City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Initiate the First Five-Year Extended Term of the Comcast Cable Television Franchise Agreement. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of the proposed cable television franchise extension for Comcast of Virginia, Inc. to continue to provide cable television services in the City of Alexandria.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve a resolution (Attachment 1) that initiates the first five-year Extended Term of the Comcast cable television franchise agreement ("Franchise Agreement"); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to implement the first five-year Extended Term of the Franchise Agreement with Comcast of Virginia, Inc.
BACKGROUND: In October 2011, the City approved a Franchise Agreement for Comcast of Virginia, Inc. to provide cable television services to approximately 50,000 households and businesses in Alexandria. The 2011 Franchise Agreement consists of an initial term of five years ("Initial Term") with provisions for two extensions of five years each ("Extended Terms"). The maximum term of the franchise is 15 years. Approval of the Extended Terms of the franchise is to be based on the results of franchise compliance reviews that are conducted by City staff. These compliance reviews consider the degree to which the Franchisee has complied with the terms of the Franchise Agreement. Under the state and federal laws governing cable television franchises, general consumer dissatisfaction with an incumbent provider's service delivery does not provide the City with sufficient cause to withhold approval of this Extended Term.
The City also executed in 2011 a separate but related five-year fiber use agreement that r...
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