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Troutdale approves Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission 2025–26 budget; Metro East and Open Signal grants to continue
Summary
Council approved the MHCRC 2025–26 budget, continuing grants to Metro East Community Media and Open Signal and noting a projected decline in franchise/P E G revenues. Troutdale’s forecasted share for the year was listed at $28,007.92.
Troutdale — The Troutdale City Council on June 24 approved the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission’s (MHCRC) 2025–26 budget, which supports operations, community-media grants and capital PEG funding for media centers serving East Multnomah County.
MHCRC representatives and community-media staff explained the budget to the council, noting a large beginning fund balance (approximately $6.5 million carryover), a projected annual revenue decline tied to falling cable subscriptions (staff cited a $707,000 forecast decline) and the structure of franchise and PEG fees. Staff noted Comcast franchise fees are typically 5% of gross revenue and that the PEG portion in the recently negotiated Comcast renewal moved from 3% to 2.5% for that provider; the budget reflects that change.
Representatives from Metro East Community Media described local programming, training and a mobile media lab funded in part through MHCRC grants. Metro East’s presentation stressed civic access benefits and noted roughly $1 million in community-media grants were distributed last year and are budgeted again for the coming year.
Troutdale’s projected annual franchise/PEG distribution for the city was shown in staff materials as $28,007.92 for FY 2025–26. Councilors asked questions and then moved to approve the MHCRC budget; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all councilors present voting yes.
Why it matters: MHCRC distributes franchise and PEG fee revenues to local jurisdictions and community media centers that provide gavel-to-gavel meeting coverage, media training and community programming. Continued funding supports public access and local media infrastructure even as cable revenues decline.
Details: The budget funds commission operations, grants to Metro East and Open Signal, capital PEG allocations and passthrough quarterly franchise payments to member jurisdictions. Staff emphasized the need for strategic planning in light of declining cable revenues and shifting technology.
