1982-12-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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16.4 APPOINTMENT 0F ACTING CLERK APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS PRESENTATION: JEFFERSON CABLE On motion by Dr. Gunter, seconded by Dr. Hall, Michael Letcher was appointed as Acting Clerk of Council. Consideration of the minutes was deferred until the next meeting. There were no matters by the public at this time. There were no appointments to boards and commissions. Cole Hendrix, City Manager, stated that he had received information from Jefferson Cable concerning a problem that has occurred with regard to Jefferson Cable carrying WTBS, channel 17. Joe Price of Jefferson Cable, addressed Council stating that he was informed in late November by a federally appointed copyright tribunal that for a system like Jefferson Cable to continue carrying a distant signal independent station like WTBS, channel 17, the copyright fees in 1983 would be 3.75% of the total gross revenues which come from basic subscribers to the system. He stated that this would be true even though the basic subscribers are not receiving channel 17. He stated that 3.75% of the total gross revenues would be $68,000.00. He continued, saying that he has informed the City that Channel 17 would be removed from the second level of service because Jefferson Cable cannot afford to carry it. He stated that the City staff has proposed several alternatives, one of which is providing the basic subscribers with channel 17, since the copyright fee was based on basic service revenue. He stated that Jefferson Cable cannot simply make those changes because it requires a change i.n the franchise since the City controls the price of the basic service. Mr. Price asked Council to consider moving channel 17 from the second tier of service to the basic service, to be placed on channel 2, where all subscribers would have the service in their homes and to increasing the raze by 50~ to cover the copyright fee, additional transmission fees and the other costs incurred by Jefferson Cable in making the move. Mr. Price continued, stating that if Jefferson Cable is carrying channel 17 on January 1, 1983, they will be immediately libel for one-half the year's fee to the copyright royalty tribunal which would be approximately $33,000.00. Mr. Price entertained questions from Council. Mr. Conover asked if a method of polling the subscribers is possible, asking if they would rather pay $6.25 without channel 17, or pay a 50~ increase and have channel 17. Mr. Price stated that Jefferson Cable would have to mail a question- naire to approximately 17,000 people, which would be a giant expenditure. He stated that his experience is that results are not always that .grand from polls, even on a mail back situation, but he would be willing to go that route if Council so desires. Mr. Price explained that channel 17 is the most used of the four superstations, providing family oriented programs, a menu of movies, sports and off-network features which are not available elsewhere. Mr. Hendrix stated that it is difficult to second guess what the subscribers want and that the safe decision would be to drop the channel He stated that to try and decide if the service is worth an additional 50¢ is difficult and cannot be determined outside of an expensive survey. He also stated that even at $6.75, Jefferson Cable's basic service is