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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 8, 2011 Page 2 2 IV. PUBLIC HEARING. 3 4 None. 6 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF. 7 8 None. 9 10 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 11 12 A. Resolution 11 -019; Concerning the Commencement of Formal Renewal Proceedings 13 under the Federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, as Amended. 14 Councilmember Roth, presenting. 15 16 Councilmember Roth advised that Comcast has provided notice of its desire to continue to 17 provide cable services to the North Suburban Communications Commission member cities; the 18 Federal Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 requires notification three years in advance 19 of the renewal date. He indicated that over the next six to twelve months, the North Suburban 20 Communications Commission will hire outside help to assess whether Comcast has met the 21 contractual terms of the current contract which will be followed by formal negotiation of the 22 contract. He stated that during the renewal process, a renewal task force will be formed 23 comprised of members of the North Suburban Communications Commission, including Coralie 24 Wilson, North Suburban Communications Commission Executive Director, Lauderdale Mayor 25 Jeff Dains, Little Canada City Councilmember Rick Montour, Craig Wilson from Arden Hills, 26 and Dan Roe, Roseville Mayor. He explained that the cable commission has requested that each 27 City adopt a resolution stating that the City will support the cable commission's renewal task 28 force in its negotiations with Comcast on behalf of each member city. 29 30 Councilmember Jenson asked if the new contract with Comcast will culminate in 2014. He also 31 asked what the length of the renewal contract will be. 32 33 Councilmember Roth replied that the new contract will culminate in 2014, but was not certain 34 about the length of the renewal contract. He noted that the renewal is typically for an extended 35 period of time and could be determined through the negotiation process. He agreed to follow -up 36 on the length of the renewal and report back to Council. 37 38 Mayor Faust stated that he thought the last contract was in 1998 so the term could be fifteen 39 years. He indicated that one of the reasons it takes three years to negotiate the contract is to 40 provide all parties with an opportunity to negotiate in good faith and/or pursue other options if 41 Comcast is not chosen. He noted that it would be difficult to find another cable provider that 42 would be willing to provide the necessary infrastructure or investment for cable service. He 43 added that the North Suburban Communications Commission provides a way for the ten member 44 cities to get the best deal it can to continue cable networking. 45