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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 16, 2003CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 590 40th Avenue N.F., Columbia Heights, MN 55421-3878 (763) 706-3600 "I•DU (763) 706-3692 Vi.ci! Onr Webs'i!e at Irralr.ci. rn6unGin-heiglus.nrn. uc MEETING OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 7:00 PM, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2003 CITY I-IALL CONFERENCE ROOM Please contact Jean at 706-3613 it' you are unable to attend. AGENDA: 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of July 17, 2003 4. Old Business a. Channel Check b. Correspondence Lag and Company Follow Up on Complaints-Hurley c. Other Old Business 5. New Business a. Franchise Pees for 2id Quarter 2003 b. Rate Regulation Options c. Joint Boards and Commissions Recognition Dinner d. Other New Business 7. Reports a. Report of Commissioners Assigned to Access Channels: Educational Access--Dennis Stroik; Libt•aly Access-Bob Buboltz; Government Access--Ken Henke; Public Access-- Reuben Rtlen b. Report of AT & T Broadband- June, July, August, September 2003 Reports --Phone Statistics 2"d Quarter --Outage Report --Programs Produced c. Other Reports Adjournment Attachments The City or Colombia Heights does no[ discriminate mr the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or fi•eatment or mnployment in, Its services, programs, or activities. Upmr regneat, ncconunodation will be provided to allmv indlvlAuala with disabilities to pmtleipate in all City of Colombia Pleights' services, programs, and ae[IvlHes. Auxilimy aids for handicapped pm~smrs arc available upon request when [ke refines[ is made at least 96 home in advance. Please call the Uepnty City Cim~k a[ 706-3611, [o make arrangemm~ts. (TDD 706-3692 for dent m' hearing impah~ed only) TRe CITY OR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOTS NOT DISCRIMW ATE ON THE dASI50F DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT OR TIiG PROVISION OF SERVICES COUAL OPPORTUNITY F_MPLUYER THE MINUTES OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION FROM THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2003 The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Dennis Stroik, Chairperson. ROLL CALL: Commission Members Dennis Stroik, Reuben Ruen, Dan Swee, and Dave Mahoney. Excused-Absent Members: Unexcused Absence: Council Representative: City Representative: Legal Counsel: Comcast Representative: APPROVAL OF' MINUTES Ken Henke Brad Peterson and Bob Buboltz Bruce Nawrocki Linda Magee and Jean Kuehn Steve Guzzetta David Nyberg, Corp Affairs Manager Motion by Denr:is Stroik, second by Dan Swee, to approve the minutes from the meeting of May IS, 2003. All ayes. OLD BUSINESS A. Channel Check Everything was ok. B. Correspondence Log and Follow Up on Complaints Don Wiegand--1606 W. Innsbruck Pkwy NE; He was unhappy with the Comcast telemarketer regarding incorrect information he was given for a special package offer. The situation was resolved by Comcast giving him aone-month credit to his account and checking to make sure that he is pleased with the new digital package he is receiving. C. New Digital Packages A letter was received May 20, 2003 regarding the new digital packages being offered to new customers. Current customers will be able to keep their existing packages, but will eventually be transitioned to a common channel lineup and packaging. D. Other Old Business Commission members commended Jean Kuehn and Steven Antus on the Jamboree coverage and the narration of the parade which has been broadcast on our Access Channel. TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17, 2003 PAGE2 NEW BUSINESS A. Annual Report Chairperson Stroik asked for any comments on the Annual Report. This report is considered to be a standard report that meets the minimum requirement of our franchise. It is sure to be a topic of discussion in the negotiations of the renewal of the fi•anchise. Motion by Dave Mahoney, seconded by Dennis Stroik to accept tl2e Annual Report. All Ayes. MOTIONPASSL'D. B. New Channel Guide and Pricing Sheet Enclosed in the agenda packets was the new channel guide and pricing sheets that became effective July 1, 2003, for both the analog service and the digital service line up. C. Franchise Fees A letter was received July 1, 2003 regarding the review of the itemizing of franchise fees which is done to avoid over or under collecting fees from cable service customers. The franchise fees were adjusted effective July 1, 2003, from 5.49% to 6.05% to reflect payment amounts per government regulations. Commission members questioned the percentage amount as they thought the previous fee had been set at 5%. Steve Guzzetta explained to the members that the City did receive 5% of the gross revenues and that Comcast can now also pass through revenues received from Advertising and the Home Shopping Channel. The wording on the notice to subscribers caused some concern, therefore, there was a meeting with representatives of the cable company and Steve Guzzetta to establish acceptable wording to reduce the amount of confusion regarding the amount of franchise fees collected. It was also decided to discontinue using a specific % amount and that fees will be reviewed annually. The revised wording will be placed on bills starting with the next billing cycle. D. Annual Privacy Notice A copy of the bill insert of the Annual Privacy Notice was enclosed in the agenda packets. These were sent out beginning with the July 5 billing cycle. E. Grant Request from Bryan Olson Bryan Olson from Real Life Video proposed the making of a video production that focuses on the history of the City of Columbia Heights. He plans to produce a 60 to 90 minute video and enclosed an estimate of what he feels the costs would be to produce such a video. He is requesting a grant of $18,445. TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17, 2003 PAGE3 Ken Henke who could not be present at the meeting, sent his comments to Jean regarding this request. Ken was not in favor of granting the request for funds as he feels it is a commercial company looking for funds to do a project possibly resulting in a profit for them, which is not allowed under the current guidelines. He also raised the following issues: 1. Not a Columbia Heights Resident 2. Grants are not meant for wages, they are meant for supplies. 3. The proposal does not specify what the money would be used for, and that is a requirement in the grant guidelines. 