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BERNICK AND LIFSON <br />A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION <br />I. <br />INTRODUCTION <br />At the time of awarding the original franchise and in <br />subsequent transfers of the cable communications franchise, the <br />Commission considered and approved the technical ability, financial <br />capability, legal qualifications and character of previous owners <br />of the cable system, as well as other appropriate factors. The <br />same qualifications are to be considered and reviewed as part of <br />the transfer of control request as they relate to Meredith. The <br />sources of information used in examining these factors include the <br />Response to the Municipal Request for Information supplied to the <br />Commission and its consultants and other supplemental written <br />information provided by Meredith and North Central. <br />II. <br />STANDARD OF REVIEW <br />The Commission's task in this process is to review the <br />information provided regarding the transaction and to approve or <br />deny the transfer of control of North Central. The cable <br />communications franchises and State statute both expressly reserve <br />the right of the City to approve or disapprove such a transfer of <br />control. The standard of review is that the City's consent shall <br />not be unreasonably withheld. For the purpose of determining <br />whether the City will consent to the change in control of North <br />Central, the Commission has made inquiry into the legal, technical <br />and financial qualifications of Meredith, as well as other <br />appropriate factors. <br />In analyzing the transaction, the Commission must consider <br />whether the transaction meets all of the criteria originally <br />considered in granting the original franchise and subsequently <br />approving the previous transfer of ownership of North Central. It <br />should be noted, however, that this analysis is not a comparison <br />between the current owners and the proposed new owners. Rather, <br />this analysis is an application of factors to determine whether the <br />proposed new owners of North Central satisfy the standards outlined <br />above to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission. <br />The Commission should focus on the following factors in <br />determining whether to approve or deny the transfer of control to <br />Meredith. <br />2 <br />Page 74 <br />