05-09-1984 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Don Tarnowski, Representative to the North Suburban Cable Commission. To: The City Council of the City of Little Canada. Subject: Granting permission to Group W to provide and market cable television under Ordinance No. 196 as modified by Ordinance No. 207. As the representative of the City of Little Canada to the North Suburban Cable Commission, I have been involved in the acquisition of cable television for the citizens of this community for over the past five years. During this period of time, the Commission has studied, evaluated, and negotiated a cable franchise which was subsequently awarded to the now Group W Cable Company. During the past eight months, Group W has appeared before the Commission to present what we feel are logical and well- founded reasons for alterations to the original franchise which are necessary to insure an operable and profitable cable system for the ten -city conglomerate. Many of the first promised options have fallen by the wayside as the cable industry has progressed through a wringing -out process. Cable companies are now realizing that many promises which were presented in good faith in the original franchise offerings are no longer valid and that relief from these contractural obligations is necessary. This is evident to the Commission through reports of independent consultants and through a knowledgeable and working association with other system managements throughout the country. Group W has appealed to the Commission for such relief on several items presented in the franchise as originally offered, an appeal which is currently under study and negotiation. As the complete intent of the Commission is to obtain the best possible cable television service for the represented area at the best possible cost to the individual subscriber, the task has been frustrating at best. However, with the realization that the industry has been undergoing drastic and dramatic changes over the past several years, the Commission agrees with Group W that concessions are necessary to insure that an acceptable system provide the best possible service to the community. Based upon the obtainable information from not only months of study by the Commission and the reports from the independent consulting firms but also a recognition of the tribulations of the industry as a whole,, I therefore recommend to the City Council of the. City of Little Canada that Group W be allowed to market cable television in the City at rates established by Group W pending final acceptance by the Commission of the amended franchise. Upon acceptance of the amended franchise, I further recommend that the City of Little Canada amend Ordinance 195 as amended by Ordinance 207 to include those variances as approved. The members of the Commission are