2012 1

RESOLUTION R-1-12

OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL

OF THE TOWN OF CHEVERLY, MARYLAND

 

        WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cheverly have authority pursuant to Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland to regulate cable television franchises within the Town; and

        WHEREAS, the Town has entered into a franchise agreement with Comcast of Maryland, Inc., (“Comcast”); and

        WHEREAS, the term of the franchise agreement ends in 2013; and

        WHEREAS, the Town has received a letter from Comcast invoking the formal renewal provisions of Section 626 of the 1984 Cable Communications Policy Act, which also indicated a desire to engage in an informal process of negotiation; and

        WHEREAS, the Town is required to perform a needs assessment as part of any renegotiation of a franchise agreement; and

        WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that the Town enter into franchise renewal negotiations with Comcast; and

        WHEREAS, the Town has been invited to be part of a joint negotiation, together with Prince George’s County and other municipalities, to negotiate the renewal of the Comcast franchise; and

        WHEREAS, the Town participated in a similar joint negotiation with the County and sixteen municipalities when the original Comcast franchise agreement was reached and received the benefit of pooling its financial and other resources to reach an agreement that was acceptable to the Town; and

        WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have determined that it is in the public interest to join with Prince George’s County and other municipalities, to allow the Town the benefit of pooling its financial and other resources to perform the needs assessment, and to negotiate the renewal of the Comcast franchise.

       NOW THEREFORE, the Mayor and Council of the Town of Cheverly do hereby resolve:

That the Mayor and Council have determined that it is in the public interest to join with Prince George’s County and other municipalities in performing a needs assessment and negotiating the renewal of the Comcast franchise agreement.

That the Town staff are authorized to take those steps necessary to participate in the joint negotiation.

                

Adopted March 8, 2012

 

Attest:___________________

 

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Mayor

 

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Councilmember                           Councilmember

 

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Councilmember                           Councilmember

 

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Councilmember                           Councilmember