2009-10-28 Set Agenda w/Handouts

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North Metro Telecommunications Commission Meeting Talking Points October 21, 2009 • North Metro TV is working with the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Through the program NMTV has hired two part-time receptionists and a part-time building maintenance person. We provide the training, tools, and supervision, and the SCSEP takes care of the salaries and benefits. • Outreach Coordinator, Damian Russian, worked with the Anoka County Transportation Management Organization to produce two promos. The ACTMO had funds to produce and playback promos thanking and supporting local businesses that were impacted by recent road construction. NMTV was paid $1,000 to produce the promos and play them on channel 15. • Ben and Danika have been busy producing election related programming. They taped "meet the candidates" forums for the Lino Lakes Mayoral and City Council races, the Circle Pines Mayoral race, and a District #11 School Board race. They also taped a program with the superintendents from School Districts 11, 12, and 16 regarding levies in their districts. They also taped a District #16 School Board Candidates debate. • Eric has organized a documentary workshop for adults. The class series is full, at eight students, and is underway. • Staff is organizing an open house for Thursday October 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the NMTV facility. There will be a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. followed by hors d'oeuvres, tours, prize drawings, and other activities. Everyone is invited to attend. • The Commission voted to increase the 2010 PEG fee by eleven cents. The increase is based on the CPI for 2008. There will likely not be an increase for the 2011 budget, as the 2009 CPI will likely be zero. • The Commission doesn't need to file any additional responses regarding Comcast's effective competition filing. The objectives have been accomplished, and it would not be cost effective to do so. It will take some time before the FCC makes any decision. • A bill to protect public, educational, and government (PEG) programming has been introduced in the House of Representatives. It is called the CAP (Community Access Preservation) Act. It addresses problems faced by PEG organizations in areas of funding and channel placement and quality. The Act also defines what a cable service is, and requires that a study regarding the effects of statewide franchising on PEG be conducted. Passage of this Act is VERY important to PEG organizations including NMTV. A resolution supporting the Act is being created for Cities to consider. If anyone has any questions, or just wants to talk, they should feel free to call Heidi Amson at NMTV. Direct line is 763 - 231 -2801. Email is h- arnson @mtn.org.