4. The amount we can give out as a grant is limited, and that amount is only a small portion of the dollar figure requested. What are the other sources of funding? A discussion took place regarding the request. Dan Swee also felt it looked more like a bid and that the request included the billing for his time. Steve Guzzetta advised the commission that according to the guidelines, incomplete applications are not to be considered, and this is not a complete application. Also each organization requesting funds cannot be awarded more than $10,000. If it met all the criteria necessary and was approved by the commission, the request would then be forwarded to the City Council for their approval. Jean stated that she had given Mr. Olson a copy of the grant guidelines when he submitted the application enclosed in the agenda packets. Mr. Olson felt he had submitted everything he needed at that time to qualify it as a proper application. Bruce Nawrocki commented that he felt the project maybe of interest to the Columbia Heights Historical Society and they may want to have some input in a proj ect of this sort. He would like to see what they think of the project. Motion by Dan Swee, seconded by Dave Mahoney to reject the request as it is not a proper application. Staff was directed to send Mr.Olson notification of the decision and to enclose another copy of the guidelines/criteria that nuzst be met. All ayes. MOTION CARRIED. A. Election of Officers Dennis Stroik stated he was no longer interested in serving as the Chairperson of the Commission. However, the other commission members felt he does a goodjob and with the renewal of the franchise coming soon, they felt he would be the best person to continue serving in this position. Motion by Dan Swee, seconded by Dave Mahoney to nornirzate Dennis Stroik for Chairperson. All Ayes. Motion by Dave Mahoney, seconded by Dan Swee to close nominations. Swee, Ruen, and Mahoney-aye. Stroik-abstain. Motion Passed. B. Annual Holiday Dinner It was the consensus of the Commission to go on record that due to the budget constraints of the City, that the Annual Holiday Dinner for members and their spouses, be discontinued. They would enjoy something low key such as ordering pizzas or subs for their December or January meeting, but thought they should be fiscally responsible and set precedence for other commission groups. TELCOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17, 2003 PAGE 4 C. Other New Business Jean shared a copy of a report of the June testing of the emergency warning systems on the digital systems. Time Warner, Comcast, and Charter all reported they had problems with the audio when the testing was done. They have since corrected the problem. Commission members would like to see NASA programming added to one of the reserved channels not being used currently, even if it is temporary. Channels 14 and 20 were mentioned as being two available at the present time. REPORTS A. Report of Commissioners Education-Nothing to report Library-Nothing to report Public-Nothing to report Government-New equipment has been ordered and will be installed soon for Channel 16 (Government Access) and Channel 19 (Library Access). The new computer and software will aid the programming and scheduling for the channels. Liaison positions will be assigned at the next meeting. B. Report of Comcast- The reports for April and May were included in the agenda packets. Dave Nyberg, Corporate Affairs Manager for Comcast, updated the Commission on the transition of the domain change for their Hi-speed customers. He also stated Comcast is in the process of testing new technology for programming for high definition TV. They hope to offer this programming by the end of the summer. He reported that they have been in contact with local broadcasting channels to include them in the packages that will be offered. C. Report of the Cable Attorney Steve reported that Comcast is reviewing the way sales tax is figured to ensure it is being done correctly. D. Report of the Assistant to the City Manager Nothing further to report. Motion by Reuben Ruen, seconded by Dan Swee, to ar journ the meeting at 8.•00 pm. All ayes. Respectfully submitted, Shelley Hanson Secretary SUBSCRIBER COMPLAINT FORM COMPLAINT (x) INQUIRY~~ Construction _ Restoration x Customer Service x Billizag _ Rates x E7ui7Zn:ezzt Coznpetition Line Extensioza Progran:zz:ing x Technical Service x Izaterzaet Service Other Submitted by Jean Kuehn, 763-706-3613 City of Columbia Heights, 590 40'x' Ave NE DATE Sept 22, 2003 On behalf of: Name :Joyce & Michael Hurley Address: 1119 42 '/z AveNE City: Columbia Heights State: MN Zip: 55421 Home Telephone 763-781-600 Work Telephone: 612-788-7030 Description of Complaint: Has phone, cable and internet services, Problem for at least 6 weeks, various techs have been out, one connected a power accelerator improperly, burned Ethernet cable and damaeed Computer, has had NO cable service since storm two nights ago, e-mail has been erratic . On Sunday tech came, rebooted box, removed accelerator and put in amplifier and now has nothing. Very utrlrappy with Comcast, lost e-mail in transition from ATT and has nothing except hieh bill. No credit has ever offered for loss/lack of service or access. Other Resolution requested (if applicable):.Please contact, problems seem quite complex and overlapping. Please resolve no later than 4:30 p.m. on: Tue__sday, Sept 23, 2003 Information given to: Date: How complaint resolved:: Jean- As you know, since you were copied on Bob Gontarek's E: Mail, the following results are from a visit at the Hurley home on the evening of 9/23/03, "Set up appointment with sub tonight to meet there at 6:OOpm. They were both very polite and understanding. Found several issues, Internet was down due to amplifier inline to close to modem, causing very high signal levels. 3 digital boxes down, all stuck on zero. We removed amplifier and reinstalled in main split area in laundry room, replaced the boxes and reconfigured several areas. Also, had bad jumpers behind all TV's. Sub at this point is happy with us again and more then satisfied with our products. Will do a follow up call this coming Sunday to customer". Company Representative who processed the complaint/inquiry: Lead Technician Bob Gontarek; reported by Bruce Pierce, Customer Liaison; September 24, 2003 Time: } COMCAST FINANCIAL REMITTANCE ADVICE ~~~~~t AGENCY CORPORATION A Comcast Cable Communications Group Company Mid West Division Off ce 29777 Telegraph Rd. Sto. 44008 NO. 229273524 Southfield, MI 48034 Dale : 14-JUL-03 Vendor Name :COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CIT Vendor No.: 154604 INVOICE N0. INVOICE DATE DESCRIPTION DISCOUNT AMOUNT NET AMOUNT 2NDQTR2003 09-JUL-03 2-CE/MN 0.00 34,429.26 TOTAL o.o0 34,a2s.2s Comcast ~ NO.229273524 ~ . ONE ss-,a4a ~4a, BANK ~ , cowc~sTSnaAgcu~~cer+crconroq,anoe .:_ ~ :~.. , ~,- ~~ 644359333 .