Minutes 1994 0815 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - August 15, 1994 Page - 10 - 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Matter of Cable TV Annual Performance Review and Public Comments on Proposed Cable TV Rate Regulations. This being the time and place for the Public Hearing on the above matter, Kathy Ornelas, Community Relations Representative, said the purpose of the Hearing was to receive public comments on the basic tier-rate regulation proposal as well as comments on Cable TV service. She described the rate-regulation proposal , which is modeled after those in place in other Alameda County cities. She said San Leandro has the authority to regulate rates for the basic tiers and has applied to and been certified by the FCC to regulate rates consistent with the adoption of FCC regulations. She said the Council can adopt the proposed regulations and then order TCI to provide calculations for current service and equipment rates. She said the City has a contract with a consultant to review the TCI rates; and, if they are inaccurate, refunds can be ordered. She noted the Franchise Agreement with TCI allows for an annual review of the company's performance and noted the various documents that had been supplied by TCI . She said Lee Perron of TCI has been extremely cooperative and responsive in resolving problems. She noted there were problems with the phones at TCI earlier this year but that has been resolved in the past few weeks. In response to Council questions, she said the basic rate is $9.72 per month. She said the resolution on the Agenda would allow the City to obtain the calculation materials and review them; then, if not consistent with FCC, require a rate adjustment; and the resolution sets forth the procedure for regulating rates. Council Member Perry commended Ms. Ornelas for her hard work on this matter. Mayor Corbett introduced Mayor Kathy Brown from the City of Livermore, who was in the audience. Lee Perron, TCI Cablevision of Hayward, said Ms. Brown is working for them as Director of Customer and Community Relations. He also introduced Kathy Wilson, in charge of the studio on programming. Mr. Perron said his company is the largest in the world, but they take pride in serving the residents of San Leandro. He said they are currently building a fiber-optic link for all the area's cities, and it is about 80% complete. He said he supports competition in the industry and would like the opportunity to provide local telephone and data processing services. The City Council asked a number of questions related to Cable TV service. In response to questions, Mr. Perron said he would look into putting some sort of music on the phone when callers are on hold. He described problems they had due to a 20% reduction in staff over a three-month period, and he said it took longer than it was hoped to train new staff.