HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 12/1/2020 - Memorandum From Amanda King And Carson Hamlin Re: Quarterly Cable Franchise And Peg Funding Update - Q2 & Q3 2020
MEMORANDUM
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Communications & Public Involvement
215 N. Mason St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2209
fcgov.com
DATE: November 23, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Amanda King, Communications Director
Carson Hamlin, Video Production Manager
RE: Quarterly Cable Franchise and PEG Funding Update – Q2 & Q3 2020
Background: The City has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with the local subsidiary of Comcast
Corporation. During the franchise renewal process, Council made a request for increased tracking and reporting
on compliance. Based on this request, quarterly reports will be shared and posted on the City’s franchise
webpage: http://www.fcgov.com/fctv/franchise.php.
Below is a summary of quarterly franchise and PEG fees, reported customer complaints and current service
pricing:
Revenue received –
Franchise fees came in under budget in Q1 & Q2 2020
PEG fees are also under budget in 2020
o Franchise fees are based off 5% of gross revenue.
o PEG fees are $0.75/cable subscriber.
o A financial audit is underway (see details below).
Complaints-
Comcast reported zero complaints in Q2 & Q3 2020.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94E6827F-FE39-455F-B6BB-77F53D9A0F6E
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The City received zero complaints in Q2 & Q3 2020:
Comcast website check-
Limited Basic pricing could not be found on the Xfinity website.
The lowest price listed for TV only was $49.99
Comcast Customer Service Center check -
Limited basic signage was posted at the Customer Service center has limited/reduced hours.
Other Franchise Updates –
Financial audit of Comcast:
o Per the current cable franchise, the City is authorized to conduct a mid-franchise financial audit
of Comcast which is in progress.
o The auditor has continued to have many challenges with delays and missing information not
being provided by Comcast.
o Comcast had agreed to provide more documentation regarding the auditor’s questions; however,
after further review some additional issues surfaced. To date, the additional documentation has
not been provided by Comcast.
o The audit was further delayed as the auditor was out on medical leave for part of 2020.
o City staff and the auditor met with outside counsel to discuss the impasse with Comcast. It was
suggested that Comcast comply, and next steps are to schedule a call with the outside counsel
and the local Comcast Government affairs rep to share the final deadline for Comcast to provide
the missing information or risk a formal breach of franchise agreement.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 94E6827F-FE39-455F-B6BB-77F53D9A0F6E