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April 11, 2001 V <br /> Council Meeting Minutes <br /> 5. Cable Franchise Update <br /> Mr. March reported he and Council Member Capra had attended a joint meeting to find <br /> out the status of franchise negotiations and found out that AT&T Broadband has halted <br /> all negotiations. He noted the attorneys that serve the seven-city Cable Commission were <br /> dealing with AT&T Broadband and two other companies, Everest and Wide Open West <br /> who had expressed an interest in overbuilding the area. Both of those companies have I <br /> backed off and the Cable Commissiori has no choice but to deal with AT&T Broadband. i <br /> He noted one of the sticki�g points goes back to a memorandum of understanding from , <br /> 1996 regarding PEG fees. , <br /> Council Member Capra commented that whatever is agreed to is a 15 year commitment � <br /> for the City. ' <br /> Mr. March explained the Cable Commission has been in an informal review and now I ' <br /> wants to go to the formal process that could be very expensive. The Cable Commission <br /> would need to prove that AT&T Broadband has not been responsive and has not met the � <br /> needs for service in all areas of the comrnunities involved. The Cable Commission voted ; <br /> unanimously to present a resolution to the cities for approval. Council Member Capra <br /> noted she would like it reviewed and voted on at the next Council meeting to bring it <br /> back to the board the first Wednesday in May. <br /> Mr. March explained the Cable Commission is investigating having the cities take over ' <br /> the cable system. <br /> Council Member Broussard Vickers asked how the Cable Commission could force <br /> AT&T Broadband to accept the terms the Cable Commission wants. <br /> Mayor Swedberg explained that this is a federal FCC process that is an umbrella over all <br /> of the cable operations. <br /> Mr. Sweeney noted the way he understands it is that cable is something that has to be <br /> provided and AT&T Broadband cannot just pullout and not provide cable. <br /> Council Member Broussard Vickers asked who benefits by extending the franchise. Mr. <br /> Sweeney stated he did not feel anyone benefited as there are advertisements for <br /> Broadband but it is not really available to Centerville or Lino Lakes. He then noted the <br /> Commission wants Broadband accelerated into all areas that are being served as part of <br /> the franchise agreement. Mr. Sweeney noted another issue is internet access as the Cable <br /> Commission wants PEG fees from internet access and AT&T Broadband disagrees. <br /> Council Member Broussard Vickers questioned if going through the formal process and <br /> spending extra money would bring this to a conclusion. <br /> Page 10 of 14 <br />