11/30/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOV 3 0193 190K 55 PACE 7 [1] The abrupt change was not appreciated. This will not happen in the future. We will provide a subscriber notice at least two weeks prior to any channel change should this become necessary. [2] The subscribers stated that they wanted WTBS on our system and would be willing to pay an additional cost aimed at offsetting the new copyright fee. As a company we pay a charge to WTBS for each subscriber viewing the service. This per subscriber charge is not a part of the copyright fee and we will continue to absorb this cost ourselves. Petitions were circulated and delivered to my office stating that subscribers were willing to absorb the cost to continue carriage of WTBS. In July, through the assistance of our subscribers, we returned the channel to our program lineup, pending the approval of a copyright adjustment in our billing by the various franchising entities. The method utilized to determine the additional charge necessary to offset the copyright fee is based specifically against the basic rate and additional outlet charges now in effect. If you take 3.75% of our current basic rate of $8.50 it can be determined that .32 (.31875) would be apid in copyright fees. The total increase of .33 was calculated by determining how much more would be paid if the additional revenues of .32 per subscriber were implemented. The additional outlet fees were calculated using this same procedure, 3.75% of $1.60 is .06. One section of the package provided to you breaks down the revenues received versus the copyright fee on those same revenues; assuming an average yearly subscriber level. As you will see upon examination of this section the copyright fee we will incur is slightly more than what will be collected in additional revenues, but for all practical purposes, equal. We have three franchises affected by this increase, Brevard County, The City of Sebastian, and Indian River County. Our copyright adjustment has been approved both by the City of Sebastian and Brevard County. We have agreed to make the changes necessary in our billing system to itemize our charges noting the copyright charge specifically as such. If this new copyright fee is eliminated by legislation currently under consideration the copyright adjustment will be removed from our billing; or if the copyright charges are nullified or if Super Stations are exempted from this type of copyright charge. - _ As a company, we will be charged a copyright fee for the period beginning last July 1st and ending December 31st, since we did_re-t.urn WTBS to the system and have continued its carriage on our program lineup. We are seeking no compensation for the charges during this copyright period. However, the next copyright period will begin on January 1st running through the end -of June 1984. In order to offset these fees in the next copyright period we would have to implement an adjustment in our January 1984 billing. At this time I respectfully request that this board grant the approval to implement a copyright adjustment in order to continue our system's carriage of Channel 17 WTBS." Utilities Administrative Assistant Joyce Hamilton clarified that Jones Intercable is not required to carry Channel 17 in Atlanta, but it has been returned to the air and this increase is requested to offset that -expense. Chairman Bird opened the floor to public comment. County. Attorney Brandenburg swore in Ann Dewhurst, 943 S.E. Schumann Drive, Sebastian, who stated she was not here 4