Cable Franchise Oversight

The MHCRC is charged with overseeing the Cable Franchise Agreements with the cable operator on behalf of its member Jurisdictions. The Cable Franchise Agreements allow the cable operator all the necessary rights and privileges to use the public right-of-way to construct a cable communications system and to deliver services to subscribers.

In exchange for this access to the public right-of-way, the MHCRC negotiates provisions of the Cable Franchise Agreement in order to ensure that MHCRC Jurisdictions will have modern systems capable of serving future public needs and interests, such as:

• Franchise Fee Payment Requirements
• Customer Service Standards
• Insurance and Bonding Requirements
• Technical Standards
• Emergency Override Requirements
• Line Extension Policies
• Universal Service Issues
• Community Access Channels and Capital Funding Requirements
• Community Institutional Network (I-Net) Requirements

While the MHCRC acts in an advisory capacity to the Jurisdiction in connection with any decision to grant a Cable Franchise Agreement for cable services, the MHCRC has full authority to take any action necessary to enforce or administer the franchise agreements.

The MHCRC’s approach to franchise issues has been based principally on the following objectives:

• Provide for responsible and efficient management of the public rights of way;
• Provide for the highest level of cable services within the jurisdictions of the MHCRC;
• Promote optimal competition among providers of cable services;
• Extend fair treatment to all providers of service;
• Ensure an appropriate level of compensation and public benefit from the use of the rights of way; and
• Utilize public input, the companies’ proposals and staff expertise to develop recommendations for member Jurisdiction consideration.