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<br />SUMMARY OF THE CABLE FRANCHISE RENEWAL PROCESS <br /> <br />The renewal provisions in section 626 of the federal Cable Act (47 u.s.c. 9546) govern cable <br />franchise renewal. The Cable Act establishes two ways of arriving at a renewal decision: the <br />formal and the informal processes. <br /> <br />Most renewal franchises are negotiated through the informal process described in 9 626(h) of the <br />Cable Act. If, however, negotiations break down and a community seeks to deny renewal, it may be <br />necessary to follow the procedures of the formal process specified in 9S 626(a)-(g) ofthe Cable Act, <br />as briefly outlined below. <br /> <br />Informal Process <br /> <br />While the Cable Act does not require specific procedures for informal negotiations, the public must <br />have notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed renewal. <br /> <br />Formal Process <br /> <br />If AT&T Broadband has timely requested that the North Metro Telecommunications Commission <br />or the member cities begin formal renewal proceedings, renewal cannot be denied without recourse <br />to the formal process. <br /> <br />A. Ascertainment Process. <br /> <br />1. First stage in the formal renewal process. The Cable Act allows the <br />Commission and/or the member cities six months from the date of <br />submission of the renewal notice to begin the ascertainment process. The <br />process is intended to give the public and the Commission, on behalf of the <br />member cities, an opportunity to identifY fhture cable-related community <br />needs and interests and to review the past performance of AT&T Broadband. <br />Ascertainment can be accomplished through a variety of tools, including <br />public hearings, surveys, focus groups, interviews, and repOlis and audits of <br />AT&T Broadband's past performance. <br /> <br />P.20 <br />