Agenda #4j
memorandum
to:Mayor and Town Council
from:W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
subject:A Resolution Supporting Continued Authority of Local Governments Regarding Franchising of Cable Television Services
date:October 24, 2005
The purpose of this report is to recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution supporting continued authority of local governments regarding franchising of cable television services
As explained in the attached materials prepared by our cable television consultant, Adrian Herbst, several Bills have been introduced in Congress that would impair the Town’s present ability to negotiate franchise agreements with cable television service providers. Under the worst outcomes, the proposed legislation would remove our ability to require the payment of franchise fees for use of the Town’s rights-of-way. We expect this year’s payments for use of our rights-of-way by Time Warner Cablevision to be in excess of $400,000.
I recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution and forward copies to Representative Price and Senators Dole and Burr.