AgdaPkt 2004-09-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�i/ • �' � � I REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager September 13, 2004 Subject Ordinance approving an amendment to extend the Comcast cable television franchise until October 30, 2005, allowing Comcast to continue to operate a cable television system in Redwood City during franchise renewal negotiations. Recommendation Introduce an ordinance approving an amendment to extend the Comcast cable television franchise until October 30, 2005. Background In 1991 the City Council approved a Cable TV Franchise Agreement with TCI (which later became AT&T Broadband, and then Comcast) for a period of 12 years. Redwood City has been working with six other cities and the County on a group franchise renewal process, as the San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority (SAMCAT). This process has included a technical audit, legal review, and community needs assessment of cable TV services and needs in Redwood City and the other local governments. This group process continues to be beneficial to Redwood City since it enables us to share resources in hiring contract legal and technical assistance at a fraction of the cost of contracting individually. While the process has moved along in good faith, it has taken longerthan expected due to both the need to negotiate a settlement on the AT&T/Comcast merger and transfer of operations, and to ongoing negotiations related to contract term, interconnections, and other issues. The Council has granted several extensions to the franchise agreement to accommodate the continuing process (February 10�', 2003; October 27"', 2003; and January 12�', 2004). Upon the granting of the last extension, SAMCAT's contract legal counsel estimated that negotiations with Comcast regarding a renewed Franchise would conclude by late spring, 2004. Unfortunately, while good faith negotiations are continuing in earnest, this has not turned out to be the case and staff is therefore requesting an 18-month extension. Alternative The Council could choose not to introduce this ordinance approving an amendment to extend the Comcast cable television franchise; however this would jeopardize the franchise renewal negotiations and potentially impact cable television service in Redwood City.