HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2022-083 Approve AOC 2023 BudgetMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
Monday, May 9, 2022
TB Resolution 2022-083: Adopt 2023 PEG Access Studio Capital Budget
Whereas the 2003 Franchise Agreement between Charter Communications and the City of Ithaca authorizes Charter Communications to collect $0.15 per subscriber per month to be used for
the purchase of equipment for the PEG Access Studio; and
Whereas the Franchise Agreement outlines the creation of an Access Oversight Committee which shall be responsible for approving the timing, use and amount of PEG access equipment acquired
each year over the term of the agreement; and
Whereas, in anticipation of major equipment upgrades, to be reviewed in greater detail upon receipt from Charter Communications of a line-item proposal, the Access Oversight Committee
has approved a 2023 contingency capital budget not to exceed $50,000, and funding to update a PEGASYS website, not to exceed $1,000; and
Whereas the Franchise Agreement states that participating municipalities, including the Town of Ithaca, must adopt the annual PEG Access Studio budget by June 30 of the preceding year;
now therefore be it
Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca adopts the 2023 PEG Access Studio budget as approved by the Access Oversight Committee.
Moved: Rich DePaolo Seconded: Margaret Johnson
Vote: ayes – Howe, Johnson, Goodman, DePaolo, Levine, Bleiwas and Rosen
Access Oversight Committee (AOC) April 5, 2022
AOC Recommendations for 2023 Budget
WHEREAS, Section 15.12 of the Franchise Agreement of January 2003 between the City of Ithaca and the franchisee Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (TWC) (“Franchise
Agreement”), subsequently assigned to Charter Communications, Inc. d/b/a Spectrum Networks (Charter) after Charter's 2016 acquisition of TWC, requires the participating municipalities
(City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Village of Cayuga Heights) to provide the franchisee with an annual written budget for Public, Educational and Governmental access operations (PEG) by
June 30 of each calendar year; and
WHEREAS, Section 15.12 of the Franchise Agreement requires that PEG Access Staff provide the Access Oversight Committee (AOC) with budget recommendations for the following year by April
30; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca's Ordinance #2003-17, Par 18-4-G, requires the Access Oversight Committee (AOC) to provide the Participating Municipalities with a recommended budget for
the following year by May 31; and
WHEREAS, the Franchise Agreement authorizes Charter to collect $0.15 per subscriber per month to be used for the purchase of PEG equipment and facilities; and
WHEREAS, the AOC has reviewed PEG’s current equipment and facilities and anticipates that new or replacement equipment and facilities will likely be needed, including the “mini studio,”
and certain playback equipment; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the AOC recommends earmarking up to $1000 to facilitate a new PEG website, pursuant to the attached budget, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the AOC recommends a $50,000 contingency to purchase equipment as needed for the functioning of PEG operations, pending receipt and AOC approval of line-item estimates,
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the AOC forwards its recommendations for approval by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca Board and the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees,
so that they may meet their obligation to provide Charter Communications with an annual written budget for Public, Educational and Governmental access operations no later than June 30,
2022.
Approved unanimously