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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 16, 2014 <br /> Page 25 <br /> Mayor Roe, in his role as City liaison to the North Suburban Cable Commission <br /> and current board member, reviewed the process laid out and background of cable <br /> services provided, based on the current agreement in place over the last sixteen <br /> years, and its transfer to Comcast, with that agreement actually expiring in 2013, <br /> and extended for a year to continue negotiations. Mayor Roe advised that four <br /> years ago, Comcast notified the ten member cities of the expiration and negotia- <br /> tions; with both informal and formal negotiations following by a set process, and <br /> Comcast's response and subsequent public hearing recently held this spring. <br /> Mayor Roe noted NSCC's recommendation to the ten member cities to prelimi- <br /> narily deny the proposed franchise agreement from Comcast. In the meantime, <br /> Mayor Roe advised that informal discussions were ongoing, but there was a need <br /> to take action on the calendar on the formal response. <br /> Mayor Roe advised that both parties were present and would be heard from, first <br /> Comcast and then NSCC; followed by City Council questions, rebuttal available <br /> to both parties, and then public comment. <br /> Emmet Coleman, Comcast Vice President of Government Affairs Area <br /> Mr. Coleman thanked Mayor Roe for his service on the NSCC and his succinct <br /> summary of the issue; and provided his presentation as a bench handout, attached <br /> hereto and made a part hereof <br /> Mr. Coleman provided a brief review of his area of responsibility covering four <br /> states and approximately 200 communities. However, Mr. Coleman advised that <br /> 40% of his time and that of his team at the corporate level had been dedicated to <br /> responding to issues on the franchise renewal process for these ten communities. <br /> Mr. Coleman opined that the franchise agreement for the ten communities was <br /> tied to the commission, but the cities didn't have a clear, direct discussion of the <br /> provisions on a regular basis. <br /> As detailed in the RCA dated June 16, 2014, Mr. Coleman addressed the various <br /> issues from Comcast's perspective in their proposal (Attachment A: Executive <br /> Summary) and his handout presentation. Mr. Coleman reviewed the areas of dis- <br /> pute or contention, and his perception of misrepresentations or misperceptions, <br /> including PEG fees, federal laws, Comcast's substantial investment in the com- <br /> munity, triggers for formal negotiations, original construction of the institutional <br /> network and its ownership, future of educational and government access channels <br /> going forward, the NSCC reserves it has available that had been collected from <br /> member cities, and Request for Proposal provisions and the historical provisions <br /> of the Memorandum of Understanding with predecessors of Comcast. <br /> Mr. Coleman addressed federal requirements for the formal process from Corn- <br /> cast's perspective and the Federal Act rules and regulations both Comcast and the <br /> NSCC were required to operate under. <br />