- _ . , ~ Cpncesl Csdo C«nmwcatrons Group Company _ .. - - Wweai Umron ortke Bank One, NA _. tarn r ,w, nd. st.. uooe Date 14-JUL-03 - " sau/,w~ii aeosa -Columbus, ON - - - " Vold After f80 Oa r,y _ $ „'.';`34,429.26 ThirtyFour Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Nine Dollars And 26 Cents - -Authorized Signature COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY OF MN 590 40TH AVE NE - - Order Or COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN 55421-3878 United States u _. . A ltwrized Signature , ,. , r2 29 2735 24r ~:044i15443s; 644359333' -" - '~f MEMORANDUM Creighton~t. Braille (~~ TO: Comcast of Minnesota, Inc. Municipal Clients Guzzetta,yLLC ~,,,,,,,,,,,,,~„k,,,, t,aw FROM: Creighton Bradley &Guzzetta, LLC 444 Cedar street SUBJECT: Review of FCC Forms 1240 & 1205 (Basic Service, Su;te 95o Equipment and Installation Rates) Filed by Comcast of St. Paul, MN 55101 Minnesota, Inc. in Februa 2003 P/(651)379-0900 ~ F/(651)379-0999 DATE: Apri19, 2003 Attorneys at Law Thomas D. Creighton Michael R. Bradleyt On or about February 26, 2003, Comcast of Minnesota, Inc. Stephen J. Guzzetta ("Comcast") filed FCC Fonns 1240 and 1205 with you, the designated rate regulation authority for your franchise area. As you know, the Legal Assistants Jennifer Bakkom Forms 1240 and 1205 are used by Comcast to justify its proposed rates for basic service and associated equipment and installation charges. Legisla(ive Consultan! The current forms establish proposed rates for the period from June 1, Maureen Flahaven 2003, through May 31, 2004, although Comcast may choose a slightly different start date for the new rates. At a minimum, however, Comcast's proposed rates will not become effective until at least ninety (90) days after the date the Forms 1240 and 1205 were filed with your office. See 47 C.F.R. § 76.933(g). To prevent the proposed rates from becoming effective you would need to act within ninety (90) days of the date of the rate filing. If you take no action within the 90-day review period, Comcast's proposed rates will become effective, but you will have 12 months from the date Comcast filed its Forms 1240 and 1205, in which to review and act on those forms (e.g., by issuing a rate order that requires a refund and/or a prospective rate reduction). If you take no action within the 12-month review period, you cannot at a later date order a refund or a prospective rate reduction with respect to the current rate filing. We should point out that, unlike in past years, it appears that Comcast will charge the maximum permitted rate it calculates for basic cable service. This means it is possible that subscribers could see a significant rate increase this year. We should also point out that Mr. Garth Ashpaugh, our rate analyst, has performed a perfunctory review }Also admitted in Wisconsin `Also admitted in Massacbesetts end the Disvicl of Columbia www.creightonbradley.com of the 2003 Forms 1240 and 1205, and has discovered certain errors. The exact significance of these errors on subscriber rates is not currently known, although it is believed that any detailed review of Comcast's basic service rate filing may not result in a rate reduction. Your primary options for addressing Comcast's February 2003 Forms 1240 and 1205 are as follows: A. Do Nothing. You could perform no review of the Forms 1240 and 1205, and allow Comcast's proposed basic service and equipment rates and installation charges to become final upon the expiration of the 12-month review period. Potential Benefits "Doing nothing" is contemplated by and permissible under the FCC's rules. See, e.g., 47 C.F.R. § 76.933(g)(2). No action or expenditure of funds is required. You would remain certified to regulate rates and could review and act on future rate filings from Comcast. 2. Potential Drawbacks Once the 12-month review period expires, you lose your right to order refunds or a prospective rate reduction concerning the rates and charges Comcast calculated and implemented. This would be the case even if it is later determined that the rates and charges imposed by Comcast were incorrect or unreasonable under FCC rules. Another potential problem is that Comcast may claim that you cannot properly evaluate data and calculations used in the current rate forms as part of a future rate review, since you arguably missed your opportunity to do so during the appropriate 12-month review period. In the future, it could be difficult to argue against any methodology used by or error committed by Comcast in this rate filing since (i) you had the opportunity to undertake a review and declined to do so and (ii) you have in the past completed a review of Comcast's prior rate filing and thereby established a precedent that you understand and acknowledge the responsibilities associated with rate regulation. Further, it may be difficult to obtain some important information for future rate proceedings if you take no action at all on the instant rate filing, since Comcast could (and likely would) argue that such information is no longer relevant or that identified issues are moot. Lastly, subscribers could allege that you have failed to discharge your fiduciary responsibilities as a regulatory body since you are certified as a rate regulation authority. B. Decertify. Before you started regulating basic service and equipment rates and installation charges, you had to become certified by the FCC to do so. See 47 C.F.R. § 76.910(a). If you no longer wish to regulate rates, you may decertify at any time. In order to decertify, you must notify the FCC that you no longer intend to regulate rates for basic service, equipment and associated equipment. Such notification must: (i) include a determination that rate regulation no longer serves the interests of cable subscribers in your franchise area; (ii) specify that you have received no consideration for decertifying; and (iii) be served on Comcast. Decertification would become effective upon notification to the FCC. The FCC, however, reserves the right to review a decertification notice and to request the factual finding underlying the decision to withdraw certification. See 47 C.F.R. & 76.917. Potential Benefits You would not have to spend time or limited funds reviewing Comcast's basic service and equipment rates, and installation charges. Funds that would have been devoted to rate regulation could be reallocated to other important issues, such as compliance with customer service standards and the development of information service ordinances. You would, however, incur the costs of preparing and filing a decertification petition with the FCC. The underlying rationale for decertification is that rate regulation is no longer important, meaningful or useful, since cable operators may now offset basic service rate reductions with corresponding increases in other service rates (e.g., expanded basic service rates and premium service rates), and since the FCC has issued orders and decisions which dramatically limit local rate regulation authority. If you wanted to regulate rates in the future, you could re-certify. As with decertification, you would incur legal fees in connection with the re-certification process. 