Laserfiche WebLink
• MINUTES OF THE <br /> . ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,March 11,2013 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (17. FRANCHISE RENEWAL, Continued) <br /> Koenecke stated they would like it accomplished in five years for all five years and that Mediacom will <br /> have to submit a plan for how that can be accomplished and the different phases. <br /> McMillan asked if the LMCC would leave that up to Mediacom. <br /> Koenecke stated the LMCC has given Mediacom its priorities and that Mediacom would then need to <br /> submit a plan detailing how that build-out would be accomplished. If it is not acceptable to the cities,the <br /> LMCC would need to ask Mediacom to change it. <br /> Koennecke stated her understanding is that Orono and Medina are looking at build-outs and that the other <br /> cities will not want to be last on the list. When the LMCC traded the battery backup power,Mediacom <br /> identified all the areas in the city that they were going to substitute to make it equitable. Koenecke stated <br /> in her opinion parts of the build-out should be done in all of the cities each year. <br /> Printup asked when the City of Orono will be able to see Mediacom's proposal. <br /> Koenecke stated she can send the minutes from the three meetings but that the LMCC has not seen any <br /> proposal from Mediacom yet. Mediacom is required to come back by the end of March with a proposal <br /> and then the LMCC will review that to see how much of the priority list is included in their proposal. <br /> The LMCC has a number of improvements that need to be done and we do not want to lose what we <br /> already have. The prior franchise agreement did not require Mediacom to report certain things and the <br /> LMCC is attempting to put in place more of a reporting system so we can get better information on their <br /> service standards. Koenecke indicated the LMCC went around and around with them on call wait time <br /> and finally Mediacom provided statistics that said they were in compliance. The survey shows they are <br /> not in compliance. The reason the LMCC did the consultant's report was to compile data to approach <br /> Mediacom with. <br /> Printup commented that typically there is strength in numbers and asked how that would benefit Orono <br /> and get its residents what they have wanted for decades. <br /> Koenecke stated her understanding is that Medina was given the prerogative by Mediacom that if the <br /> LMCC gets a better deal,they would be offered the same deal. Koenecke stated in her view Mediacom is <br /> attempting to work deals with the cities in an effort to try and stall the LMCC. <br /> Joe Huber stated he wants the City Council to understand the nature of the negotiations and that it only <br /> relates to cable service. If next week there is a change in technology and they can now send cable over <br /> the electric wires that is all the negotiations deal with. The City Council needs to understand and be very <br /> careful of its assumptions as well as be well represented because this is a very difficult arena to work in. <br /> The LMCC values Orono's membership and welcomes its participation at all of the LMCC meetings. <br /> Anderson commented she is still hung up on the two-tier system since it appears the LMCC does have the <br /> ability to create its own tiered system and escalate fees. The LMCC is able to negotiate with Mound and <br /> other cities and it is not something that Orono is dictating to the LMCC. <br /> Page 23 of 27 <br />