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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/13/1985 Meeting '. e ~ M I NUT E S Eugene City Council Work Session McNutt Room--City Hall February 13, 1985 11 :30 a.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Emily Schue, Richard Hansen, Cynthia Wooten, Freeman Holmer, Debra Ehrman, Ruth Bascom, Roger Rutan, Jeff Mi 11 er. His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie called the work session to order. I. ALIGNMENT FOR WIDENING 6TH/7TH AVENUES The councilors briefly discussed the alignment. II. UPDATE ON METROPOLITAN CABLE TELEVISION COMMISSION ACTIVITIES Councilor Hansen reviewed the composition of the Metropolitan Cable Television Commission (MCTC) and said its charge is to oversee the contract with Group W Cable and public access activities. The contract is being reviewed and some changes have been proposed. Reviewing his memo dated February 11, 1985, to the council concerning the Cable Commission Activities and Issues, Randy Kolb, Information Services Director, discussed the reorganization of the public, educational, and government groups which provide public access activities and the Telecommuni- cations Act of 1984 which deregulates the cable industry. He pointed out that Group W Cable now pays a franchise fee of 3 percent, but the Telecommunica- tions Act of 1984 will permit a 5 percent franchise fee. The franchise fee is paid to the jurisdiction where the hook-ups are located. last year, Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County received about $240,000. The MCTC maintains that basic service in this community consists of 21 channels because that is what the 1978 contract stipulated. Group W would like to decrease the number of channels in the basic service. The MCTe wants generic wording, such as "a 24 hour sports channel," in the new contract and an unchanged definition of basic service. All 21 basic channels are on VHF. If the franchise fee is increased to 5 percent, the MeTC suggests the addi- tional 2 percent, which will equal about $200,000, should be used for public access. One hundred twenty thousand dollars should be allocated to public access programming and $70,000 should be used for telecommunications planning. If the fee is increased, Group W will not have anything to do with providing public access. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session February 13, 1985 Page 1 Answering questions, Mr. Hansen said the franchise fee does not directly affect rates charged by Group W. The MeTe recommends that L-eOG operate the public access channels. Group W is willing to accept the MeTe recommenda- tions. Mr. Kolb said telecommunications planning includes such things as teleports and satellite communications that relate to economic development. As Group W gross income increases, the franchise fee will increase. e Members of MCTC agree that public access should be funded at its current level. Springfield representatives are concerned about indicating that the additional 2 percent of the franchise fee will always go to public access. They want flexibility on an annual basis. Mr. Hansen said Eugene representatives want the MCTC to be able to change the allocations within the 2 percent which will go to public access. Commenting on the suggested changes, Ms. Wooten said she would like an assured amount annually for public access programming. Ms. Ehrman would like more information about L-eOG charges and the Advisory Committee for Access and the Cable Access Corporation and their relationship to the MCTC. The work session was adjourned at noon. ~~ Micheal Gleason ei ty Manager (Recorded by Betty lou Rarick) e BLR: cj /1 65Se - MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session February 13, 1985 Page 2