2. Potential Drawbacks As a general matter, you could no longer ensure that Comcast's basic service and equipment rates and installation charges comport with FCC rules. Since you would no longer be engaging in rate regulation, Comcast would no longer be required to file rate forms supporting its rate increases. This maybe significant, since Comcast is not currently subject to effective competition in your franchise area, and may be able to implement monopoly pricing. In this regard, most cable rate increases have significantly outpaced increases in inflation. If you stop regulating rates, you may be perceived by subscribers as abandoning them to the pricing whims of Comcast. Given that Comcast may be charging maximum permitted rates for basic cable service, this could become a sensitive political issue. Further, if you wish to re-institute rate regulation in the future, should significant issues arise in the future or if the FCC's rules or decisions change in a favorable manner, there maybe disputes about what historical calculations and data may be reviewed, and what information must be provided. Such disputes may make it difficult to regulate rates effectively going forward if you ever opted to re-certify. As importantly, you would be unable to monitor any impacts the AT&T Broadband/Comcast Corporation merger has on local rates. Consequently, it would be almost impossible to enforce the condition in some transfer resolutions which states that rates will not increase as a result of the merger. C. Perform No Review and Issue a Rate Order Preserving Your Rights. You could forego a substantive review of the Forms 1240 and 1205 filed in February 2003, and issue a rate order that neither approves nor disapproves Comcast's proposed rates, but preserves any rights you may have going forward. Such an order would have to be adopted within the 12- month review period provided for under the FCC's rate regulation rules. Potential Benefits You would not need to spend the time or funds needed for a substantive review of Comcast's rate forms. At the same time, you may be able to preserve all of your rights for the future to look at the data and calculations in the current forms, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Such an approach may maximize the options available to you, as a rate regulation authority, while minimizing the financial commitment that would need to be devoted to acting substantively on the Forms 1240 and 1205. 2. Potential Drawbacks This approach would require an expenditure of funds to draft the rate order itself, along with necessary notices, and to engage in limited discussions with Comcast on acceptable rate order language, if necessary. Since similar rate orders were drafted for AT&T Broadband's prior rate filing, we anticipate that rate orders addressing the current filing could be prepared relatively inexpensively (probably for between $1,000 to $2,000 for all the orders and notices that need to be written, which amount would be split amongst participating rate regulation authorities). Any rate order issued could be appealed by Comcast, especially if no agreement on language can be reached. We were, however, able to reach an agreement with AT&T Broadband on most of the rate order language last year, and AT&T Broadband did not appeal your prior rate orders. Consequently, we do not believe that an appeal is likely with respect to any similar rate orders adopted this year. That said, there are some new decision-makers in the Comcast hierarchy that could appeal any rate orders adopted pursuant to this option. Responding to an appeal would, of course, require the dedication and expenditure of funds. Depending on the complexity of the issues involved, the cost of defending against an initial appeal typically runs from $5,000 to $15,000. Such an amount would be split amongst similarly situated rate regulation authorities. You should also be aware that if you do not specifically address Comcast's proposed rates before the 12-month review period expires, it is unlikely that you could implement any changes at a later time. Notwithstanding that fact, you may be able to make corrections to the current rate filing in the course of reviewing a subsequent filing and flow those corrections into a rate order addressing the subsequent filing. Comcast, however, would likely argue that all problems with the February 2003 Forms 1240 and 1205 are beyond the scope of a future rate proceeding. D. Perform aFull-Blown Rate Review. You could perform afull-blown substantive analysis of the FCC Forms 1240 and 1205 filed by Comcast, as was done with AT&T Broadband's rate filing two years ago. Such a review would entail the issuance of data requests and a detailed analysis of Comcast's rates and supporting documents. Appropriate rate orders would be drafted and adopted within the 12-month review period, based on the findings contained in the report that would be prepared by Ashpaugh & Sculco, CPAs, PLC. If you opt to pursue this option, you would have to act quickly, since it takes a significant amount of time to complete a detailed rate analysis. 4 1. Potential Benefits You would be able to determine whether Comcast's proposed calculations and rates comply with FCC rules and decisions (and the requirement in some of your transfer resolutions which states that the AT&T Broadband/Comcast Corporation transfer cannot result in increased subscriber rates). Refunds and prospective rate reductions could be ordered, as necessary. Reasonable rates, that follow FCC precedent and reflect a competitive environment, could be imposed in your rate orders. In the end, subscribers would be protected against unreasonable basic service, equipment and installation rates, and you would have fully discharged your duties as a certified rate regulation authority. This approach may be the most popular with subscribers, since you would be zealously advocating their interests. Potential Drawbacks It is likely that a detailed substantive review would be long, expensive and difficult. As in our last review of AT&T Broadband's basic service, equipment and installation rates, we anticipate that Comcast would resist providing a significant amount of necessary information, thereby compelling us to devote significant resources to document and information production. We also anticipate that there would be legal disputes about the scope of our review, Ashpaugh & Sculco's findings, and the processes we followed in conducting our review. You should also be aware that any detailed review of equipment rates will almost inevitably lead to intractable differences of opinion concerning Comcast's national aggregation of equipment and installation costs. By way of example, fundamental problems with such aggregation of costs, as calculated and reported by AT&T Broadband, were uncovered in our last substantive review and were not resolved as part of the 2001-2002 settlement. In the end, any basic service rate reductions you impose may be offset by corresponding increases in other service rates (e.g., expanded basic service rates and premium service rates). As importantly, Ashpaugh & Sculco has tentatively opined that a substantive review of Comcast's basic service rate filing