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82 of Comcast's Subscriber System, Evaluation of the Existing Institutional Netwark and
<br />83 Evaluation of PEG Access Signal Transport and Distribution for the North Suburban
<br />84 Communications Commission" (July 2013) (the "Technical Review Report'); Front
<br />85 Range Consulting, Inc.'s, "Financial Analysis of Comcast Corporation 2012 SEC Form
<br />86 lOK" (May 2013) (the "Comcast Financial Repori'); and Commission staff's "Report
<br />87 on Cable-Related Needs and Interests and the Past Performance of Comcast of
<br />88 Minnesota, Inc.," (July 22, 2013) (the "StaffReport'); and
<br />89 WHEREAS, based on its needs ascertainment, past performance review, best industry
<br />90 practices, national trends in franchising and technology, and its own experience,
<br />91 Commission staff prepared a"Request for Renewal Proposal for Cable Television
<br />92 Franchise" ("RFRP") that summarizes the Member Cities' and their communities' present
<br />93 and future cable-related needs and interests, establishes requirements for facilities,
<br />94 equipment and channel capacity on Comcast's cable system and includes model
<br />95 provisions for satisfying those requirements and cable-related needs and interests; and
<br />96
<br />97
<br />98
<br />99
<br />100
<br />101
<br />WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 2013-04, the Commission authorized its
<br />Executive Committee, Franchise Renewal Committee, Commission staff and/or
<br />Commission designee(s) to take all steps and actions necessary to implement, conduct
<br />and engage in the entire formal franchise renewal process set forth in Section 626(a)-(g)
<br />of the Cable Act, 47 U.S.C. § 546(a)-(g), and to comply with any and all related federal,
<br />state and local laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, decisions and agreements; and
<br />102 WHEREAS, the Commission's delegation of authority to the Franchise Renewal
<br />103 Committee includes, but is not limited to, the issuance of a staff report and RFRP and the
<br />104 establishment of appropriate deadlines for questions and Comcast's RFRP response; and
<br />105 WHEREAS, in accordance with the authority delegated by the Commission, the
<br />106 Franchise Renewal Committee, by resolution, terminated the Section 626(a) proceedings
<br />107 required by the Cable Act on July 26, 2013, issued the Siaff Report and RFRP to
<br />108 Comcast, effective July 29, 2013, and instructed Commission staff to deliver the Staff
<br />109 Report and RFRP to Comcast no later than July 30, 2013; and
<br />110
<br />111
<br />112
<br />WHEREAS, the Staff Report and RFRP was delivered to Comcast on July 29, 2013; and
<br />WHEREAS, the Commission ratified the issuance of the Staff Report and RFRP by the
<br />Franchise Renewal Committee at its August 2013 meeting; and
<br />113 WHEREAS, the Commission and Comcast engaged in informal renewal negotiations
<br />114 pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 546(h) but are currently unable to arrive at mutually acceptable
<br />115 terms, although informal discussions are ongoing; and
<br />116
<br />117
<br />118
<br />119
<br />WHEREAS, the Commission established November 22, 2013, as a deadline for
<br />Comcast's response to the Staff Report and RFRP; and
<br />WHEREAS, the Commission and Comcast agreed to extend certain deadlines including
<br />the deadline for Comcast to respond to the Staff Report and RFRP and the deadline set
<br />
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