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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: August 12, 2013 Item No.: 13.b Department Approval City Manager Approval Item Description: Consider Extending the Term of Cable Television Franchise Ordinance and Agreement Held by Comcast of Minnesota, Inc Page 1 of 2 B ACKGROUND 1 The current cable franchise agreement that began in 1998 and is held by Comcast of Minnesota Inc. is 2 set to expire on November 23, 2013. Since 2011, the North Suburban Communications Commission 3 (NSCC) has been negotiating with Comcast for the renewal of the franchise agreement. While 4 negotiations are moving forward, it does not appear that a full agreement can be reached by November 5 2013. Therefore, the NSCC is asking that every member City to extend the franchise one additional 6 year, to November 23, 2014 to allow for additional time for negotiating. It is hoped that an acceptable 7 agreement can be approved much sooner than November of 2014. 8 Once a new franchise is negotiated, it will be brought forward for City Council consideration and 9 approval.10 P OLICY O BJECTIVE 11 Entering into a franchise agreement with Comcast will allow for the continuation of cable TV services 12 to Roseville residents and provide the City with revenue for allowing the cable company to construct 13 facilities within the City of Roseville’s right-of-way. 14 F INANCIAL I MPACTS 15 There are no direct financial impacts to extending the current franchise agreement. Under the 16 extension, the City will continue to receive the existing franchise fee. The City receives approximately 17 $420,000 annually from Comcast in franchise fees. The funds are deposited into the Communications 18 Fund.19 S TAFF R ECOMMENDATION 20 Staff recommends approval of a resolution extending the term of the cable franchise agreement 21 ordinance and agreement. 22 R EQUESTED C OUNCIL A CTION 23 Motion to APPROVE a resolution extending the term of the cable television franchise ordinance and 24 agreement held by Comcast of Minnesota, Inc.25 26