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CITY OF OAKLAND COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
To: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Attn: Robert C. Bobb From: Office of the City Clerk-Clerk of the Council Date: April 4, 2000 RE: AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE CITY'S CURRENT CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE WITH AT&T BROADBAND AND INTERNET SERVICES FOR A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS (DECEMBER 31, 2000) TO ALLOW FOR THE CONCLUSION OF FRANCHISE RENEWAL NEGOTIATON.
SUMMARY Pursuant to Resolution No. 74713 C.M.S. approved by the City Council on December 15, 1998, the terms of the City's current Cable Television Franchise with AT&T Broadband and Internet Services have been extended to December 31, 2000 to allow for the conclusion of franchise renewal negotiations. All terms and conditions of the Franchise will remain in effect during the extension.
BACKGROUND In December of 1983, Lenfest West Inc. formally accepted the grant of a cable television franchise from the City. The Franchise was transferred to Heritage Cablevision of Delaware, Inc., an affiliate of TeleCommunications, Inc. (TCI), on February 12, 1996.
The City's cable television franchise with TCI expired December 30, 1998. On December 15, 1998, March 6, 1999, and October 12, 1999, the City Council approved extensions of the terms of the Cable Franchise, Ordinance No. 10399. The current franchise extension expires on April 21, 2000.
The City is concluding (1) an assessment of cable-related community needs and interest; (2) a full and comprehensive financial audit; and (3) a full and comprehensive technical analysis of the existing system.
These comprehensive assessments and audits will require the City Council to review the findings and develop a negotiation strategy and plan.
In addition, the community assessment process was modified to include four additional focus groups, and two additional cable community forums. These additional meetings have resulted in a four-week delay of the completed ascertainment report. Because of these facts, the City's cable franchise negotiations will not be concluded by the April 21, 2000 date.
On March 16, 2000, the City of Oakland requested from AT&T Broadband and Internet Services an extension of all terms and conditions of the franchise agreement to December 31, 2000 in order to complete the cable franchise negotiation pursuant to Resolution No. 74713 C.M.S. The extension was granted (see attached letters).
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL None. This report is provided for information only.
Respectfully submitted,
Ceda Floyd APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL:
Office of the City Manager
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