AgdaPkt 2002-07-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT TO the Honorable MaYor and City Counci From the City Manager July 15, 2002 Subject Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing for cable interconnection between RCN and AT&T Broadband Recommendation Approve the memorandum of understanding between the cities of Belmont, Brisbane, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, the County of San Mateo and AT&T Broadband. Background As you may recall from a previous communication, San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority (SAMCAT - consisting of San Mateo County cities holding cable television franchise agreements with AT&T) noticed a franchise violation hearing against AT&T Broadband. The violation consists of their failure, among other things to negotiate an interconnection of their system with RCN of California after SAMCAT made the request on October 11,2001. The franchise includes language requiring AT&T to negotiate in good faith with other cable providers to interconnect the AT&T system with other systems. After it became clear that no substantial progress was occurring, SAMCAT at its March 2002 meeting hired Carl Pilnick of Telecommunications Management Corporation to facilitate a resolution of the issue and provide a viable interconnection between the systems. The resulting negotiations led to the memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding is intended to document the resolution of the interconnection issue under the current franchise and any extensions thereof. The memorandum provides that AT&T Broadband will pay $15,000 to SAMCAT as part of its support for Public, Educational and Governmental programming. SAMCAT will use these funds to lease fiber, purchase equipment and interconnect the RCN and AT&T systems in San Mateo. This contribution and the lease will be interpreted as meeting the functional requirements of an interconnection requested in October, 2001. With this agreement Peninsula TV and SAMCAT will have the potential to transmit their programming and live cablecasts to virtually all cable subscribers in San Mateo County. RCN has agreed to maintain its connection to the AT&T system during the term of its franchise The memorandum further provides that the City will not use the interconnection issue to deny consent to the change of control of the cable system to Comcast Corporation. At SAMCAT's special meeting on May 28, 2002, the board recommended approval of this memorandum of understanding. It is now being presented to the City Council for final approval and signature authority. Alternative Council can elect not to approve the memorandum of understanding.