Chair Terry Lottes called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. in the County Administration conference room in the Administration Center, located at 1300 Courthouse Road.

II. Roll Call

The following members were present: Terry Lottes, Thomas Kimbrell, Alicia Knight, Danielle Davis, and Jim Minor. Also in attendance were Marie Schuler with Comcast; Paul Miller from Verizon; and Gwen Sparks with Cox. Cathy Riddle and Michele Lansford from the County’s Public Information Office represented the County.

III. Presentations by the Public

No members of the public were in attendance.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Ms. Davis moved to approve the February 2009 minutes pending corrections; Mr. Kimbrell seconded the motion; it passed unanimously.

V. Members’ Concerns

Tom Kimbrell said he forwarded some citizen concerns to various company representatives, including one from a resident with a complaint about Comcast destroying her grass. Ms. Schuler said a check had been processed to reimburse this person, but it had never been cashed – she will have the check re-issued.

Ms. Davis said she is sending a citizen complaint to Katherine Hogan-Lewis about a lawn problem. She thanked Ms. Schuler for taking care of the issue in Augustine.

Ms. Knight asked Ms. Schuler if construction in the Glens had begun, to which she replied that it is on the construction schedule. She said she will determine the start date and forward that to the members. Ms. Knight asked Ms. Sparks whether a customer in Ferry Farm was still experiencing Internet problems – she replied that she will investigate and report back.

Mr. Lottes said a resident asked him why he could not get Comcast service. He explained to him that his home is several thousand feet from the main “line.” He gave Ms. Schuler the name of another resident who requests a quote to run fiber to his home, which is 1,100 feet from the nearest node.

VI. Vote: To Refer MOU with Travel Host of Central Virginia and TimelessTV
to Board of Supervisors

Ms. Davis moved to forward the MOU to the Board; Mr. Minor seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

VII. Agenda Additions

There were no additions to the agenda.

VIII. New Business

Broadband

Ms. Davis said she contacted Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky and asked if he will include a questionnaire to determine the need for expanded broadband services in the spring tax bills – he responded in the affirmative. Mr. Kimbrell will draft the document, and send it to the commission members for review. Mr. Lottes said the results of the survey should be entered into the County’s GIS system for reference.

The members asked Ms. Riddle if she would include the questionnaire on the County Web site. She said she would look into it.

Ms. Schuler said that the Virginia Department of Technology held a meeting on March 25th with cable providers, and announced that they will publish a new state-wide broadband coverage map in mid-April.

Ms. Knight said that coupons are still available for citizens who need to purchase converter boxes for the DTV transition.

Public Access Television

Ms. Knight reported that she is continuing to contact people who can help with public television programming and looking for studio facilities. She advised the members that grants may be available, and that the Board of Supervisors should earmark PEG fees for this effort.

Further discussion was tabled until the April meeting.

IV. Adjournment

At 7:35 p.m., Mr. Kimbrell motioned, seconded by Ms. Knight, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.