06-23-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM: Laura Linehan, Acting City Administrator DATE: June 23, 2025 RE: Public Hearing: Ordinance Number 918 Comcast Cable Franchise Extension ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Hold a Public Hearing for Ordinance 918 to Approve the Franchise Extension Agreement between the City of Little Canada and Comcast of Minnesota, Inc. through June 30, 2032. BACKGROUND: The North Suburban Communications (the “NSCC”) is a municipal joint powers commission that negotiates and administers the cable franchises on behalf of its nine member cities. Following a long and contentious franchise renewal process, the NSCC and Comcast agreed upon a renewed cable television franchise in 2017. All of the member cities adopted ordinances approving the cable television franchise, and Comcast accepted it. At the time, the 2017 cable television franchise was considered one of the best, if not the best, cable television franchise in the metro area. In 2025, it remains one of the best, if not the best, cable television franchises in the metro, and it continues to meet the needs of the member cities as it relates to the provision of cable service. In 2024, Comcast sent a notice to the NSCC that it desired to renew the cable television franchise, which had a term through 2027. Shortly after receiving the notice, the NSCC adopted a resolution commencing the renewal process and sent a letter to Comcast in response to Comcast agreeing to pursue the cable television franchise renewal through the informal contract negotiation process as contemplated in the federal cable act. In 2025, NSCC counsel and Comcast tentatively agreed on a cable franchise renewal extension that would extend the current terms and conditions of the cable television franchise through 2032. The NSCC recommended the adoption of the Franchise Extension Agreement Ordinance by the City and all of its member cities at its meeting in May. As outlined within the ordinance, the following considerations were included in the extension agreement: • Section 2, paragraph 4 of the Franchise is hereby amended by extending the term of such Franchise through and including June 30, 2032. The Parties do not waive any rights under Section 626 of the Federal Cable Act and agree that Grantee shall not be required to file an additional Section 626 Letter to preserve its rights to formal proceedings under the Franchise. • Except as specifically modified hereby, the Franchise shall remain in full force and effect. • Neither party waives any rights under law as a result of agreeing to this Franchise extension. • The Agreement shall remain effective so long as Comcast, including any successors or assigns, continues to operate under the Franchise, including as it may be extended pending the completion of the renewal process. Neither the Commission nor Comcast may terminate the Agreement prior to renewal.