Orange County NC Website
BOCC Questions <br />A preliminary report and preview of the proposed Franchise Ordinance/Agreement was <br />provided to the BOCC at the meeting on September 7~", In response to questions raised by the <br />BOCC at that time: <br />The Cable Advisory Committee Chair and County staff met with TWC and The People's <br />Channel (TPC) representatives on October 5 to clarify concerns about the technical <br />equipment (Exhibit A of the Franchise Ordinance/Agreement) needed to livecast BOCC <br />meetings from both meeting facilities, Minor modifications within the project scope <br />remain under evaluation by TWC and should be confirmed by the second reading, <br />County staff will continue to work with both TWC and The People's Channel on <br />preparations for "going live" with the broadcast of BOCC meetings and other <br />implementation measures, <br />In a presentation before the BOCC at the work session on October 17, Corley Redfoot <br />Zack, the architects for the expanded Justice Facilities, indicated that no change is being <br />recommended for the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom where the BOCC presently meets, <br />County staff retains the ability to postpone outfitting the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom for <br />livecasting should the BOCG state its preference for outfitting a different space in the <br />expanded facility for its public meetings in the future, Close communication will be <br />maintained with Pam Jones, Central Services/Purchasing, and the Justice Facilities <br />workgroup in this regard. <br />• Exhibit B of the Franchise Ordinance/Agreement has been amended to include the <br />Northern Human Services Center at Cedar Grove. <br />Free Basic Cable Services for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District is covered <br />under the Chapel Hill cable franchise ordinance, See excerpt Attachment A, <br />The Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the BOCC typically meet on the same night and <br />time of the month, and the town airs its Board meetings on existing cable channel 18. <br />Under the proposed Franchise Ordinance/Agreement, cable subscribers in Carrboro <br />would have the ability to watch either the Town Board meeting on cable channel 18 or <br />the BOCC meeting on a channel to be determined on the cable digital tier, or both by <br />utilizing the split screen feature on their television. Subscribers throughout the County, <br />regardless of township, will be able to request a free digital converter box in order to <br />receive the County transmission signal if they presently do not have one, <br />The proposed Cable Franchise Ordinance/Agreement in Attachment B represents the "best <br />effort" of both parties to address key objectives within a "good faith" negotiation process as <br />authorized by the BOCC, County staff and TWG officials recommend that the BOCC accept <br />ahd approve the proposed 15-year agreement. <br />The Cable Advisory Committee met on October 5 and discussed the proposed <br />Ordinance/Agreement. It voted unanimously to recommended approval by the BOCC. <br />While not a formal member of the negotiation team, Bob Sepe, Triangle J COG Cable <br />Consortium consultant has advised the County on technical matters as needed. He attended <br />