Title
Resolution authorizing the City of Pittsburgh to enter into a cable franchise agreement with Comcast of California/Pennsylvania/Utah/Washington, Inc.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Title VI of the Communications Act, including the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and Pennsylvania law, the City of Pittsburgh ("City") is authorized to grant and renew franchises to construct, operate and maintain a cable system utilizing public rights-of-way and properties within the City's jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Comcast of California/Pennsylvania/Utah/Washington, Inc. ("Comcast") currently holds a cable franchise from the City by virtue of a cable franchise agreement originally granting a franchise to TCI of Pennsylvania, Inc., doing business as AT&T Cable Services, Inc., and such franchise agreement has expired; and
WHEREAS, Comcast has requested that the City renew Comcast's franchise to maintain, construct, operate and upgrade its cable system over, under, and along the aforesaid public rights-of-way for use by the City's residents; and
WHEREAS, the aforesaid public rights-of-way used by Comcast are public properties held in trust on behalf of the citizens of the City and the right to use said rights-of-way is a valuable property right; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to protect and manage the public rights-of-way, require high standards of customer service, maintain the City's institutional network, receive franchise fees for Comcast's use of the rights-of-way as provided by federal law, preserve the City's public, educational, and governmental channels, establish certain reporting requirements, and provide for the current and future cable-related needs of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined Comcast to be financially, technically and legally qualified to operate the c...
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