Agenda - Council - 07/28/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I i I BER. NICK AND LIFSON INTRODUCTION At the :time of awarding the original franchise and in subsequent] transfers of the cable communications franchise, the CommissiOnoO~sidered and approved the technical ability, financial capability, l~gal qualifications and character of previous owners of thec&blei ~system, as well as other appropriate factors. The same qualifications are to be considered and reviewed as part of the transfmr ~f control request as they relate to Meredith. The sources of information used in examining these factors include the Response %0 the Municipal Request for Information supplied to the Commission a~d its consultants and other supplemental written information provided by Meredith and North Central. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW The Commission's task in this process is to review the information P~ovided regarding the transaction and to approve or deny the ~tr~nsfer of control of North Central. The cable co~unic&t!onS franchises and State statute both expressly reserve the right Of the City to approve or disapprove such a transfer of control. Thei standard of review is that the City's consent shall not be un~ea~onably withheld. For the purpose of determining whether the ~ity will consent to the change in control of North Central, the Commission has made inquiry into the legal, technical and financial qualifications of Meredith, as well as other appropriate f~ctors. In an&l~zing the transaction, the Commission must consider whether the transaction meets all of the criteria originally consideredI i~ granting the original franchise and subsequently approving =heiprevious transfer of ownership of North Central. It should be not~d, however, that this analysis is not a comparison between the c~rrent owners and the proposed new owners. Rather, this analy~iSlis an application of factors to determine whether the proposed new,whets of North Central satisfy the standards outlined above to the reasonable satisfaction of the Commission. The ~ommission should focus on the following factors in determining Whether to approve or deny the transfer of control to Meredith.