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O Sessicel 1602, Minutes Page 5 Se~dcember 13, 1993 Government and O~,m-,nity Palaticea, and Mr. T~n Hopfinger, Area Cuozd/nator, came forward. Mr. Berra said (:~::~'xt,~--~l ~ ~ of its _reco__rd in Univer- sity City for providing good service to residents and o-~,lying with all City term and said Continental has made ~at efforts to improve the quality and variety of its servioes as well as greatly eMpand the number of c~annels available. He said their servioes exceed not c~ly cable ir~ starr~vds but also FCC rules and regulaticr~ ~ the 1992 ~hle Act. He ciroalated materials that showed highlights of p~u~eed devel~-~nts that my be includ- ed in workir~ toward a fi~t draft of the new franchise a~em~_nt. T~_re were no other req~+.s to speak, and the public hearing w~s closed at 7:51 p.m. In respoDse to Mr. Price, Assistant City Manager ](~mberley TLu~ly said there would be one or two more public hearings before an ordinanoe is apgroved. Mr. Price reo,4m,ended that all block units and neighborhood associations be noti- fied when the hearings take place. ~he Mayor said this ~le w~s publicized in the newspapers and on Cont/nental's ~w~-~ge screen for a week. Mr. Price asked how the ~ could be c~uetitive if it has an exclusive franchise with University City. Mr. Berr~ said it will be a 20-year nc~-e~clusive cc~- involved in the cable business, but without local jurisdicti~l. Mr. Price asked about pr~ pay-per-view as ~ to an external box. Mr. H~p- finger, 7129 Waternkln, said the external b~x must be used until Continental builds a new facility, which will occur in about a year and a half. Mrs. Tnu~on co~l ~m~nted Continental for its fine work in University City. She asked about their relaticr~hip with the schools and if jobe for residents will be available when the ~on plant is built next year. Mr. Hopfinger said the "~hle in the Classroem" pro~m has been su~r~qful, par- ticularly in Deniel Boc~e School. Mr. Berra said the new plant will serve 20 c~m~unitias, and local celtractors and services are used whenever possible. Mr. Wagner c~,~ended Mr. Berra and Mr. Hopfinger for attena~ng this hearing, and also suggested that University City chose wisely in picking Continental as its cable c~erator. ,Mr. Adams arrived at this time. Mr. Wagner asked if there would be d~x/es in the CALOP relationship. Mr. Be~ said that could be d~-~<mssed during negotiations, but pursuant to the 1992 Act, such funds would be incl, w~ca as external costs that would probably raise rates to a specific frand%ise area. Mr. Wagner asked about the current status of retrensm~.~ic~ of local news dlannels. Mr. R~,La said ~ say they do not want to pay extra if Control has to pay extra for a ser- vice, but it's clear under the new law that cable operators who pay cash to broadcasters can add that to subscriber bills. Current/y, Ccmtinental has agreenents with several staticr~ and is negotiating with others. Mr. Hop- finger said there were 8,000 custceers in University City. ,Mrs. ~h~so~ left the meeting at this time.