CABLE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
PRESENT: Bob Granstra, Roy Green, Fred Johnson, Jim
Huber, Linda Malekadeli
ABSENT: Don Deibert, Todd DuBois
ALSO PRESENT: Ron Beacom, MCTV Director; Brandi Rytlewski,
Secretary;
Melissa Barnard, Library Director
I.
Call To Order
By
Malekadeli at
II.
Approval –
Minutes
approved as submitted
III.
Public Comments
None
IV.
Old Business
1.
Annual Report
– City Council
Beacom
stated City Council accepted CAAC’s annual report.
2.
Goals 2004-05
Beacom
reviewed the goals approved by CAAC at the September meeting. Stated timeline for each goal. Malekadeli suggested MCTV producers could
also produce promos about MCTV.
V.
New Business
1.
Subscriber
Survey
Beacom
gave the history of surveys done in 1991, ’93, ’95 and ’99 by the cable
provider and the group from CMU. MCTV
has been able to submit questions for the survey. One has not been done since the ascertainment
process for the franchise agreement.
Beacom will give CMU information for them to estimate the cost to conduct
a survey in the fall of 2005. That estimate will be used in the budget process.
Green questioned whether funding the survey would negatively affect MCTV’s
budget. Beacom stated it shouldn’t.
Johnson asked who would determine the specific questions. Beacom said
CMU would come up with the final wording after getting our input, suggested
questions and areas of interest. Beacom
reviewed the questions asked in past surveys. Discussion followed on the format
of questions. Beacom presented possible
questions for the 2005 survey (agenda packet).
Asked commission for input on types of questions they would
like to ask for public access. Johnson suggested that a sub-committee be formed
to put questions together to bring back to the commission. Beacom stated that’s needed for now, just
need to give CMU enough information to determine the cost for budget purposes. Will have CMU meet with the commission in the late spring or early
fall to over questions. Huber asked how many subscribers there are.
Beacom stated 13, 000 subscribers in the City of Midland but the access
channels reach up to 20,000 when you
include parts of the surrounding townships. General topics discussed for
survey: *Quality of
the signal – some interest but most problems with signal now at subscriber’s
home.
*Types of programming
watched-Johnson stated he likes the community message board. Beacom stated a
question about that is proposed.
*Children’s programming- Beacom stated most
programming involving children is now on
*Whether or not
members of the public want to take MCTV training.
*Emergency information – government channel.
*School channel – school closings.
*Awareness that the cable channels are run by
the City and the schools, not the cable company.
*Franchise fee – Important to find out how to
better server the customers.
*Awareness access exists - still useful
information.
Beacom stated
2.
Access User
Survey
Beacom
said staff has surveyed users on equipment, policies, procedures, recruitment,
retention, and recognition effots for several years
as the staff goes into the budget process. Reviewed the past questions sent to
MCTV access users. Another survey will be sent out mid-November.
1.
City
Roundtable
Beacom
announced meeting dates for roundtable discussions for City Council to gather
input on priorities for the 2005-06 City budget.
2.
ACM Regional
Conference
Malekadeli
presented an overview of the seminars she attended at the ACM conference in
VI.
Announcements
Beacom
said MCTV has new intern: Caleb Hansen. Current intern Ben Bates left position
early because his wife got a job in
MCTV’s 20th Anniversary
celebration and “Honors Night” went well.
Feedback was good for holding the event in the auditorium and the
lounge. Will do it again on
VII.
Adjournment
Meeting
adjourned
Next meeting