12/21/98 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Session 1736, Minutes December 7, 1998 ~. When staff drafted the proposed ordinance, they were asking for a plan from TCI indicating how they intended to construct the institutional network as well as the emergency override system. At the time that the ordinance was drafted, staff had not received that information. Staff had indicated to TCI that the information had not been received by a certain da.~. ~n a recommendation would be made to the City Council to extend it to June 23, ~'. Since that time, TCI has provided a document that the staff does not completely agree with, but staff does believe that it moves us closer to where this should ee. TCI has indicated that they are going to upgrade the system, as well as their willingness to construct the institutional network and the emergency override system. Based upon this information, staff will ask Council to consider amending the proposed ordinance to an extension date of December 23rd to the year 2000. This would require an amendment in section 5 of the proposed ordinance, as well as, exhibit A. The proposed ordinance also strengthens customer service standards. It does this by reducing the time for measuring compliance with the number of busy signals a subscriber can receive. It increases the penalties and most importantly, it develops customer complaint procedures. There are a number of options that Council has available to consider: 1) Not act on the transfer, which means that Council defacto approves the transfer; 2) Council could deny the transfer; 3) Council could approve the proposed ordinance as presented without any changes to it; 4) Council could approve the ordinance with the recommendation of amendments as identified by staff. Mr. Paul Berra, 45'11 Southridge Meadows Dr., is the Regional Director for TCI franchising and communications. Mr. Berra explained that AT&T will become the parent company of TCI. TCI will continue to exist as a corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of AT&'r. The records make it clear that this transfer needs the Council's approval in one of two cases. One would be a direct transfer of a franchise, also they are also required to seek Council's consent when there is a change of control of the franchise. There is a change of control for this transfer, since AT&T will become the new parent for TCI Cable. The merger will not involve a transfer of the franchise. TCI Cable will still remain in existence and continue to hold the franchise, unlike the Continental Cable/TCI franchise arrangement. The current cable franchisee will hold the franchise and the current employees and management will stay in place. The merger will result in a new parent company, AT&T. Mr. Berra stated that the proper forms have been filled out. Mr. Ollendorff asked Mr. Berra if there was any new information that has not been received yet. Mr. Berra responded that, a few days ago, TCI had provided to Mr. Rose, an extension