FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes 11-18-2014MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING — FIBERNET MONTICELLO ADVISORY BOARD
Tuesday, November 1811, 2014
Boom Island Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Clint Herbst, Dennis Sullivan, Jon Morphew, Jacob Kramer
Absent:
Others: Jeff O'Neill, Rachel Leonard, Bryan Rabe
1. Call to Order
Clint Herbst called the meeting to order at 6:00pm
2. Additions to Agenda
• Thank you to Mayor Herbst for his service by Dennis Sullivan
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes
No meeting minutes to approve. Tabled to December meeting.
4. Network Update
• Bryan Rabe provided an updated on Minnesota Internet Cooperative Exchange
(MICE). FiberNet is now a participant; makes FiberNet's internet faster, particularly
for Google and Netflix. Also reduced bandwidth costs.
• Bryan Rabe updated the board on the upcoming C7 to E7 migration. Plan to test in
the coming weeks before moving subscribers from one platform to the other.
• Bryan Rabe reported a brief delay on the construction of the 10 gig ring due to
equipment. After that waiting on work by other parties.
5. Business Office Update
• Rachel Leonard updated the board on the upcoming retransmission renewals for local
channels. New cycle is January 1, 2015- December 31, 2017. Also renewed several
network channels through NTTC instead of directly and added new HD channels.
• Rachel Leonard reported there is a new addendum to the current NBC Universal
agreement for 2015 NASCAR races. Board members discussed how many
subscribers are potentially fans in comparison to the added cost. Jon Morphew noted
that NBC would be probably be willing to let FiberNet add the addendum later if the
blackouts became a problem.
JON MORPHEW MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ACTION ON THE NASCAR
ADDENDUM TO THE NBC UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT. SECONDED BY
JACOB KRAMER. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
• Bryan Rabe reported on the reduced number of channels coming off of the satellite
dishes. Remaining channels could be affected by snow on the dishes during the
winter.
• Illeana Miller provided a report on business subscribers and new weekly meetings
among staff.
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes: 11/18/14
• Staff reported on new process for change of service fees.
• Rachel Leonard reported on that email service will be discontinued on January 5,
2015. Leonard also outlined a communication plan to inform customers about the
change and help them migrate to a difference email provider as needed.
• Rachel Leonard reported on updates to the handbook given to new subscribers.
• Dennis Sullivan asked about channels with asterisks in the Expanded television
package. Rachel Leonard explained that most channels in Expanded do not require a
set -top box, but those with the asterisk do need a box.
• Rachel Leonard initiated a discussion about whether FiberNet should engage in price
matching with competitors or retain consistency of prices. Consensus was to keep
pricing consistent and try to cover costs.
• Rachel Leonard reported to the board on updated cold weather policy for winter
installs.
• Jeff O'Neill gave a brief update on interim management structure. O'Neill also
updated the board on upcoming transfer from liquor store fund to FiberNet.
6. Consideration of conducting a FiberNet forum in January 2015
• Jeff O'Neill outlined that there is consensus to have a forum, but we need to
determine the best time to hold it. Clint Herbst requested to discuss at the December
meeting.
7. 2015 Strategic Planning Discussion
• Tabled to December meeting.
8. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the FiberNet Monticello Advisory Board is scheduled for December
9th, 2014. Clint Herbst requested to have it at the Headend.
9. Adjournment
DENNIS SULLIVAN MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT
7:27PM. MOTION SECONDED BY JON MORPHEW. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Recorder: Rachel Leonard
Approved: j J fl I L5
Attest:
JeffbVeill, City Administrator