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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: October 1, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No, ~-~A <br />SUBJECT: Second 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 <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proposed Cable Television Franchise <br />Ordinance/Agreement <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Michael Patrick, Chair, Cable Advisory <br />Committee <br />Robert Sepe, Consultant, Action Audits <br />Dave Permar, Hatch Little and Bunn, <br />LLP <br />Gwen Harvey, Assistant County <br />Manager, 245-2307 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing and consider approval upon second reading of a cable <br />franchise renewal ordinance (agreement) with Time Warner Entertainment/Advance-Newhouse <br />Partnership, as recommended by the Orange County Cable Advisory Committee, in conjunction <br />with the Triangle J Cable Consortium consultant collaborative. <br />BACKGROUND: The proposed ordinance/agreement, as attached, represents the "best offer" <br />(an offer that keeps the Board's objectives paramount) derived by the Board authorized <br />franchise negotiation team (Michael Patrick, Cable Advisory Committee Chair and Gwen <br />Harvey, Assistant County Manager; with technical assistance provided by Bob Sepe, Action <br />Audits and Dave Permar, Hatch Little and Bunn, LLP), after a year of meetings with Brad <br />Phillips, Time Warner Government Relations, and their consulting attorney, Mark Prak. The <br />Cable Advisory Committee (CAC) has reviewed the proposed cable television franchise <br />ordinance/agreement and recommends its adoption by the Board. The BOCC considered the <br />ordinance (agreement) at its September 2, 2003 regular meeting and approved its first reading. <br />Time Warner has been advised that this matter is scheduled for BOCC consideration and <br />received copies of the agenda abstract and proposed agreement. Staff fully expects Time <br />Warner representatives to be in attendance on October 1St and most likely expects them to <br />protest aspects of the proposed agreement. <br />