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of Comcast's Subscriber System, Evaluation of the Existing Institutional Network and
<br /> Evaluation of PEG Access Signal Transport and Distribution for the North Suburban
<br /> Communications Commission" (July 2013) (the "Technical Review Report'); Front
<br /> Range Consulting, Inc.'s, "Financial Analysis of Comcast Corporation 2012 SEC Form
<br /> 10K" (May 2013) (the "Comcast Financial Report'); and Commission staff's "Report
<br /> on Cable-Related Needs and Interests and the Past Performance of Comcast of
<br /> Minnesota, Inc.," (July 22, 2013) (the "Staff Report'); and
<br /> WHEREAS, based on its needs ascertainment, past performance review, best industry
<br /> practices, national trends in franchising and technology, and its own experience,
<br /> Commission staff prepared a "Request for Renewal Proposal for Cable Television
<br /> Franchise" ("RFRP") that summarizes the Member Cities' and their communities' present
<br /> and future cable-related needs and interests, establishes requirements for facilities,
<br /> equipment and channel capacity on Comcast's cable system and includes model
<br /> provisions for satisfying those requirements and cable-related needs and interests; and
<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 /> WHEREAS, the Commission's delegation of authority to the Franchise Renewal
<br /> Committee includes, but is not limited to, the issuance of a staff report and RFRP and the
<br /> establishment of appropriate deadlines for questions and Comcast's RFRP response; and
<br /> WHEREAS, in accordance with the authority delegated by the Commission, the
<br /> Franchise Renewal Committee, by resolution, terminated the Section 626(a) proceedings
<br /> required by the Cable Act on July 26, 2013, issued the Staff Report and RFRP to
<br /> Comcast, effective July 29, 2013, and instructed Commission staff to deliver the Staff
<br /> Report and RFRP to Comcast no later than July 30, 2013; and
<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 /> WHEREAS, the Commission and Comcast engaged in informal renewal negotiations
<br /> pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 546(h) but are currently unable to arrive at mutually acceptable
<br /> terms, although informal discussions are ongoing; and
<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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