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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – OCTOBER 26, 2015 4 <br /> <br />member city. Further discussion ensued regarding the reasonable build-out requirements for <br />CenturyLink. <br /> <br />Mr. Bradley discussed the proposed franchise fees and reported that CenturyLink would be <br />paying 5% of its gross revenues to member cities. He reported that this is the same rate being paid <br />by Comcast. He provided further comment on the PEG access requirements that have been agreed <br />upon with CenturyLink. It was noted that the CenturyLink franchise term is five years. He then <br />compared the franchises between Comcast and CenturyLink and explained that they were quite <br />similar. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked what cable services CenturyLink would be providing to its customers. <br /> <br />Mr. Bradley discussed the cable, telephone and internet services that CenturyLink would provide <br />to its customers. He reported that the bundled package for their services is called Prism. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned if CenturyLink would be providing service to both of the City’s public <br />buildings. <br /> <br />Mr. Bradley stated this that was the case and that high speed internet services would also be <br />provided to City Hall. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked how CenturyLink’s customer service would be monitored. She <br />wanted to see CenturyLink’s customer support held to a higher level than Comcast’s customer <br />service. <br /> <br />Mr. Bradley commented that the language included within the agreement mirrored federal law. <br />He noted that there is a penalty for cable franchises that violate the customer service provisions. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden appreciated the services that would be provided to the member cities. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant inquired if the CenturyLink PEG fees would be maintained if Comcast was able to <br />negotiate lower fees. <br /> <br />Mr. Bradley explained that PEG fees could go up or down depending on negotiations. <br /> <br />Further discussion ensued regarding the Comcast PEG fees. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant opened the public hearing at 7:52 p.m. <br /> <br />Patrick Hagerty, CenturyLink representative, thanked the Council for considering the <br />CenturyLink franchise. He stated that he is excited to be at this point and for being able to bring <br />CenturyLink services into this market. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked if Prism is being offered in any other markets. <br /> <br />Mr. Hagerty reported that CenturyLink is offering Prism in 19 markets throughout the United <br />States.