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County arranges revenue collection and updates franchise as Mount Hood cable commission dissolves; MetroEast funding preserved
Summary
Following the planned dissolution of the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Multnomah County approved an IGA assigning Troutdale to collect and distribute cable franchise revenues (preserving prior MetroEast allocations) and updated the Comcast franchise to reflect a post‑MHCRC structure and adjusted reporting cadence.
The board approved two related actions to manage the end of the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC). First, an intergovernmental agreement places responsibility for collecting and distributing cable franchise revenues with the city of Troutdale for participating jurisdictions (Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village and Multnomah County); the agreement preserves prior allocations to MetroEast and assigns 60% of franchise fees to MetroEast (operating), 40% to Multnomah County (general fund) and 100% of PEG fees to MetroEast (capital).
Second, the board approved a revised franchise agreement with Comcast that removes Gresham (per that city’s request), names the participating jurisdictions as the regulatory authorities in a post‑MHCRC environment and adjusts regular reporting from Comcast to a cadence of once every six months or upon change, reducing administrative load.
Julie Omelchuk, president of MetroEast Community Media, told the board MetroEast depends on the continuity of franchise revenue to provide meeting coverage, media training and community media services in East County. Staff said the county’s FY25 franchise and PEG receipts were modest (about $140,000 and $70,000 respectively) and that the proposed arrangements were intended to protect continuity of services as MHCRC sunsets.
Both actions passed on roll calls. Commissioners thanked staff for managing the transition and underscored MetroEast’s role in providing community media services and technical support to civic meetings.
