CABLE
ACCESS ADVISORY COMMISSION
PRESENT: Don Deibert; Todd DuBois, Roy Green, Fred Johnson,
Linda Malekadeli
ABSENT: Jim Huber;
ALSO PRESENT: Ron
Beacom – MCTV; Melissa Barnard – Library; Brandi Pfohl – Secretary
I.
CALL To Order
By Malekadeli at
II.
APPROVAL - of November 10, 2004 minutes
Minutes approved as
submitted
III.
PUBLIC Comments
None
IV.
OLD Business
1. Goals
2004-05
Beacom reviewed
goals. Goal 4 – improve communication
with community - Beacom suggested adding the commission members e-mail
addresses to MCTV’s web site for the public to contact a commission
member. Malekadeli stated she liked the
idea. Deibert stated a member of the
commission should be willing to be contacted by the public. Johnson stated he wouldn’t be comfortable
responding to questions regarding policy. He didn’t see an advantage because he
would always have to refer e-mails to Beacom.
Green questioned whether there’s a specific amount of time to respond
similar to response time for Freedom of Information Act requests. Beacom said
FOIA is a more formal process. Barnard stated commission can’t hold e-mail
discussions with other members to answer a question. Johnson wants to know what their obligation
is in terms of their response to a question and the timeliness of that
response.
2. Subscriber
Survey
Beacom reviewed
subscriber survey presented at November meeting. CMU’s estimated cost of survey was $16,000,
much higher than what was speculated. Will look at other options to measure
viewership (focus groups, mail survey, etc).
3. Access
User Survey
Beacom reviewed the
process to annually survey MCTV access users.
Summary of survey in agenda packet.
Green questioned whether the lottery system was working. Beacom stated having many sports and music
programs move to MPS-TV 17 from MCTV 3 has opened up time on channel 3 which
has benefited the replay of special programs. In terms of series and the
lottery, there have been no complaints that the lottery isn’t fair. Of the
programs that moved to MCTV 15, those producers haven’t complained. Johnson asked if MCTV has done any
orientation/training with the high schools, i.e drama clubs to enlist future
access users. Beacom stated MCTV hasn’t
specifically recruited those kids but some of those behind the scenes kids have
participated through the high school video communications class. Something to
consider. Diebert asked whether kids do
the camera work for the programs on
MPS-TV 17. Beacom stated much of the sports and music
programs are produced by access users. Kids work on the Zoom program and may work
on some other programs for the schools.
V.
NEW Business
Benchmark – Beacom
reviewed past benchmark surveys done.
Asked what other questions commission would like to ask. Malekadeli stated population & number of
subscribers for each community. DuBois number
of hours of original programming, and what their process is for determining
time slots.
VI.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beacom
invited commission to attend a trade show and Alliance for Community Media
state chapter workshop in Lansing on Tuesday, March 8. Only cost is lunch.
Beacom also promoted the ACM regional conference in Indianapolis, March
31-April 2 and the Fall Conference in Kentucky.
Access
User of the month for February is commission member Roy Green. Green stated
it’s a unique opportunity to participate in the Midland community.
Training
is being offered by the City on Saturday, March 12 for board and commission
members. It will contain a variety of subjects to help conduct meetings and
deal with the public. Johnson would like
information from the City Attorney on proper procedure when citizens make
contact with a commission member. Beacom
stated he could get that information.
Beacom
said the terms for two commission members expire in June: Granstra and Green.
City
will contact them to find out if they want to apply for a new term.
VII.
ADJOURNMENT – Next meeting,
Meeting adjourned at
IV.
Old Business
1. CAAC Goals for
2004-05
1. Benchmark study of comparable access centers
in
a.
Volume
of users
b.
Facility/equipment
use
c.
Programs
submitted
d.
Budget
2. Develop plan/recommendation for
community/subscriber/user survey
a.
Determine
viewership of all access channels
b.
Determine
viewership of types of programs
c.
Determine
awareness of access facilities and equipment
3. Promote use of public access
a.
Continue
Commissioner PR spots on MCTV
b. Develop Speaker’s Bureau for service club
presentations
4. Improve commission communication with the
community/users
a. MCTV website
b. Access User survey