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c--64 V 92(414 ce(ma4 <br />515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 <br />(612) 484 -2177 / FAX: (612) 484 -4538 <br />September 19, 1996 <br />TO: Mayor Fahey and Members of the City Council <br />FROM: Kathy Glanzer, Administrative Assistant <br />RE: Cable TV System - Transfers of Ownership <br />MAYOR <br />Michael I. Fahey <br />COUNCIL <br />Beverly Scalze <br />Jim LaValle <br />Steve Morelan <br />Bob Pedersen <br />ADMINISTRATOR <br />Joel R. Hanson <br />Attached is correspondence from Thomas Creighton and Robert Vose, <br />Bernick and Lifson, legal representatives to the North Suburban <br />Cable Commission of which the City of Little Canada is a member, <br />regarding transfers of ownership by Meredith Cable Company in the <br />cable system serving Little Canada as well as over 40 other <br />cities. <br />As you may know, Meredith Cable is proposing to transfer <br />ownership to Continental Cablevision, Inc. Once this transfer is <br />finalized, Continental Cablevision is proposing to transfer <br />ownership to U.S. West, Inc. Under Federal law, a telephone <br />company cannot own a cable company within its telephone service <br />area. U.S. West has applied for a limited waiver which would <br />allow them to own the systems for up to 18 months. If this <br />waiver is not approved, U.S. West will not be able to close on <br />the sale, and Continental will retain ownership of the systems. <br />Also attached is a summary of the proposed transfers as well as <br />answers to frequently -asked questions. Finally, I have attached <br />copies of two resolutions consenting to the proposed transfers. <br />If you would like more detailed information on this matter, I <br />have the Final Reports, Analysis and Conclusions for both <br />transfers. Please contact me, and I will provide you with copies <br />of these reports. <br />At the September Cable Commission meeting, Mr. Creighton reported <br />that the financial, technical and legal qualifications of both <br />transfers have been analyzed. This analysis was done to <br />determine whether there was any reasonable basis for withholding <br />approval of the transfers. Creighton felt that the analysis <br />provided no legal basis for not approving the transfers, and also <br />indicated that stipulations cannot be added to approval of the <br />transfers. At that meeting the Commission recommended that the <br />member cities consent to both transfers of ownership. <br />Page 142 <br />