Agenda - 11-02-2005-5d - Laserfiche WebLink

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the CAC meeting and expressed his opinion that the proposal represented "a very~ood deal" for the County. Upon execution of an approved Franchise Ordinance/Agreement, TWC expects to extend cable television services for news, weather and information to the Government Services Center that would enable the County to discontinue its contract for satellite services,. Highlights of the Proposed Franchise Ordinance/Agreement Requires the grantee to extend services to any household where the number of occupied homes, and homes for which certificates of occupancy been issued, equals at least 18 homes per street mile. TWC had objected to this density level under the proposed 2003 ordinance/agreement. Differences have been resolved and agreement reached to a density of 18 households per street mile. Requires the grantee to designate a PEG (Public, Educational, Government) access channel for sole use by the County for live and recorded telecasts of Board meetings and other government access programming. PEG access was another area of contention under the 2003 ordinance/agreement. TWC has agreed to provide the County with a digital channel on the cable system for PEG access. Cable subscribers without the digital tier will be provided, upon request, with a free digital box to enable them to view programming on the County access channel. Requires the grantee to design and install a system of equipment that would provide signal transportation for County Board meeting telecasts on a designated PEG channel that originate from Southern Human Services Center or the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom. The BOCC has held a longstanding interest in the "capitalization" of County facilities used for public meetings, particularly those of the legislative process. TWC has now agreed to purchase and install the requisite capital equipment (cameras, monitors, scan converters, switchers, recorders, etc.) to allow for livecasting of BOCC meetings from both locations at its up-front expense. These capital improvements should bring greater efficiency and enhanced quality of output to the current process under contract with The People's Channel. Staff contemplate that TPG would continue on as principal operator of these facilities on behalf of the BOCC. Upon implementation of the proposed Franchise Ordinance/Agreement, cable subscribers in unincorporated Orange would see a "surcharge" on their monthly cable bill, consistent with FCC rules, so that TWC can recover its capital investment over a period of 10 years. Preliminary estimates indicate an annual cost per subscriber of roughly 25 cents per month. Next Steams If approved at first reading, this item would return for the required second reading and adoption as recommended by the Cable Advisory Committee at the BOCC meeting on November 15.