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Proctor council pulls 10‑year Mediacom franchise from consent agenda, asks staff to seek alternatives
Summary
Councilors paused action on a proposed 10‑year Mediacom cable franchise and asked staff and the city attorney to research procurement options and whether the city should solicit other providers before the cable commission makes a recommendation.
Proctor Mayor Wards and city councilors on Nov. 17 paused consideration of a proposed 10‑year cable television franchise with Mediacom and asked staff to explore whether the city should solicit competitive interest from other providers.
The mayor told the council the item was placed on the agenda to inform members and that “a motion tonight would not approve that contract” and that the matter will go first to the city’s cable TV commission for a recommendation before returning to council for any approval. Councilors asked Administrative Assistant Rich and City Attorney Hanka to research whether the city should issue a request for proposals or otherwise solicit other providers.
Councelor Benson said the city typically would put a project out for an RFP: “usually you would have to go out for an RFP,” Benson said, and cautioned that cable providers often avoid bidding on another operator’s territory. Other councilors noted the potential length of a 10‑year term and questioned whether the agreement should explicitly include internet service. One councilor referenced a roughly 5% revenue share the city currently receives from Mediacom and said a decade‑long term could lock in terms while the underlying technology and consumer behavior move toward streaming.
The council discussed local market dynamics, with members noting neighboring jurisdictions’ dealings with Mediacom and urging staff to check recent changes in nearby agreements before the commission recommendation. No formal vote or contract approval was taken; the council approved the consent agenda only after pulling 4A for discussion. The council directed staff to gather options and legal guidance and return the matter to the cable TV commission and a future council meeting for formal action.
Next steps: staff and the city attorney will research procurement options and comparator agreements and the cable TV commission will review the franchise proposal and make a recommendation before the council votes.
