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iC/ <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ` <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 2, 2005 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. _ <br /> SUBJECT: First Reading —Ordinance Granting Franchise to Time Warner <br /> Entertainment/Advance-Newhouse Partnership, to Own, Operate, and Maintain <br /> Cable System in Unincorporated Orange County <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) I No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Michael Patrick, Chair, Cable Advisory <br /> A. Chapel Hill Franchise Agreement Committee <br /> Excerpt Gwen Harvey, Assistant County <br /> Manager, 245-2307 <br /> B. Proposed (Negotiated) Cable <br /> Television Franchise Ordinance/ <br /> Agreement <br /> i <br /> PURPOSE: To consider approval of the first reading of a cable franchise renewal ordinance <br /> (agreement) with Time Warner Entertainment/Advance-Newhouse Partnership (TWC), as <br /> recommended by the Orange County Cable Advisory Committee. <br /> BACKGROUND: In the fall of 2003, the Cable Advisory Committee, Triangle J Cable <br /> Consultant, and County staff brought forward a proposed cable television franchise <br /> ordinance/agreement that was adopted by the BOCC after a second reading. TWC officials <br /> challenged the ordinance/agreement and declined to sign, calling upon the BOCC to re- . <br /> establish informal negotiations and allow further opportunity to reconcile remaining differences. <br /> The BOCC granted this request and authorized staff to retain the services of Andy Sachs of the <br /> Dispute Settlement Center to facilitate new negotiation sessions. TWC and the County shared <br /> equally in the cost of facilitation services. <br /> A series of facilitated sessions were conducted between June 2004 and August 2005. The <br /> negotiating team was comprised of: (TWC) Brad Phillips, Vice President/Government and <br /> Public Affairs; Andi Curtis, Assistant to the VP/GPA; Trish McCausland, Assistant Chief <br /> Counsel, Regulatory; and (County) Cable Advisory Committee Chair Michael Patrick and <br /> Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey. Additional County staff— Legal, Finance, Purchasing, <br /> Clerk's Office — provided technical support and guidance as needed throughout the process, <br /> along with the entire Cable Advisory Committee and Bob Sepe, Action Audits, LLC. <br /> Commissioner Steve Halkiotis is the current BOCC liaison to the Cable Advisory Committee. <br />