AgdaPkt 2003-02-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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T2 D-1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager February 10, 2003 Subject Resolution granting a six month extension to Comcast (formerly AT &T Broadband) to operate a cable television system in Redwood City during franchise renewal negotiations Recommendation Adopt a resolution granting a six month extension to Comcast to operate a cable television system in Redwood City during franchise renewal negotiations Background In 1991 the City Council approved a Cable TV Franchise Agreement with TCI (which later became AT &T Broadband) for a period of 12 years. This agreement is coming up for renewal on February 19, 2003. In preparation for the renewal, Redwood City has worked 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. A group process has been and will 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. The process has been moving along but it has taken longer than expected due to the earlier need to review and ultimately come to a negotiated settlement on the recent AT &T /Comcast merger and transfer of operations. Now that the merger and transfer are complete, we can focus our efforts in this area on the franchise renewal. Since the current franchise will expire in March, we need to grant a six month extension to the franchise to enable the City, its representatives, and Comcast to negotiate and develop a new franchise. A proposed resolution is attached which would grant this franchise extension. It was developed by Brian Grogan, the consulting attorney on the franchise renewal for the group of eight agencies and has been reviewed and approved as to form by Greg Rubens, the SAMCAT Legal Counsel. Alternative The Council could choose not to adopt this resolution, however this would disrupt the franchise agreement negotiations and potentially impact cable TV service for the next six months.