City Council Meeting Date: February 18, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Communications & HR Director Mahowald
Title
Consider Approval of Resolution Supporting Local Cable Franchising including Public, Educational, and Governmental Access Channels.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers approving the attached resolution supporting local cable franchising including public, educational, and governmental access channels.
Summary Report:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing to allow cable operators such as Charter/Spectrum to charge the City the “fair market value” of the City’s PEG channels and potentially offset that fair market value against franchise fees paid by the cable operator to the City.
If that were to occur it will be very difficult for the City to continue to program the Public, Education and Government (PEG) channels due to the increased cost of the PEG channel capacity.
Alternative Options: None.
Financial Impacts: None at this time.
Tentative Timelines: Letters will be sent to Senator Klobuchar and Representative Smith by Mayor Pownell opposing this effort by the FCC with a copy of the Resolution upon approval.