may not even result in any significant downward rate adjustments. As indicated above, any review of Comcast's proposed equipment and installation rates would be very difficult and very controversial. Furthermore, it is likely that any rate orders adopted would be appealed, especially if you decided to address the inherent flaws in Comcast's nationalized equipment and installation ratemaking methodology. As previously mentioned, defending against appeals can be very expensive, depending on the complexity of the issues involved. We should also note that the FCC would likely grant a stay of our rate orders, pending the outcome of an appeal, which means the rate orders would not be effective unless and until we prevailed on the merits of the appeal. Historically, rate appeals have taken years to conclude. Further, even if we win on appeal, it is possible that Comcast could file additional appeals, which could delay the effectiveness of our rate orders. It is therefore possible that subscribers may not enjoy the benefits of a detailed review for three to five years. Excluding the costs of an initial appeal (the costs of which were approximated above), we estimate that the legal costs associated with this option would be between $5,000 and $15,000. The accounting costs associated with this option would be approximately $27,000-$30,000 (excluding travel and travel-related costs and the costs of appeals). All costs would be split between those rate regulation authorities choosing to perform a detailed substantive review of Comcast's most recent Form 1240 and Form 1205. Recommendation Given that we do not believe a substantive review of Comcast's basic service rate filings would likely result in a significant reduction in basic service rates, and because any review of Comcast's national equipment ratemaking methodology would be extremely difficult and the results of such a review would be uncertain and subject to almost certain appeal, we recommend that you pursue Option C again this year. We do not recommend decertifying at this time, because the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, as described above. We also do not recommend doing nothing, since you risk losing certain rights, and because Option C rate orders can be prepared inexpensively, in light of our experience last year. * ~ As always, please feel free to call with any questions you may have. COCT1CgSt® Kathi DonndlyCohcn Director - Govermnent Affairs Flione: (651)493-5281 Fax: (651)493-5268 July 31, 2003 Linda Magee Assistant to the City Manager Columbia Heights Cable Commission 590 40tH Avenue NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421 Dear Ms. Magee: Comcast 10 River Park Plaza Saint Paul, MN 56107 Please find enclosed our phone statistics for the tnotlth of June 2003, atld for second quarter, 2003. Per usual practices, the attached data reflects total numbers of phone calls, prior to factoring in those time periods considered exempt under federal guidelines. Though our year-to-date telephone response results have been strong, we faced a number of weather and construction-1•elated challenges for the second quarter with the onset of the spring season. When combined with other factors -including increased employee training and call center technology upgrade initiatives - we have seen a lower than expected phone service level. We are working diligently to effectively address the situation and expect improved statistics as a result of short-term efforts as well as the full ilnplementatiou of our call center improvements through the balance of the year. Please feel fi~ee to call with related questions. Best Regards, Kathi Donnelly-C.....,.. /aps Enclosure ~^. '~' ~ , ~ v 14 e' S 1. ~CU fT)cast &y e 7Vl~nn c ..x T?.. ~ R esota Uideo ~ i'Y"yllt"~'9v ~.7.' ~ ~~ ~ ~' ^Y~ " i ~ ^'pA x ~~ ~ ~. Y~ ~~~ n+' 4 ~ Y ~ Q3 ti.. _ +t ~ . w ~ _ .e.w., ..z , ` , ~, ~ ~ ,J.a .~~: °n ~. e. X,., g q ~ ~ ' ~ c ~g { i t~ ' S+R ~ Cwsto n A merS '~v~'i ervice ~ ~ Y ~v~ Sales~ ~ 4 `^iwCtN Disco J.trv. sS "" r~ i nnect/Saye , ~' ~3 a } ~~S um ~ T to Que ues~z~ +~~~{~uF T j . i~,~,;~Yr~ R ~~ -~ ~~~~ . r _ p ,~ , F"'µ ,~ ~. ' Ils't~, o~ a ,~ ~Queue~ ~Tl'Calls to " lnfr~ , v ~ Queue ~' 4Calls to '~~`~,,,,, :Queue ~..Ca(lsato ., ~~ ~'~ . Queue ' e ~; ~, ~ e,i 1~1~~@@'',` ~S 1 A1~Tunks :; z161onth; IVR ~ ±y~0ueue'r~''c ~ ,~gbartu? .. 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Atian ; ~Ans <30 'a,:A&A , 1 TSG% s} Bus ~ ~~??Janua ~~' 56,318 7 173,909 1,625 703,628 49,688 1,364 42,506 , ; 5,339 25 5,110 ~ 168,936 3,014 151,244 ,. 70 , 93% r 0.00% _ ~~Februa" 54,255 98,246 1,547 90,180 ~ 40,306 1,015 37,153 _ :` 6,496 72 6,327 _ ~ 145,048 2,634 133,660 ~ : 9 96% 0.04% ww =Maiclr 56,579 104,674 1,963 91,780 ~ 46,223 7,475 39,452 _ 7,543 77 7,234 158,440 3,515 138,466 _ 12 92% 0.00% ~.'A ?il 50,500 a 104,329 1,148 97,230 ~~ 42,299 7,010 37,785 ' 7,222 42 7,125 ~r 153,850 2,200 142,140 _ - 7 94% 0.00% ~~yra~Ma` 46,679 " 99,526 3,104 77,492 48,061 2,886 31,340 8,509 96 7,780 ~ 156,096 6,086 116,612 `- 28 83% 0.00% ';:~.~'+June 48,921 ` 109,553 3,833 83,737 '~ 57,906 3,741 34,271 8,620 104 7,868 ~ 170,079 7,078 725,670 ~; 30 82% 0.01 Juf` _ Au` ust - _ ,Se"ember _ "November ~ _ _ December ~ . `, _ _ _ cYTD 313192 ? 630237 13220 643,457 : 278,483 10,891 222,507 ;, 43,729 416 41,444 `.- 952,449 24,527 907,408 ~ l8 J 89% !, 0.02% , TSL 100% 90 % 80 70 % 60 % 50 40 % 30 % 20 10% ~% Z' r > > L ` T ¢ `~ N T y ~ ~ ~ a ~ a c n` m ~ ~ ~ m m m m ti ¢ ° o d ~ Z ~ ,tt7~ .£k.. ~ a.'d ~' If "~f Y~ l '~ S Ls ~ ' ~ ~ ~`} Sk"~`'4'~<~ Y` ~ pye- 1 ~Y ~' y -.* J-y ac:'yyti ,,..++ see l ~ a>~'`~Tk ~•°''TS4 ~ '~' y~k'f £f 2 ,at Cz` # . 6a., } c : i ~ "Y ~v'a'~ sx ts ~^~tir ~ z ~ M ~ . \ a` ~ ~3 e : +~~~a' 5 ~>^ 'F ya" .. . ~'~ . ~ °~hJ ~ ~"+N nd ,.,~ 1.^ : , ,.. {., 'Y G ~~ h ,.} M~~k r ~~h~j~{ T s~ 7 : ~} 1 ~ .S ;7; ~ 9 q, . ~.. i .. ^.:,s y~~ ~ ~ '*r ~ 'h ~ w ~6 "~ „r .. x ..zr .+ , C . , e .. 4 u ,.a , a, .` u] *'z . y ~ ~ dR},. k'! `i S~'a `~ Sit _ + "~ A ~ ~~t~tzb~~a~~ fw WX,.~"-I~ < - " .fin, ~i e,&~ ~h'Sw y~i~°`1~"~h 3~f . mv;.={ v/ :.T.E3~ 1 a'`K ,. j~ ~ardld .: c~ 2wY. ~ ~ ,~ p .. t `tY''~'A,t ~f.~''Tiu i~v ~..<. ~U'; c.r aY:. .K.i' k! 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Nmc Telephone Smrice Factor is an internal benchmark mNa Nen an FCC service standard Ir guages the percent of calls slut was auwaed in 30 s«onds or las. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS Jun-03 DETAILED OUTAGE REPORT Average Time # Subs Date Citv Cause Minutes Amps Affected 17-Jun Columbia Heights Amplifier 48 1 6 25-Jun Columbia Hei hts Passive 131 10 187 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DETAILED OUTAGE REPORT Date City Cause JuI-03 Average Time # Subs Minutes Amps Affected 4-Jul Columbia Heights Node 143 15 203 22-Jul Columbia Hei hts System Maintenance 60 1 10 ~1'1CI11~ Basic Service $ 29.82 Basic Service....... -,____.,. _.....,~~~"~~$ 37.99 Basic 2 Service .. - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ' .c & Basic 2) .......... ~ ~ ~ ~ $ 2.00 Standard Cable (includes Basl r rammrng) - ~ ~ ~ cational 8 Government P og d - u pEGfee (Pubtlc, E $ 13 99 Premium Channels Cinemax, TMC, Starz! (each) . ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ " ~ " l Plus) time it , RgC, Show a Incl. Std. Cahle and Dig ..... - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l Cahle $ as99 74 89 . ~l Premium Channels) ...... Digita Digital Platinum ( mium Channels) - ~ ~ ' ' ' " -' " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _ _$ $ 63.99 2 Pre Digital Gold IAnY .. _ . l Sliver (Any t Premium Channep ... - - ~ - ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ~ - ~ ........ . ~ - ~ 15 99 Digita . . . plgital Plus (Includes boz & remote) ....... . ~ ~ $ 6,99 Digital Exira ............ ...... $ 6.95 .. ... Cable Latinolndutles box & remote) . ' ~ " ~ " ~ ~ " l NO l Digisa .5 5795 ............. Internet $erVlGeS .. . " ....... .~ 4 ......... ...... .. . Monthly Service Fee d Monthly Service ee o-+ " ~' ~ t . .. .... $ 3A0 g 95 e Discoun Monthly Cable Modem Lease Fee ...... . _ , - , " $ , , ,$ 60.95 Home Networking Service ~' Service + Modem tee) Service (Monthly , , ' - _ ~ ~ ~ $ 45 95 ... - . ~ ' 5 To[at Monthly _ . ounted Total Mon[h1Y Service ........ - - ~ ~ ~ i 98,9 , _ , ... - ~ ' ~ 49.95 sc D ." Premium Installation < . ~ - ~ ~ " ~ ~ ' , , . - . .'..... $ 49.95 ~~ Basic Nsta-ation<~~~-""~ :........ .......... . .. .~ 19.95 '"~~ ~ Service Call ............. ,,,., _,,,,. ,, . ... .... $ A9.95 ..~ ........ Retoca[ion Installation ....... " - ~ ~ ~ ~ $ ....... 13.49 Ethetne[ Device . ~ - - ~ ~ ~ ' ~ ' ' ................. . - 19.99 ''' Data Outlet .............. ected of time of Installation . - ~ ~ ~ ~ " ...$ 9.95 ..... fee .............. Additional Gullet conn dem Activation Processing ... 0 Mo es and ee i $ 5.0 .........~ ............ c Other Serv ..... $ 20.00 .. Late Fee ................ ....... -~-"'" ....... . ..$ 20.00 . ...... Returned Check Fee .....-~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ....... ..$ 2.85 poor Collection Fee azine (month) ~ ' ' ' _ , . .. .varies ~ ~ Channet Guide Mag ................ _ ..~ S 2,00 PaY-Per-View ............. ................. ..$ 4.70 ~ ~ ' ' ~ ' ' Basic 1 only receiver ...... ..... - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ' ' ' ~ ~ ~ ,30 - ~ ~ ~ - Non-basic only receiver ..... . • ........... Prces subi~r w change. Remote COMf01 . - - ...... • .. ces Rancrrise lee andfa aPPlicable razes rwt'rocwdad in above Pn lieC on a Qar cabin moCem bases' ices Ger . resuicnoas aPPIY- [tin 'MOnmIY sen'ice te¢ i5 ePP rgPPbcabia it customer purchases Omer Comcast serv b¢r0ar devica uire e r s a Mome lAN- t q d <n025 nDl rpClUde COS[ D1 uters to a single csbla modem r ri le comp --Connecting mW P 1-888•COMCAST www-camcast.com GHMNT30A0 ]107 Comcast. Installation and Service cable plant) ...... 125' of existrng $ 41.99 . $ 24 99 .. ..... .. ..... Unwired Install (within " - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ $ . 1349 Prewired install ... - - ~ ~ ~ "' ... at rn $ 19,89 ..... ........ Additional Outlet' a~ate trip .... - - ... -sep $ 58.99 ...... ........ Additional Outlet ~ ' ' $ 1.99 '"'~ ices ............. Relocate outlet - ...... - - ~ ~ rade of addressable sere . , _ , ~ ~ ' " .~~ $ 15.99 ..... 9 9B UPipmvng Upgrade optional services' SePa'rate top ~ - - crate tnP ..."."" s -sep i $ ~~ ,. $ 5.99 ce , .. " - rade optional serv Downg at initial ins[a11 ..~'~"-""'~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ $ 12,99 .-. ~ ~ ~ VCR connection crate tdP ~ • ' ~ ~ ' - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -sep ' ' .$ 2-95 ~ ~ ~ - VCR connection lntenance plan Per month ~ ~ ~ - - ~ Cable Guard (Ma ........... ....... $ 27.99 " - tiourlYservice charge ....... Unreturned Equipment . nveder ......... ~ ..... $3~~ . ~ - .. , Unreturned addressable cp l converter ................. _ _ , _ $ 7.00 ... . . . lta Untetumed dig ........... - ' ' Unreturned remote - - ~ ~ ~ ' ' Curing me Year. This Prioe fepres¢n(s tnz fee as of mrs Peiein9~ s Prices suniect to ~angs~o product. FGC re9ularory fee maY "a`Y s no[ mclud°tl m above Prke l cable tax¢ hWmmeaN~accWnts or bulk mte azran9~d.[rnsof the FrarcM~ lee andlo* aPP ~~ t Faase refer to m¢ re*ms and con Fa customers recawing service lhmu9 nM aPP R pricing antl other information herein maY zemeM Vi II aPPH~ seParale agreemzm' Terms of the separate ay ~Qmcast. r 111 Weatherscan Local 120 Noggin 121 Discovery Kids 122 Toon Disney 125 Newsworld International 726 Nick Toons 128 Bloomberg 135 MN 2 136 G4 137 TRIO 738 Wisdom 167 The Game Show Network 162 BBC America t64 ShopNBC 782 Ovation 183 Style 201 Discovery Home & Leisure 215 Nick GAS 220 Discovery Health 222 The Health Network 230 Trinity Broadcasting 231 Inspirational Life 240 International Channel 271 Discovery Times 272 Discovery Science 273 National Geographic 274 Discovery Wings 275 Biography Channel 276 Hisroryrylnternanonal 294 TechTV 401 Fox Sports World 402 ESPNews 406 Outdoor Channel 408 Speed Channel 413 Fox Digital Sports Atlantic 414 Fax Digital Sports Central 415 Fox Digital Sports Pacific 471 VH-1 Country 472 MN Hits 473 VH-t Classic 474 VH-1 Saul 47fi FDSE 481 BET Jaa 482 MBC 494 Great American Country 486 The Word 503 IFC 504 Lifetime Movie Nelwark 505 Sundance East 506 Fax Movie Channel 516 WAM! 517 Encore 519 Encore Love Stories Easi 521 Encore Mystery East 523 Encore Westerns East 527 Encore True Stor"ies East 529 Encore Action East 600 Utilisima 601 Discovery en Espanol r 602 Fox Sports en Espanol 900 Showcase 603 NElnternacional 901 Today's Country 604 CineLatino 902 Classic Country 605 VH7 en Espanol 903 Americana 606 MN Espanol 904 Bluegrass 608 CNN en Espanol 905 R&B and Hip-Hop 609 Toon Disney en Espanol 906 Classic R&B 670 HNMusica 907 Smooth R&B ~~n~~aanr~~~ 908 Rap r r ~11~a'iCiL'iL l 909 Metal 112 KARE-NBC (HDN) 910 Rock 113 KTCA-PBS (HDN) 911 Power Rock 114 KMSP-FOX (HDN) 972 Classic Rock 115 KSTP-ABC (HDN) 913 Alternative Rack 551 HBO East (HDTV) 914 Electronica 576 Showtime East (HDN) 915 Dance 916 Progressive/Adult ' Alternative 440 NBA Previews 917 Soft Rock 918 Hit List 441-457 NBA Sports Packages 461-470 MLB/NHL Sport 919 Party Favorites ' Packages 920 SOs 921 New Wave 800 PPV Previews 922 '70s 807-830 iN DEMAND 844 Hot Network 923 Solid Gold Oldies 857 Spice 924 Singers & Standards 852 Spice 2 925 Big Band & Swing 853 Playboy 926 Easy Listening 927 Smooth Jaa • • 928 Jaa 533 Starz! 929 Blues 930 Reggae 535 Siarz!Theater 937 Sountlscapes 537 Black STARZ! 