| | | | | | | |  | Item #3.
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| | | | | | | | | TO: |
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| Mayor and City Council |
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| Eric Holmes, City Manager |
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| | DATE: |
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| 12/11/2023 |
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| SUBJECT
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| Award of grant funds from the 2024 PEG Capital Support Fund
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| | | | | | | | Key Points
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- Under the terms of the City’s cable franchise agreement with Comcast, $1.00 per month per residential cable subscriber is collected and can be used for grants to support capital equipment purchases by the designated Public, Education and Government (PEG) access providers.
- The City Council is being asked to approve $381,657.83 in grants to TV ETC and $64,656 to CVTV.
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| | | | | | | | | Strategic Plan Alignment |
High Performing Government – a government that is reliable, fiscally responsible, equitable, and open to compromise.
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| | | | | | | | | Present Situation | The franchise agreements between the City of Vancouver, Clark County and Comcast Corporation provide for a capital contribution in the amount of $1/month per subscriber for support of Public, Education, and Government (PEG) access and monthly transport costs for public I-NET users. This contribution may only be awarded to designated access providers and iNET users.
The Vancouver Educational Telecommunications Consortium (“TV ETC”), the Designated Access Provider for Education and Clark/Vancouver Television (“CVTV”), the Designated Access Provider for Government submitted applications for PEG capital support funds under the requirements established by the City/County Telecommunications Commission (“Commission”). In total, twelve proposals were received totaling $446,314. Estimated funds available for distribution in 2024 are approximately $500,000. The grant applications were reviewed by outside technical experts and the PEG Committee, a subcommittee of the Commission.
The Telecommunications Commission through Resolution 2023-05 (attached) recommends that Vancouver City Council award PEG Capital Support Funding as follows:
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Applicant
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Total Amount Requested
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Total Amount Funded
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TV ETC
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$381,657.83
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$381,657.63
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CVTV
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$64,656
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$64,656
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Total PEG Access Capital
Grant Funds
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$446,314
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$446,314
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| | | | | | | | | Advantage(s) |
- Provides capital funds which will enhance local access programming on the Vancouver/Clark County Comcast Cable system.
- Awards funds consistent with the requirement of the cable television franchise agreements with Comcast.
- Provides a tangible community benefit consistent with objectives of the Telecommunications Commission.
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| | | | | | | | | Budget Impact | The PEG Capital Support Fund has approximately $500,000 available for distribution in 2024. An appropriation for the proposed grant awards is included in the PEG Capital Support Fund, 2023-2024 biennial budget. Remaining unallocated funds will be carried forward for future grant awards.
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| | | | | | | | | Action Requested | On December 11, 2023, adopt a resolution, under the terms of the interlocal agreement between the City of Vancouver and Clark County, awarding from the PEG Capital Support Funds of $381,657.83 to TV ETC and $64,656 to CVTV. (Note: Under the terms of the Interlocal agreement between the City and the County, both Councils must approve the grants for funds to be awarded.)
Kerry Peck, Administrative Assistant, 360-487-8616
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