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PUBLIC DOCUMENT-TRADE SECRET DATA HAS BEEN EXCISED <br />Comcast of Minnesota <br />LEGAL ISSUES AND OBJECTIONS REGARDING <br />THE STAFF REPORT AND RFRP <br />Page 14 <br />To protect its right to continue providing cable services, and in an effort to <br />work within the process that the NSCC staff has designed, Comcast submits <br />this proposal despite the many significant legal issues raised by the RFRP. By <br />submitting this proposal, Comcast does not waive any of its rights, including its <br />right to continue to object to the RFRP on any ground in other or related <br />proceedings. <br />Comcast has responded to the RFRP in a variety of ways, in light of the <br />legal issues discussed below. For example, in some cases where Comcast <br />believes a demand is particularly unreasonable or overly burdensome, Comcast <br />has noted its objection or provided information that reasonably responds to the <br />demand. In other cases, to resolve differences with the NSCC staff, Comcast has <br />gone beyond what the NSCC lawfully may require. In still other situations, <br />Comcast has proposed alternatives that are subject to further discussions <br />between the parties. In these and other cases, Comcast does not waive its rights <br />to object to a particular request or requirement. <br />Comcast states that this Proposal responds to the NSCC's Staff Report and <br />RFRP's demands as a whole, and that Comcast reserves the right to change any <br />elements of this Proposal if any part of the RFRP—whether by voluntary <br />amendment by the NSCC, court order, or other means — is changed or deemed <br />unlawful. <br />A. The Cable Act establishes an expectation of renewal, and provides <br />limited grounds for denial. <br />The Cable Act has a number of goals, including the creation of "an orderly <br />process for franchise renewal which protects operators against unfair denials of <br />renewal."1� Another purpose is to "promote competition in cable communica- <br />tions and minimize unnecessary regulation that would impose an undue <br />economic burden on cable systems."15 The procedures in the Cable Act are <br />designed to effectuate these goals, requiring a formalized process for making <br />and evaluating a renewal proposal, and an administrative hearing and judicial <br />review following any attempted denia1.16 It is well recognized that "[t]he Cable <br />14. 47 U.S.C. � 521(5). <br />15. Id. � 521(6). <br />16. Id. � 547. <br />