November 17, 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.
ORDINANCE REVISIONS
The Office of Corporation Counsel has drafted a revised ordinance to replace the current 851 Cable Ordinance. The purpose is to make the ordinance consistent with the new state law where franchising and complaints are now handled by the State and the City, this Board and our office, assume certain responsibilities. Our office has reviewed the draft and submitted our comments to OCC. Eventually the ordinance will be taken up by the City-County Council.
BRIGHT HOUSE FRANCHISE FEE REVIEW
Counsel has sent a demand letter to Bright House with respect to the 2004-2006 franchise fee audit. The City is still awaiting a response from the provider with respect to it.
BUDGET MEETING
In meetings with the Controller’s Office, we are being asked to reduce our budget an additional 5% in 2009, which they are calling a manager’s reserve. In consultation with Ken, we plan to earmark a good portion of City TV’s Character 4 portion of the 2009 budget to meet that request. Making good on that and to make up for it will rely heavily on state law being followed with respect to PEG Funding by the providers.
ISA MEETING
We met with the City’s Information Services Agency (ISA) at their invitation to discuss and advise as to their plans with a City Wide Area Network (WAN). ISA had put out a RFP (Request for Proposals) which included a response from Bright House. In watching our previous meeting, ISA officials had some concerns that an entity owing the City as much money as it does was bidding on the project.
MEDIATING CABLE COMPLAINTS
As best as we can tell, Bright House still has our contact information on their bills given the number of calls we have received. Now that Bright House has a state certificate, we will be migrating those complaints over to the IURC. Many of the complaints for the past 30 days or so have been as a result of WISH TV and its affiliates not being carried on Bright House. Some of the complaints that we received for Bright House on this matter were sent over by the IURC.