ICYMI: WAVE3 dropped from FPB cable lineup due to increasing fees

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Because of the significant increase in retransmission consent fees that WAVE was seeking, the FPB Board of Directors did not execute a new agreement with WAVE. This decision was made in the interest of keeping our customers’ bills as low as possible.

FPB still offers WLEX, WKYT, WTVQ and WDKY out of Lexington and WHAS and WLKY out of Louisville. Look for WDRB news from Louisville to return by the end of the month.

NBC programming can be found on WLEX, channels 7 and 507. Live video from WAVE3 News is available online from WAVE (http://www.wave3.com/category/200260/wave-3-live) on your computer, tablet and smartphone during all local newscasts. When WAVE3 News is not airing a live newscast, you will see replays of the most recent newscast.

 

 

FPB board approves agreement to carry WHAS

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Public hearing to be held Jan. 16

At a special board meeting Friday morning, the Frankfort Plant Board approved an agreement with Tegna, Inc. to carry WHAS11. The ABC station out of Louisville will continue on cable channels 11 and 511 through Dec. 31, 2020.

At its monthly meeting earlier this month, the board also approved agreements with all of the Lexington stations (WTVQ, WKYT, WLEX and WDKY), the Louisville CBS affiliate (WLKY), effective Jan. 1, 2018, and bringing back Louisville’s WDRB for its top-rated local news coverage, effective Feb. 1, 2018

Because of the exponential increase in its retransmission fee, the board did not approve an agreement with Raycom Media, Inc. for the carriage of WAVE3, the NBC station out of Louisville. Beginning Jan.1, WAVE3 will no longer be on FPB’s cable lineup. Also, RLTV will cease distribution on Dec. 31 and will no longer be available on FPB’s Preferred Cable channel 166.

The board set a public hearing to allow for comment on the increasing rate for retransmission surcharge, increasing rate for bulk cable and increasing amounts for multi-service discounts.

The public hearing is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 at 5 p.m. during the Board of Directors’ monthly meeting at the FPB administration building at 151 Flynn Ave in Frankfort.

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Agreement with AMC prompts changes in cable channels

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BBC America now on channel 93, Sundance on 94; EWTN moves to 96

As part of an agreement with AMC Networks, FPB is required to move two AMC network channels from Preferred Cable to Classic Cable. Customers can now find BBC America on channel 93 and Sundance on channel 94. EWTN will move from channel 94 to channel 96. If you do not use a set-top box, viewing EWTN may require a re-scan of your TV channels in order to program in channel 96.

These changes go into effect Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.

FPB set to begin internet installations for FIS students

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Board approves final details to help bridge the internet access gap.

The Frankfort Plant Board will soon begin modem installations in residences of Frankfort Independent School students who currently do not have internet access at home. At its December board meeting, FPB’s board approved final details of an agreement with FIS that will assist in the implementation of the project funded by a grant from the city through the Kentucky Capital Development Corp.

The goal of the modem project is to close the digital divide by providing internet access to students in order to better prepare them for school and for the workplace in the future. FPB has also installed internet hotspots at the King Center, F.D. Wilkinson Gym and the Walter Todd Community Center.

As retransmission fees to carry local stations have been increasing at exponential rates, the FPB board made the tough decision to cut some duplicative programming in order to keep rate increases at a minimum. The board approved the staff and Cable Advisory Committee’s recommendation to approve agreements with all of the Lexington stations (WTVQ, WKYT, WLEX and WDKY), the Louisville CBS affiliate (WLKY), and bringing back Louisville’s WDRB for its top-rated local news coverage.

The retransmission fees for this package total $15.71, an increase of $3.68 per customer per month. Keeping the stations FPB currently provides would cost nearly $20 in 2018, an increase of well over $7 per customer per month.

As part of an agreement with AMC Networks, FPB is required to move two AMC network channels from Preferred Cable to Classic Cable. The board approved moving BBC America to channel 93 and Sundance to channel 94. EWTN will move from channel 94 to channel 96. These changes go into effect Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.

The board also approved an agreement with Viamedia for cable advertising managed services. This agreement will increase ad insertion opportunities from 25 networks to 50, which also increases visibility for local businesses.

In other business, the board approved FPB employee health plan precertification requirements, continuing FPB’s compensation plan, and retaining Crowe Horwath to conduct FPB’s 2017-18 financial statement audit. The board also approved an agreement among Kentucky municipal Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) customers for 2018-19.

