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Session 1724, Minutes <br />May 18, 1998 <br /> <br />lO <br /> <br />have submitted meets the FCC's rules and can be considered at this time by the City <br />Council. He does not believe that the Council can take negative action. <br />Councilmember Lieberman asked if this would be an appropriate time to make <br />comments for the record about the service of the company. Mr. Ollendorff feels that <br />such comments are always in order. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner moved acceptance of the FCC forms. Mr. Sharpe seconded the motion. <br /> <br />Mr. Munkel said that last year he voted for this increase because the FCC can override <br />the Council and could cost a whole lot of money. His constituents came to him, <br />however, and asked him how he could vote for the increases. It seemed that the <br />increase was on the bills, but other fees were added as well. He wondered if this would <br />happen again this year. Mayor Adams said that there were only a couple of charges <br />that could be controlled, the rest they have no control over and they can raise them <br />whenever they want and we do not have to informed. This is what should be explained <br />to constituents. The Mayor said that he did fight this legislation. <br /> <br />Mr. Lieberman said that the record should reflect that the service to the customers in <br />this area has not been adequate. It has been poor, from the point of someone making <br />a phone call and not getting a response, getting busy signals, not talking to a live <br />person. The response to the service calls have been, not only delayed, but almost <br />impossible to receive. Many folks have complained bitterly about the level of service <br />that has been afforded by TCI. Unfortunately, they have something to compare it to, <br />because when we had Continental Cable, we did have excellent service. Mr. <br />Lieberman wanted to point out that he was very unhappy with their level of service and <br />if ever he gets the opportunity to vote against something, when the federal government <br />lets him, he would. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner agrees wholeheartedly with Mr. Lieberman's comments. He does not like <br />raising the rates. He has heard many of the same complaints from his constituents as <br />well. <br /> <br />Mayor Adams said that there are some very fine people that work for TCI. It is just the <br />corporate philosophy is not good. <br /> <br />Mr. Lieberman asked if the City's current franchise agreement ended in June of 1999. <br />Mayor Adams said that was correct. Mr. Lieberman asked if Council will have an <br />opportunity to vote on it. Mayor Adams said yes and that Mr. Rose and others, are <br />currently, writing a franchise agreement with many hammers set in place. Mayor <br />Adams said that part of the new FCC law says that the City could take over the system <br />and run it ourselves, but the cost factor is approximately quadruple what TCI paid for it. <br /> <br /> <br />