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MAY 11990 BOOK 79 m3a6. <br />point out that the two existing operators in the county accepted <br />the franchise document with the 20 -year term and they feel that <br />any newcomers should have to submit their request for an 8 -year <br />extension on a separate basis. <br />Attorney Vitunac noted that the County is not obligated to <br />give a new entree a 28 -year term. It says "up to", and it would <br />not necessarily have to be for a 28 -year term. With regard to <br />Mr. Vicker's first suggestion for a change in the wording in <br />Section 11, Attorney Vitunac explained that under the present <br />wording, the operator's permission is needed to increase the <br />franchise fee, and -they have a chance to talk with the County and <br />get any problems resolved. With this new ordinance, if the <br />federal law is changed to allow us to go to 60, we could just do <br />it without any permission from the franchise operator. Attorney <br />Vitunac didn't feel that the County has ever had its door shut to <br />discuss any matter with the franchise operators, and he believed <br />the County Commission will insure that never happens. <br />Mr. Vickers agreed that indeed has been the case in the past <br />and they appreciate it. However, the specific wording of the <br />proposed ordinance is what they will have to live by. <br />Director Pinto explained that the change in the wording <br />would allow it to come to a public hearing, and at that point <br />whatever negotiations were to take place would be in a public <br />forum. <br />Vice Chairman Bird and Commissioner Scurlock didn't have any <br />problem saying that it will be brought before a public hearing. <br />William Koolage, 815 26th Avenue, recommended that the <br />County collect the franchise fee monthly instead of quarterly, <br />since the cable companies are billing the people monthly. He <br />also would like to have shorter franchise terms since a lot of <br />changes are anticipated in this field in not too distant future. <br />With fiber optics coming into the picture, the telephone <br />companies themselves might be getting into the game. <br />40 <br />r <br />