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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: November 16, 2004 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. q-~ <br />SUBJECT: Options for Access to Weather and Emergency Information at the Government <br />Services Center <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Attachment A: <br />Attachment B: <br />Attachment C <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Gwen Harvey, Assistant Manager, <br />County/TWC Negotiation ext 2300 <br />Summary Pam Jones, Purchasing Director, <br />Caunty/TWC ext 2652 <br />Correspondence on <br />GSC Cable Service <br />Information on Dish TV <br />Alternative <br />TE<_EPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider options for securing access to weather and news information on the <br />television located in the large meeting room at the Government Services Center. <br />BACKGROUND: At the direction of the BOCC, County staff re-entered informal franchise <br />negotiations with Time Warner Cable (TWC) in the summer of 2004 with the added service of <br />Andy Sachs of the Dispute Settlement Center as a process facilitator. The County and TWC <br />have held a total of 4 (four) facilitated sessions and a fifth is planned for Wednesday, November <br />17. The intention is to return to the BOCC with an agreement that would be acceptable to both <br />sides, and County staff is hopeful that can occur in early 2005. (Attachment A provides a <br />summary of the last session held on October 28 and offers a description of the current status of <br />cable negotiations.) <br />One outstanding issue is the County's contention that TWC provide free installation and access <br />to cable television services at public buildings owned by Orange County. This service was <br />provided under previous franchise agreements and, for example, allowed free installation and <br />service at Emergency Management Operations Center. County management in the <br />Government Services Center (GSC) has a need to be able to monitor and evaluate weather and <br />news information that impact the immediate community and to help ensure continuity of <br />operations at times of emergency. <br />TWC has currently responded by saying it would have to initially charge the County $4,000 for <br />the initial installation of service at the GSC, but would be willing to look at the issue again, and <br />perhaps favorably, as a final discussion point in the renewed franchise negotiations. When <br />asked if TWC would be willing to "release" this issue for decision now and proceed with the <br />