AgdaPkt 2004-01-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I 52 6-1 REPORT - To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager, January 12, 2004 Subject Resolution granting a four-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 four-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, and more recently became Comcast) for a period of 12 years. In preparation for the initial (February. 2003) 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. 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 longer than expected due to the need to negotiate a settlement on the A T& T/Comcast merger and transfer of operations. Once the merger and transfer were complete. we were able to focus our efforts on the franchise renewal. On February 10th. 2003 the Council granted a six month extension of the franchise to enable the City, its representatives. and Comcast to negotiate and develop a new franchise. The Council granted an additional extension of four months on October 27th, 2003. to accommodate the continuing process. In the October 27,2003 staff report, we noted the possibility that the negotiations would not be completed by the end of this calendar year, and that an additional extension may be requested. Negotiations have in fact not been completed. and we are requesting that the Council grant an additional four-month extension, through April 30, 2004. Each of the eight agencies in SAMCA T has prepared a needs assessment which addresses unique local needs and interests with respect to PEG access programming. institutional services, and related matters. SAMCAT's contract legal counsel, Mr. Brian Grogan, has focused on creating a Model Franchise with provisions common to all eight agencies. rather than attempt to - incorporate these unique issues into eight different documents.