Candidates' Call-in Forum cablecast by Cable Co-op; live mapping by PGC.
Introduction: Josh Wallace, Cable Co-op
Moderator: Margaret Marshall, League of Women Voters
Tom Passell:
On the board since 82. Claude Ezran:
Cable system run by members. Current board member.
1. add value by promoting local 1. control costs to offer best value
origination programming to viewers
2. increase variety, narrow focus OK 2. partnering with local companies to
3. add high speed connection offer services like internet access
to information highway 3. community involvement
Christopher Crump:
Gordon Fuller:
1. strengthen financial to grow,
protect CC from takeovers Now a convergence of TV and digital
2. CC is proper vehicle for Info HW tech; not just one information
3. CC should reflect viewers input highway but many new trends. CC has
4. more local programming opportunity to position in new
world market of telecommunications
Peter Aloo:
Ken Allen:
1. Make sure our schools are not
left behind in new technology Engineering, communications, law,
2. Would like to see CC remain a public access, community
community venture, resisting involvement. Produced local content
merging with big companies. for many years. High value services
3. Involve with other communities. and local advertisers, retain local
control.
Seth Fearey:
Leonard Ely III:
Work at: HP; on InfoHW in Washington; Finance is very important. The Board
and Smart Valley. Excited about should work together. Public access
delivering new services. Can help for non-profit sector in Palo Alto.
deal with tech and business issues.
Moshe Kreitzer: Marvin Lee:
Children have been neglected One of the founders of CC.
due to lack of funds. CC should Low tech also important,
cooperate with education encouraged CC to do FM music,
system, state, and private now working on local news on FM
enterprise to raise funds.
Gary Madden:
Current board member. Involved
with interactive TV and
mutlimedia communications in work
at Apple. CC should partner with
tech companies; relevant local
community programming.
Question: Margaret [moderator]
What is the role of board member?
Claude:
Tom:
Need to improve financial
Represent subscribers. position of CC. Increase membership,
find sources of revenue.
Seth: Ken:
Finance important. Must decide Represent the community;
if Internet access is profitable keep finances together;
service, school access. sounding board for management
Question: Roland [call-in] Christopher:
Not interested in any current channels; I attend the operations meetings;
is there a way to give members more it is difficult to integrate
options? for instance, the "90's channel" viewers into the selection process,
but very important. Should be using
new technology for getting input.
Gary:
Chairs programming [Operations] Ken:
committee, feedback welcome.
Stive for diversity. Members can give input by calling
Director of Marketing, Carolyn
Come to meetings -- third tuesday Hillman, directly.
of every month at 7:30
Question: Yvonne [call-in] Seth:
Someone said this is a money-making
business, but I thought it was a CC is a for-profit organization.
co-op and supposed to be customer It needs financial strength
oriented. Also, would like to have in order to deliver community
more attention paid to the basic oriented services.
subscriber.
Claude:
Marvin: It is for profit, but members
CC founded as service organization are the owners
for the community; but higher rates
because of loans ... if each member
would invest $300 we would get local Ken: On more for the basic subscriber:
ownwership and reduced rates we could redesign the fees, less
for basic and more for some premium
channels; the technology exists for
multiple base levels. We could also
expand the subscriber base.
Question: Yvonne, again [call-in]
I think CC is trying to do too much,
and our rates are high because of that. Gordon:
note that 65% of cable subscribers
Peter: are dissatisfied -- it is difficult
to please everyone.
Explore different combinations
of programming to lower rates, Telecommunications regulations are
give different choices. changing. Telephone, TV and data are
coming together. One thing which is
Tom: emerging is universal service.
One way to reduce bill is to increase CC might consider selling cablingsystem
subscribers; only 40% of the community hardware to keep control of content.
are subscribers, and very few of them
are investors
Question: Margaret [moderator] Mavin:
How do you see Cable Co-op's role as
a community resource? Working now on local TV news ... and a
better way is free news on FM. A number
Seth: of fre services could be provided
CC is interactive communications; connect Claude:
local schools to Stanford classes. Public
access to the internet thru CC days of monopoly are over. Community
access is an important way for CC to
Ken: differentiate itself from other providers
CC is right now involved in broadband
internet access experiments, esp to Gordon:
the schools. Internet already at JLS;
Gunn Public access to networks -- Our content will allow us to cut some
improve content important deals with the major telecommuni-
cation companies. People want things
Moshe that are relevant to their lives and
community. Content not hardware; this
Multimedia access to libraries community is content producer rich.
Question: Margaret [moderator]
How should Cable Co-op involve itself
in the new technologies?
Gary: Christopher:
Cable is first associated with Role of entertainment in cable will
entertainment. Reliable, convenient not change; but also information
and fun first. Make it easy to use, services combining Internet and
and well meshed with services that community needs. Time is the scarce
people want. email? Internet access? resource for the future. Look at
Avoid high-risk experiments; partner people's time and tune to their needs.
with local companies. Probably data
services.
Peter:
Claude:
Need for the new technology to
There is a lot of hype with future be deeply rooted in our community
technologies .. we must be careful. and schools. Basics are important.
Pizzas, no; internet data access, yes
[currently partnering with Com 21 in
epxeriment]. Not clear that 500
channels would be good. Because we have
limited resources, we must be prudent;
let's see how things shape out.
Moshe:
Marvin:
Cable Co-op may be small now, but CC responds to members: some of the
AT&T started out the same way, so best sports coverage, classical FM
did Bank of America. CC can grow
any way it wants.
Ken: Seth:
CC should be "proactive but cautious"
Derive revenue from syndication of in regards to the new technologies --
local programming. We can be a test bed expensive and risky. Partnering with
for others who want to try out their large companies: offer desirable
technology such as Com 21. CC does need demographics; proving ground for new
outside funding. And should provide services members want without risking
transport as well as content. our capital.
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