FCC Letter comment regarding franchise fees – 12.17.2018

We are a regional organization representing 23 municipalities and 5 counties. Concerns from our members compel us to express our opposition to proposed FCC rulemaking changes regarding franchise fees. Our Council voted December 6th to express our opposition to the rulemaking changes directly to each member of the Colorado Congressional delegation through this correspondence since the FCC comment period has closed.

We request that you be prepared to intervene with the FCC on our behalf if the FCC chooses to override local control and current franchise fee agreements which have been individually negotiated by each entity with cable providers across the region. The adoption of proposed rules would undermine these local agreements and the revenues negotiated to local jurisdictions, often with 10- year durations by allowing cable companies to claim “in kind” value to avoid cash payment of franchise fees. These franchise fees primarily fund citizen access and transparency to local governments through PEG channels on which citizens can view committees and boards at work and other valuable local information.

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