Minutes 01/23/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 23, 2024 24 - 10 - Adoption of an ordinance authorizing extension of the City’s Cable Franchise Agreements with Cox and Verizon through December 10, 2024. Background:  Cable companies are required to enter into Cable Franchise Agreements to provide service in localities.  The permissible terms and conditions that localities can require in Cable Franchise Agreements are strictly regulated and limited by Chapter 21 of Title 15.2 of the Virginia Code. Nevertheless, there are certain terms that can be negotiated between a locality and a provider.  Portsmouth City Council granted a Cable Franchise Agreement to Cox Communications with a commencement date of December 9, 2008. Portsmouth City Council granted a Cable Franchise Agreement to Verizon with a commencement date of January 13, 2009.  Each Cable Franchise Agreement has a fifteen-year term, meaning that they expired or will expire in December 2023 (Cox) and January 2024 (Verizon). Discussion:  To provide time to negotiate full fifteen-year extensions of the Franchise Agreements with Cox and Verizon with terms and conditions benefiting the City to the greatest extent possible, it is proposed to provide an interim extension to each existing Agreement of approximately one year.  The extension term for each Agreement would expire on December 10, 2024.  It is anticipated that proposed full extensions of the Franchise Agreements will be brought to City Council for consideration well before the December 10, 2024, expiration date.  Providing the interim one-year extensions through the ordinance proposed for Council consideration will avoid interruption of service for Portsmouth citizens who are Cox or Verizon cable customers. Financial Impact:  None. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The City Manager will execute the extensions.  City staff will negotiate full fifteen-year extensions of the Franchise Agreements with Cox and Verizon for City Council consideration. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Tillage, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF THE CITY’S CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH COX AND VERIZON THROUGH DECEMBER 10, 2024.” Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover Nays: None 24 - 11 - Adoption of an ordinance setting rates and terms for short-term dark fiber leases. Background:  The City of Portsmouth has constructed a fiber optic network for the purpose of providing improved and cheaper broadband communications capabilities to City government and related facilities.  The network has more fiber strands than the City requires to meet its communications needs.  There has been discussion about offering some of the excess strands for short- term lease by third party internet or cable providers.