City Council Minutes 2012 09 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2012 Page 8of17 Manager Muth confirmed the City adopted the CMTC Cable Television Standards. She noted the City has the option of requesting a ruling from the GMTC. The GMTC also provided franchise agreement language for cable providers. There will also be model language for other right-of-way agreements. PUBLIC COMMENT Alan Sobel, 1408 Kennedy, Louisville, CO stated the proposal is to dissolve a statewide agency and there are 4,000 Cable TV customers, who have no idea what is going on and no information has been posted on the GMTC website, nor reflected in the minutes of their meetings. He reviewed the GMTC Bylaws Article II - Purposes and Powers and Article VII - Committees and noted the City Manager said the new bylaws will be public, but the bylaws are not public. He noted the Internet is the principal source of communication and the largest cable television companies are also the largest internet providers. He recommended the City Council inform the public on what is going on, include them in the discussion and appoint a Louisville resident as a member of the GMTC. GMTC President Barnes addressed Mr. Sobel's comments and noted a lot of the information was incorrect. In regard to monitoring and enforcement, all members can come forward to discuss service and rates. He stated with respect to the Internet, they have no regulatory authority. COUNCIL QUESTIONS Mayor Pro Tern Dalton asked if the regulatory authority over the Internet was taken away by the Federal government. GMTC President Barnes explained the cable industry lobbied for"Effective Competition" legislation. He explained because few jurisdictions have more than one cable provider, the FCC has ruled when there is a certain penetration by the satellite providers, effective competition exists and thus the regulation is lifted. Mayor Pro Tem Dalton asked if the GMTC changed their bylaws. GMTC President Barnes stated they did not because one of their members still had regulatory authority. Mayor Pro Tem Dalton asked if the GMTC could hold a Cable company accountable. Public Relations Manager Muth responded yes and noted the GMTC expressed concern over Comcast Cable Television notice of rates and channel lineup. Mayor Muckle asked if the new organization will have enforcement authority. GMTC President Barnes explained the CCUA would do the fact finding on complaints and present evidence to the requesting member. The governing body would then make the final decision. Mayor Muckle asked why the bylaws have not been completed. GMTC President Barnes stated the bylaws have not yet bbeen completed. Currently it is an authority/attorney work product.