Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, January 12, 2006

Board Members Present: Floyd Child, Joan Higinbotham, Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Tamir Nolley, Marido Huber
Board Members Absent: Joel Rainville, Tom Cassidy, Robert Vose
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, C. John Harrison
Others Present: Pamela Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks, Becca Vargo Daggett, James Farstad, William Beck

Child called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public and staff – Nolley complimented the food

Presentations and comments on the Minneapolis Wireless initiative.
Jim Farsted of rCLIENT, LLC has been working with the city on the process of expanding the city's institutional network. The city currently has a weak ability to communicate to its field worker. Employees use cell phones and other systems. Broadband wireless seemed to be a good way to address the city's communication needs. They ruled out a municipally owned wireless network in favor of a privately owned one. They put together a request for proposals. The field of companies that applied was narrowed down to two finalists, U.S. Internet and Earthlink. They are now evaluating these proposals. They need ubiquitous coverage for city business, and could leverage that coverage to eliminate the digital divide among city residents.

Becca Vargo Daggett of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) said that her organization's concern has been to help communities maximize their local resource base. When the wireless RFP was announced, it was clear to ILSR that this network would be privately owned and operated. But there had been no public conversation about whether it should be publicly owned. Rather than put up capital to build the system, the city will be making regular payments to lease space on the network. Other cities have chosen to own the system so they can control it. More communities are recognizing the value of shared, open-ended infrastructure. ILSR would like to see the city go to a shared open model and would like the MTN board to look at this and think of what it means to MTN.

There was a question about the project's timeline: Farsted said they expect that in the spring of 07 the network will become available to the public. There was a question about whether any large cities have chosen to build a municipally owned wireless network. Daggett said that Corpus Christie, TX is setting up a non-profit corporation that will own the infrastructure. There was a question about how MTN would be incorporated into the city's wireless plan. Farsted said the city has worked with Americorps to map community technology centers. Colby said it would have been important to include MTN in these discussions and MTN had not been invited. Beck said that it was Harrison and Pliewacki?s call as to whether MTN should be involved in this.

B. Approval of the agenda. MSP Nolley, Hedden.

C. Minutes from the December board meeting. MSP Jenkins, Huber.

II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison presented
Harrison needs board application forms filled out by Huber and Nolley if they wish to renew their board positions. The FCC is seeking comments on the regulation of telephone companies entering cable services. Harrison has asked that Colby offer comments on that to the FCC. Harrison read from a press release about how in Denver, Comcast is producing local origination programs. Colby pointed out that this follows the shut down of the public access channel in Denver.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools – no report
Colby said that Burns has been in communication with staff.

C. Time Warner Cable – Lance Leupold reported
There are currently 78,289 subscribers. Leupold announced the award of Time Warner Save the Music and Save History grants to public schools. Bethune and Anne Sullivan schools will receive music equipment. The Minneapolis Park Board will work with Jenny Lind School to excavate a mill and put together an exhibit. The Youth Service Award deadline is March 30. Visit www.leadersinlearningawards.org to nominate a Leader in Learning.

D. Executive Director's Report – Pam Colby presented
The MTN Appreciation Party event was a success.
A list of replacement equipment has been prepared by Derks.
There will be a Member's Screening night tomorrow night.
Staff member Hamil Griffin-Cassidy was interviewed in the celebrity section of Mnspeak.com. He has been turning into a local celebrity through his show "Totally Scrabble Tuesday."

E. Treasurer's Report – Huber reported
Huber presented the P & L report through November. She said that the report looks good.
Motion to approve Treasurer's Report – MSP Nolley, Higinbotham


III. Action Items

A. Board Elections
Child announced the slate of board officers as presented at the December meeting. Recommendations for slate of officers: as President, Child; Vice President, Rainville; Secretary, Higinbotham; Treasurer, Huber. Child asked for additional candidates and then asked for a vote on the slate. Slate was approved unanimously.

B. Committee Assignments
Board members were asked to volunteer for committees. The Committees and members are:
Finance Committee – Huber, Higinbotham,
Renewal and Facilities Committee – Vose, Hedden, Rainville, Huber
Equipment Committee – Jenkins, Child
PR & Education Committee – Nolley, Cassidy


IV. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m. MSP Nolley, Jenkins