932 Classical Masterpieces 538 STARZ! Cinema East 933 Opera 539 Starz! Family 934 Light Classical 550 HBO 935 Show Tunes 552 HBO 2 East 936 Contemporary Christian 554 H60 Signature East 937 WRNB 556 HBO Family East 950 Gospel 558 HBO Latino East 951 For Kids Only 559 HBO Comedy East 952 Sounds of the Seasons 560 HBO Zane East 953 Musica Latina 562 Cinemax 954 Salsa Merengue 564 More MAX East 955 Rock'En Espanol 566 Action MAX East 956 Latin Love Songs 567 Thriller MAX East 957 Mexicana 575 Shawlime 577 ShoTOO East 579 Showtime Showcase East Le end 581 Shawlime Extreme East g 583 Showtime Next Digital Plus 584 Showtime Family Digital Extra 585 Show[ime Women Premium 585 Flix East Pay-Per-View 590 TMC East Cable Latino 592 TMC 2 East High Definition Television CHANNEL GUIDE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, NtN Effective Jufy 2003 2 KTCA -PBS 3 KPXM -PAX 4 WCCO -CBS 5 KSTP -ABC 6 Metro 6 Regional Access 7 TV Guide 8 KMW8-WB 9 KMSP-FOX 10 WFTC - UPN 71 KARE -NBC 12 KSTC - IND 13 Local Programming 15 Puhlic Access 16 Government Access 17 KTCI -PBS 18 Educational Access 79 Lihrary Access 21 BRAVO 22 78S Superstation 23 WGN 24 OVC 25 ESPN 26 ESPN2 27 Fox Sports Net 28 Goll Channel 29 ESPN Classic 30 Hallmark Channel 31 CNN 32 CNN Headline News 33 CNBC 34 Fox News 35 The Weather Channel 3fi AtSE 37 The Discovery Channel 38 History Channel 39 The Learning Channel 40 AMC 47 Turner Classic Mdvies 42 Travel Channel 43 Lifetime 44 Food Network 45 Home & Garden TV 46 USA 47 TNT 48 FX 49 Sci-Fi 50 Comedy Central 51 E! 52 TV Land 53 Disney 54 Nickelodeon 55 Cartoon Network 56 Animal Planet 57 ABC family 56 C-SPAN 59 C-SPAN 2 66 Court TV 62 Spike N 63 Great American Country 64 VH-1 65 MTV fib BET fi7 Women's Entertainment 70 MSNBC 76 iN DEMAND 1 77 Outdoor Lite 96 Home Shopping Network 98 EWTN 98 Inspiration 99 Univision Legend Basic Basic 2 Pay-Per-View Universal Service Channel Line-Up subject to change. Digital line-up Dn reverse side. 1-688-COMCAST www.comcast.com Comcast. CHMN73M0 0703 Line-Up subject to change. OMCAST www.comcast.com Comcast® A'Ci~l' onv~u~~+-ii'l~"v COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TELEVISION JULY 2003 PROGRAMS • Heights Calendar - 0:58:26 • Mayor's Report (7/1) - 0:22:44 Mayor's Report (7/15) - 0:22:11 • Mayor's Report (7/29) - 23:21 • Thunder v. Seattle - 2:05:55 • Thunder v. Portland - 2:13:30 • A Band of Ballplayers (Quicksteps vs. Villagers)- 0:58:30 • On Deck Circle (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Affordable Health Care - 0:58:15 • You've Got To Be Kidding (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Tuff Guy II Championship - 2:00:00 • Tub Time News - 0:30:00 • Hour of Restoration (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Reality Cluistianity (2 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Newsworthy (4 shows) @ 030:00 • Music da camera (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Enviromnental Journal (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Vet's Visit on TV (2 shows) @ 0:29:30 • Love Power (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Light On The Gospel (2 shows) @ 1:00:00 • The LaRouche Connection (4 shows) @ 0:5830 • Jimmy Swaggart (4 shows) @ 0:58:30 • Army Newswatch (4 shows) @ 0:28:30 • The Prophetic Word (4 shows) @ 0:28:30 • That Which Is (4 shows) @ 0:59:00 • Atheists Talk (4 shows) @ 0:29:00 • On Main Street (4 shows) @ 0:28:15 • Cluistopher Close Up (4 shows) @ 0:28:00 • Somali TV of Minnesota (4 shows) @ 2:00:00 • MPW TV (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 Programs Produced (internal) 7 Programs Produced (external) 78 CHANNEL PROGRAMMING • Cablecast Programs 107 • Cablecast Hours 106 FACILITY USE • Studio Hours 28 • Editing Hours 66 • Mac G - 4 Usage Hours 50 • Portable Equipment Checkouts 2 CLASSES • No classes were scheduled for the month of July. Notes: • Playback schedule is gradually being expanded. • When playback software is installed in late August schedule expansion can be completed. • Transfer of data from old bulletin board computer to new one was completed. • Towards the end of July staff shot several interviews with organizers of and participants in Sister City visit. • Regular season coverage of the Thunder will be completed in August. Possible playoff coverage depends on truck availability. J rsnww~.Qrw~® A'1~7' Qnvr~v~r~rrlr',r' COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TELEVISION AUGUST 2003 PROGRAMS • Heights Calendar - 0:35:55 • Mayor's Report (8/12) - 0:23:43 • Mayor's Report (8/27) - 0:27:50 • Community Redevelopment Update - 0:25:33 • Thunder v. El Paso - 2:05:45 • Quicksteps Vintage Baseball -1:26:23 • Rice Creek Watershed District Meeting - 0:37:24 • The Road to Clean Elections - 0:28:17 • The 25°' Frame -1:26:40 • The Kennedy Limousine - 1:58:00 • Altera Vista - 0:58:14 • The On Deck Circle (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Hour of Restoration (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Reality Christianity (2 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Music da camera (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Enviromnental Journal (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Vet's Visit on TV (2 shows) @ 0:29:30 • Love Power (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Light On The Gospel (2 shows) @ 1:00:00 • The LaRouche Connection (4 shows) @ 0:58:30 • Jimmy Swaggart (4 shows) @ 0:58:30 • Army Newswatch (4 shows) @ 0:28:30 • The Prophetic Word (4 shows) @ 0:28:30 • That Which Is (4 shows) @ 0:59:00 • Atheists Talk (4 shows) @ 0:29:00 • On Main Street (4 shows) @ 0:28:15 • Cluistopher Close Up (4 shows) @ 0:28:00 • Somali TV of Minnesota (4 shows) @ 2:00:00 • MPW TV (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 Programs Produced (internal) 6 Programs Produced (external) 72 CHANNEL PROGRAMMING • Cablecast Programs 120 • Cablecast Hours 138 FACILITY USE • Studio Hours 32 • Editing Hours 70 • Mac G - 4 Usage Hours 65 • Portable Equipmeut Checkouts 3 CLASSES • No classes were scheduled for the month of August. Notes: • Playback schedule has been expanded. • The playback software will be fully integrated into the system in early September. . df~AA!\bN6f Ali DI7t•1/~VDI~f~~ COLUMBIA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TELEVISION SEPTEMBER 2003 PROGRAMS • Heights Calendar - 0:58:00 • Mayor's Report (9/9) - 0:22:49 • Mayor's Report (9/23) - 0:24:30 • Milwaukee v. Thunder Playoff (9/7) - 2:25:45 • Columbia Heights v. St. Anthony Football - 2:02:30 • Rice Creek Watershed District Meeting - 2:58:14 • Rice Creek Watershed District Meeting 3:49:11 • Flag Day Celebration Concert - 1:00:00 • Minnesotans For Kucinich Rally - 0:58:30 • Capra's Outdoor Frontiers (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • The On Deck Circle (4 shows) @ 030:00 • Hour of Restoration (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Reality Cluistianity (2 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Music da camera (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Enviromnental Journal (4 shows) @ 0:30:00 • Vet's Visit on TV (2 shows) @ 0:29:30 • Love Power (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 • Light On The Gospel (2 shows) @ 1:00:00 • The LaRouche Connection (4 shows) @ 0:58:30 • Jimmy Swaggart (4 shows) @ 0:58:30 • Army Newswatch (4 shows) @ 