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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Date: 3/16/2026 <br />Item No.: 7.a. <br />Department ApprovalCity Manager Approval <br />Item Description:Discuss Broadband Franchising <br />1 <br />2 Background <br />3 As part of the recent discussion about the City's legislative priorities and alternative funding <br />4 source for cable commissions, the possibility of broadband franchising was discussed. On <br />5 September 25, 2025, the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission <br />6(SWCTC), serving the Woodbury area, adopted the first broadband franchise in the State of <br />7 Minnesota. The franchise agreement was with Intrepid Fiber Networks and provides equal <br />8 broadband access to all residents of the franchise area and payment of 5% of the gross <br />9 revenue fee from the provided to the city for use of its rights-of- way. <br />10 <br />11 Attorney Mike Bradley, legal counsel to Nine North, has provided information about <br />12 broadband franchising generally and how it was implemented in Woodbury (Attachments 1- <br />13 3). Mr. Bradley represented SWCTC during the franchise negations with Intrepid Fiber <br />14 Networks and will present information about broadband franchising to the City Council at its <br />15 March 16 meeting. Mr. Bradley's presentation is included as Attachment 4. <br />16 <br />17 Policy Objectives <br />18 This informational item relates to the Strategic Plan Priority Area: Reliable and <br />19 Sustainable Infrastructure. <br />20 <br />21 Providing information on broadband franchising helps inform future policy discussions <br />22 related to Goal #1: Develop and implement a strategic funding strategy that prioritizes <br />23 key capital improvements that are planned, regularly assessed and evolve based on <br />24 city values and changing community needs. Broadband infrastructure relies on the use <br />25 of public rights-of-way, and franchise agreements are one tool cities may use to manage <br />26 private use of public infrastructure. <br />27 <br />28 Applicable Success Indicators: <br />29 Funding strategies are developed and implemented to ensure that Roseville's <br />30 infrastructure is maintained and updated to a level of service that meets or exceeds <br />31 the expectations of the community. <br />32 <br />33 Understanding how broadband franchises function also supports the success indicator that <br />34 funding strategies are developed and implemented to ensure Roseville's infrastructure is <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Qbhf!3!pg!211 <br /> <br />