Minutes-06/21/1988

Morgan: Other says 3 percent but won't guarantee rates. Rugger guarantees his rate for one year. Stratton: I'd rather have a guaranteed price than give the town 3 percent. Stoner: Traditionally, franchises are sold. The town is obligating to one company for 15 years. It's more a symbol of good faith. Rugger: What about GTE and Iowa Illinois? Stoner: Television is not a necessity. Rugger: I might make $60.00 per month on this system and I'll have a $7,000.00 investment. It'll take me 12 to make any money. I haven't taken any money from Oxford and it's been in since last November. I might get $100.00 this month. They have a population of 666. Stoner: This doesn't sound like a good deal for you. You're paying off the capital investment the first few years. Rugger: Three percent of gross profit. Can't take the chance of coming here. Maybe get 60 percent hookups. Morgan: If we took a poll, I feel the majority of the people would like the guaranteed rate. How long would it take the other company to fix something and how long before they raise the rates? Rugger: I'd put my record against his. We'll have cable before the snow flies. Potter: Do you pay any taxes to Oxford? Rugger: No. We lease the head-in site from them and pay taxes on the building to the assessor. We pay taxes on the cable lines, but trying to get that changed. It's not fair. Potter: To city or county? Spivey: If pay taxes, part of it would go back to the city. Morgan: What about reception? What if you branch off to Parkview? Would that interfere with our reception? Rugger: We're putting in 15 amplifiers, one every 2850 feet between here and Oxford. Every amp puts it back up to full power. Can't be over 21 amps on one line. There wouldn't be any amps in town. If Tiffin grows, we wouldn't have any problem picking up the extra population. Iowa City has 140 miles of lines. They should have had 2 head-in sites, one on each side of town. Eccers: Does this amplify both sound and picture? Rugger: It amplifies everything. Stoner: Stereo?