0:2830 • The Prophetic Word (4 shows) @ 0:28:30 • That Which Is (4 shows) @ 0:59:00 • Atheists Talk (4 shows) @ 0:29:00 • On Main Street (4 shows) @ 0:28:15 • Christopher Close Up (4 shows) @ 0:28:00 • Somali TV of Minnesota (4 shows) @ 2:00:00 • MPW TV (4 shows) @ 1:00:00 Programs Produced (internal) 4 Programs Produced (external) 75 CHANNEL PROGRAMMING • Cablecast Programs 122 • Cablecast Hours 119 FACILITY USE • Studio Hours 38 • Editiug Hours 64 • Mac G - 4 Usage Hours 45 • Portable Equipment Checkouts 4 CLASSES • No classes we-•e scheduled for the month of September. Notes: • All the bags have been worked out with the new playback software and it is operating smoothly. • Steve has a big shoot scheduled with the Doling Dancers in October. They perform traditional Polish music and dance. We will be using the CTV studio in Roseville since it is much larger than ours. • Another Commuuity Redevelopment Update is scheduled for October covering the old Kmart site. More of these shows will probably be produced throughout the winter and spring...hopefully on a montlily basis. • Plaus are ah•eady in the works for staff s coverage of the city library's 75"' Birthday Celebration iu December. Real Life Video Documentaries • Community issues and events • Meetings • Weddings • Commercial Legal depositions • Politics and campaigns • Photo Montages • Public and Private Events • Histories Single cam or multicam shoots Bryan Olson PO Box 581703 (651)646-5825 Minneapolis MN 55458-1703 Res. (651) 646-5788 COdI l1}@V Id@O@hQf mdII.COm August 12, 2003 '% To: Columbia Heights Telecommunications Commissioners; Linda Magee I am in receipt of the minutes of the Telecommunications Commission meeting of July 17, 2003. My inquiry was not submitted on the commission's Grant Applications Guidelines form because I did not.have this form at the time nor did I have any knowledge that such a form existed; the Grant Application Guidelines form was mailed to me after the July 17 meeting. Since my history video proposal does not meet the criteria of the commission, and seemingly no provision can be made to deal with afor-profit vendor, I shall not be submitting a grant application and therefore withdraw my proposal. Sincerely, _i j/V~ ~~'' Bryan Olson Real Life Video We shoot, edit, and air your program on public access channels Audio and Video tape duplication services CD, DVD, DVCAM, Mini DV, SVHS, VHS, Audio Cassettes r cc: MayorJuliemie Wyckoff, Catheizne Vesley CITY OF COLUMBIA ~~EIGHTS 590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights. MN 55421-3878 (763) 706-3600 TDD (763) 706-3692 Visit Our Web.rile a!; wn•w.ci.colwnbin-heighls.uur.us ADMINISTRATION July 21, 2003 Bryan Olson P.O. Box 581703 Minneapolis, MN 55458-1703 Dear Bryan: Moor Julienne Wyckoff Coundlmom6v~ Tami Ericson Bruce Kelzenerg Bruce Nawrocki Bobby Williams Ctty Monoper Walter R. Fehst At its meeting of July 17, 2003, the Columbia Heights Telecommunications Commission rejected the grant request you submitted, as it was not a proper application. Enclosed is a copy of the Grant Guidelines and Application Form for your review. Should you have any questions regarding the grant guidelines and application, please contact me at (763) 706-3609. Sincere~y, I / ~ v""' 1 ~/ L' da L. Magee Assistant to the Ci Human Resourct cb 2003/42 Enclosures THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BA515 OF OISABILITV IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Real Life Video Documentaries • Community issues and events • Meetings • Weddings • Commercial Legal depositions • Politics and campaigns • Photo Montages • Public and Private Events • Histories Single cam or multicam shoots We shoot, edit, and air your program on public access channels Audio and Video tape duplication services CD, DVD, DVCAM, Mini DV, SVHS, VHS, Audio Cassettes Bryan Olson PO Box 581703 (651) 646-5825 Minneapolis MN 55458-1703 Res. (651) 646-5788 real lifevideo@hof mar l.com June 25, 2003 To: Columbia Heights Telecommunications Commissioners I wish to p1•opose the malting of a video production that focuses on the history of the city of Columbia Heights. Please find attached a summary of estimated costs involved to produce a 60- to 90-minute broadcast-quality production. It is this amount that I would seek in the fm•m of a grant from the Telecommunications Commission or other proper entity. Two VHS copies of a short compilation video I have made are being left with Linda Magee so that you may see some examples of my work. On these tapes is a clip from a history video done for Roseville (not produced by Real Life Video) and the RLV production of a short subject about the Heights Theatre which played many times over a number of months on Columbia Heights channel 15. You may also watch my latest documentary, "The Missing Piece: Affordable Health Care" on channel 15, Monday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. and at other times after that yet to be determined. This documentary represents 250 hours of pre- and post-production, so I am estimating the city history video to take nearly twice that much production time. I have a video shoot each third Thursday of the month so I will not be able to attend one of your meetings. I would like to arrange another time to discuss this proposal. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Bryan Olson Real Life Video cc: Linda Magee, Jean Kuehn, Mayor Julienne Wyckoff Real Life Video Bryan Olson PO Box 581703 (651) 646-5825 Minneapolis MN 55458-1703 Res. (651) 646-5788 reallifevideoC~hotmail.com 6-25-03 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HISTORY VIDEO PRODUCTION ESTIMATE Shooting and mastering formats: DVCAM and MINI DV Editing system: Final Cut Pro Estimated footage to be shot: 35 hours C~ 12 DVCAM tapes $ Pre-Production time (interview planning, reviewing footage, etc.) 100 hrs. Research 100 hrs. Editing/Post-Production 250 hrs. Shooting 35 hrs. Total Labor 485 hrs. C~ $30/hr. Transfer 8mm/Super 8mm/16mm movies to DVCAM or Mini DV format Transcribe 35 hrs. footage Mileage est. 500 mi C~,33/mi Distribution/Final product: 480.00 14,550.00 250.00 3,000.00 165.00 $ 18,445.00 100 units DVD* 600.00 100 units VHS* 600.00 1 DVCAM master 40.00 1 SVHS master 30.00 1 DVD master 100.00 * There is much to consider in the pricing of DVD and VHS. Price breaks occur after 500 units, and deeper discounts after 1,000 units. Labeling and packaging can be apartan or as elaborate as Hollywood moviea. 1,000 units of VHS with laser-printed labels and anon-printed, blank cardboard sleeve are about $3.00 per unit. 1,000 units of DVD would be about the same price with jewel case and thermal printing on the discs. Printing deluxe quality sleeves for VHS and jewel case inserts/or J-cards for DVD will add to the expense. RLV estimates the coat of production to arrive at a finished master, at $18,445.00. How much to spend for copies to sell to the public can be decided by the client at a later time.