HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 08 06 Minutes CALNO Government Cable Television Channel Task ForceMEETING NOTES
CALNO GOVERNMENT CABLE TELEVISION CHANNEL TASK FORCE
August 6, 1997
Altamonte City Hall, 225 Newburyport Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioner Cindy Gennell, Chairperson, City of Winter Springs
Larry Furlong, CALNO Member, Seminole County School Board Member
Mayor Bill Winston, CALNO Member, City of Longwood
Diane Pickett, Time Warner Cable (TWC)
Stephen M. Steck, President & CEO, WMFE-TV/FM
Mike Simmons, WMFE/TV
Patsy Wainwright, City Clerk, City of Altamonte Springs (Meeting Recorder)
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Gennell at 7:25 p.m.
Mr. Steck distributed packets containing the proposal from WMFE-TV showing
the connection to entities in Seminole County and an overview for service, for a
fee, to assist in the creation of a consortium to help distribute programming.
(Attachment 1)
Ms. Pickett informed the Committee that some time ago Time Warner Cable built
a line from Channel 24 which allows for WMFE programming to be fed directly to
the head end.
Ms. Pickett also stated that a commitment was made to broadcasting the legislature live
during the legislative session. She indicated this was always done during the day for
Orange TV, and encouraged Seminole County to do the same thing as has been done
in the past. That legislative session lasts for a two month period. Programming is
typically broadcast for about a four hour period five days per week during the legislative
session.
Mr. Steck indicated that there is room for flexibility, but the more flexible the
programming, the more costly the service.
Ms. Pickett stated that other providers do not have direct access to Time Warner Cable.
Mayor Winston indicated that when a decision is made on this program, he felt the
consortium should take over this program and CALNO should step out of this project.
Mr. Furlong stated that there are three issues the entities will be asking and which
CALNO will need to be able to answer:
1) What is the cost?
2) What will we get from this? and
3) How will this work?
Mr. Steck indicated that one of the concerns of this program is the public policy issue.
He suggested this committee might wish to visit and observe a program currently in use
in another community.
Mayor Winston asked Mr. Steck for his recommendation on how to proceed with this
program.
Mr. Steck indicated that if the money was available, the committee should go for the
high end of this program, but stated that most governmental entities do not have this
ability. If that is the case with these entities, he urged the committee to grow into this
within one to two years and form a solid base of operation. He felt a slow conservative
start to be appropriate.
Ms. Pickett asked Mr. Steck to provide information on costs of upgrading from one level
to the next in the equipment package.
Commissioner Gennell set the next two meetings:
August 19th at WMFE Studios, 9:00 a.m. and September 11, at TWC Headquarters,
9:00 a.m.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:58 p.m.
Notes provided by Commissioner Gennell