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-We tape the annual Centennial High School teachers' talent show. <br /> <br />Franchise Administration <br /> <br />• Members of the North Metro Telecommunications Commission benefit <br />from sharing the responsibilities of enforcing the cable franchise. <br />Whether it's helping a cable subscriber with customer service issues, <br />reviewing density requirements to determine if an area should be served <br />by cable, or determining if new rulings by the FCC (such as the closed <br />captioning ruling) affect how Cities operate, the Cable Commission makes <br />sure Cities and Comcast are in compliance. <br />• Examples of work done on behalf of Cities regarding the Cable Franchise: <br /> -Work with cable customers to resolve issues with Comcast's and <br /> CenturyLink's customer service, billing, technical, and construction staff. <br /> -Keep up with new rules regarding communications that affect Cities. An <br /> example is the Closed Captioning ruling. The ruling could have <br /> expensive consequences for Cities that make their meetings available <br /> on-line. The Commission reviewed the ruling, and it was determined that <br /> Cities could be exempt if they do not close-caption meetings on cable, for <br /> now. The FCC and ADA have differing rules and the rules are changing, <br /> so this is an on-going issue. The Commission is working to assure that <br /> Cities are in compliance with the Communications Act and FCC <br /> regulations, and ADA regulations, when it comes to closed captioning <br /> meetings. We will have to consider how we can meet the needs of the <br /> disabled to the maximum extent possible, determine the financial and <br /> administrative burden each option would have (considering all resources <br /> available to us) and then prepare a written statement if we conclude that <br /> providing a service would create an undue burden. The Commission could <br /> then prepare a written statement to claim an exemption. Through this <br /> process we will learn more about the technical and financial feasibility of <br /> providing closed captioning services. <br /> -Perform various fee reviews to make sure Comcast is correctly <br /> reimbursing Cities for use of the public rights of way. <br /> -Have created a competitive franchise for companies that might want to <br /> provide multi-tiered programming to compete with Comcast that complies <br /> with local, state, and federal laws. Because of this we were one of the first <br /> Cable Commission's to finalize franchises with CenturyLink, benefiting <br /> residents with real choice in the area of wire-line video services. <br /> -Follow procedures regarding company transfers. This is something that <br /> would need to be done should Comcast or CenturyLink want to transfer <br /> ownership of their local operations to another cable company. (Lino <br /> Lakes franchise requires a specific legal procedure in order to consider a <br /> transfer of ownership. This procedure includes a series of legal and <br /> financial investigations.) <br /> -Schedule and coordinate franchise required quarterly progress meetings <br /> with CenturyLink.