Lane County extends Charter Communications franchise through Jan. 5, 2027

The Lane County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 3 to adopt Ordinance 25-08, extending the county's nonexclusive franchise agreement with Charter Communications to Jan. 5, 2027.

County staff said the extension is intended to preserve the protections and terms of the expired franchise while staff continue negotiating a longer-term contract. "Our current agreement had expired, and so because of that, we just want to make sure we can extend it so we are safely under the current agreement," said Marcus Behar, a county presenter.

The board opened a public hearing at 1:30 p.m., heard staff remarks and invited public testimony. Vice chair moved to close the public hearing and then moved to approve the ordinance on second reading. The board then conducted a roll-call vote; commissioners voted in favor 5-0.

Why it matters: the extension preserves the county's existing regulatory and revenue arrangements while staff and Charter negotiate outstanding issues that staff said can be complex, including rights of way, permitting and revenue-sharing provisions. Staff told the board the extension is a "safety net" and that they can return to the board for further action whenever negotiations conclude.

What's next: with the board's adoption, the ordinance amendments become effective immediately unless someone files a timely appeal. County staff said they would bring a finalized franchise agreement to the board for approval when negotiations are complete.

Vote: Ordinance 25-08 adopted by a 5-0 roll-call vote.