Agenda - 11-15-2007-4j - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 15, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. G}- SUBJECT: Final Report of the Cable Television Advisory Committee DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Letter from CTVAC Chair & Final Report of the Cable Advisory Committee INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Patrick, Chair, Cable Television Advisory Committee Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, 245-2307 PURPOSE: To present the final report of the Cable Television Advisory Committee (CTVAC) and consider its recommendations, including a sunset of the existing committee and suggestions for a future committee. BACKGROUND: The first CTVAC was established by the Board of County Commissioners on December 5, 1979 to advise the Board on methods of responding to complaints about the cable television system and to advise the Board and County Manager regarding the cable television franchise and possible expansions. The cable television industry and the telecommunications environment have changed dramatically since the late 1970s. More recently, the County -with the input, expertise, and perseverance of CTVAC Chair Michael Patrick -has successfully renegotiated a 15-year franchise renewal agreement with Time Warner Cable (2005). Additionally, the NC General Assembly has enacted statewide legislation governing local franchising and the collection of certain cable franchise fees (replacing them with video programming and telecommunications sales tax revenue distributed by the Department of Revenue) (2007). Last spring, the CTVAC held a work session, attended by representatives from Time Warner Cable, The People's Channel, and Action Audits (Triangle J COG Cable Consortium consultant) and facilitated by Andy Sachs of the Dispute Settlement Center, to consider the rapidly changing technological environment, celebrate their successes, and contemplate any new or continuing business that might remain before them, specifically concerns about on-going franchise administration and the advent of Channel 265, the new government access channel. Attached are a copy of the Chair's transmittal letter and the final report of the Committee for review and reference. The Committee recommended that the Board (1) Create a new charge and (2) Direct the new charge to either the existing CTVAC or appoint a new committee to address the new charge.