The FPB Board of Directors’ next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 at 5 p.m. at the FPB administration building at 151 Flynn Ave in Frankfort.

Scheduled cable/telecom outages for maintenance

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In order to complete necessary maintenance on equipment, there will be scheduled cable/telecom outages in the following areas.

Tuesday, Dec. 19 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Streets affected are: Timothy, Grama, Alpha, Poe, Reed and Leawood

Thursday, Dec. 21 - 4 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Streets affected are: Holmes Street and all side streets from the 100 block through the 600 block

 

 

December Cable Advisory Committee Meeting moved to 7 p.m.

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The FPB Cable Advisory Committee originally scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12 will now meet at 7 p.m, Dec.12. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in FPB’s community room at 151 Flynn Ave. in Frankfort.

 

WHO:      FPB Cable Advisory Committee

WHAT:     Quarterly Meeting

 WHEN:    Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017

                 7 p.m.

WHERE:   FPB Community Room

                 151 Flynn Ave.

                 Frankfort, KY

AGENDA:

1. Action Item: Consider recommendation of AMC Network migration

2. Action Item: Consider recommendation of Retransmission Consent

    Agreements with: Morris Network; Gray Television Group; WLEX

    Communications; LLC, Sinclair; TEGNA, Inc.; Hearst Properties,   

    Inc.; Raycom Media, Inc; and Block Communications

3. Old & New Business

4. Adjourn

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FPB named a 2017 Destiny Award winner by KEMI

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Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance award recognizes safe workplaces.

FRANKFORT – The Frankfort Plant Board earned the 2017 Destiny Award from Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI). KEMI presents this award to policyholders who demonstrate commitment and success in maintaining a safe workplace. FPB Safety Director Kim Phillips made the announcement at the Board of Directors’ November meeting Tuesday night. FPB has won this award six out of the past seven years.

KEMI selected only 14 organizations out of its more than 23,000 workers’ compensation policyholders. According to KEMI, FPB was chosen because of its demonstrated ability to effectively manage a formal safety program, provide on-site training and regular safety meetings for employees. FPB also displays an ongoing commitment to safety from all levels of the organization.

Also at its November meeting, the FPB Board approved a resolution stating that the board has no intention of withdrawing from its contract with the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KyMEA), of which FPB is a founding member. The resolution also states that if for some reason the board finds it necessary to withdraw, it will do so according to the mechanisms within the contract.

Board member Dawn Hale proposed removing language referring to “advising on available exit paths” from a $50,000 contract the board extended to Reed Smith, a law firm the board hired for legal counsel to review the KyMEA contracts. The motion did not pass.

The board also voted on a proposal to require KyMEA to provide a specific date by which it could provide formula information to set rates. That motion also failed.

In addition, the board selected Interim General Manager David Denton as FPB’s primary representative to the KyMEA board. Assistant General Manager Hance Price will continue to serve as the alternate.

As FPB’s former general manager, Herbbie Bannister, retired at the end of October, Board Chair Anna Marie Rosen proposed a committee of members Walt Baldwin and Dawn Hale to begin the process of selecting a new general manager. The committee will define the job description, review search firms and consider employment-listing websites.

In an effort to reduce the cost of customer billing, the board approved a one-time promotional credit of $5 to customers converting from paper to paperless electronic billing. Last year, FPB produced and mailed an average of 31,079 paper bills per month. FPB spent approximately $246,000 on paper, envelopes and postage related to paper billing in fiscal year 2016-2017, which equates to approximately $0.66 per paper bill produced and mailed. 

In other business, the board approved stop loss coverage, plan changes and employee contributions for the 2018 FPB employee health plan. The board also awarded a bid to purchase two outdoor circuit breakers and approved a future budget allocation for board trainings.

The FPB Board of Directors’ next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 at 5 p.m. at the FPB administration building at 151 Flynn Ave in Frankfort.

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Necessary Cable/Telecom Outages Scheduled for Thursday and Friday mornings

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The FPB Cable/Telecom Department reports that it will be necessary to have an emergency scheduled outage Thursday morning, Nov. 16, between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. in the Berry Hill area. All cable/telecom services will be affected by this outage.

It will also be necessary to have a scheduled maintenance window Friday morning, Nov. 17, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. All cable/telecom services in the Leawood and Deepwood Drive areas will be affected by this outage. 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.