HomeMy WebLinkAbout32-07 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 32-07
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT
WITH AT&T ARKANSAS TO ALLOW IT TO OFFER
INTERNET PROTOCOL/CABLE TV TYPE SERVICE
IN FAYETTEVILLE.
WHEREAS, AT&T Arkansas wishes to use City of Fayetteville rights-of-
way to provide Internet Protocol enabled broadband voice, data, and video (TV)
services to Fayetteville residents, and
WHEREAS, the law regulating such service is unclear and still evolving;
and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Fayetteville to provide
"legal" means for AT&T Arkansas to provide cable TV type competition into our market
under similar conditions existing for Cox Cable.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby
approves the Agreement with AT&T Arkansas allowing it to use the City's rights-of-way
to furnish its Internet protocol cable television type services for the same 5% franchise
fee paid by Cox Cable and with the same requirement to carry the Public, Educational
and Government channels on it lowest tier, basic cable package and authorizes Mayor
Coody to sign this agreement attached to this resolution as Exhibit A.
PASSED and APPROVED this 20th day of February, 2007.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:•
.s`` FR cq r'.
• -0 3
:FAYETTEVILLE•
•` 3
BY 1 4 /%/� BY �N e�J N cceld%INGroN �,.
DA COODY, Mayor SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer " uwhmuh`
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated this 20`h day of February, 2007
("Effective Date") is made by and between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership doing business as AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T Arkansas") and the City
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a municipal corporation ("Fayetteville"). AT&T Arkansas and
Fayetteville shall sometimes be referred to separately as a "Party," and collectively as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. As a telecommunications provider, AT&T Arkansas has statewide
authority under Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 to construct, operate and maintain its
telecommunications facilities in the public rights of way ("ROW") throughout the state of
Arkansas.
B. Under Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101, Fayetteville is permitted to impose
reasonable terms and conditions on AT&T Arkansas' use and occupation of the
Fayetteville's ROW and to collect a reasonable franchise fee for such use and occupation
of its ROW.
C. AT&T Arkansas is in the process of upgrading its existing
telecommunications network to provide an integrated Internet Protocol ("IP") enabled
broadband platform of voice, data and video services ("IP Network"), the video
component of which is a switched, two-way, point-to-point and interactive service ("IP -
enabled Video Service"). The IP Network upgrade will involve the use of Fayetteville's
ROW.
D. AT&T Arkansas believes that Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 covers the
construction, operation and maintenance of the IP Network, and that AT&T Arkansas is
not required to obtain a separate franchise or other authorization from Fayetteville to
offer IP -enabled services including IP -enabled Video Services within Fayetteville over
the IP Network.
E AT&T Arkansas further believes that Fayetteville's right to regulate the
construction of the IP Network in Fayetteville's ROW is limited to the right to impose
reasonable conditions regarding the time, place, and manner of AT&T Arkansas' use and
occupation of Fayetteville's ROW.
F. Fayetteville believes that the provision of IP -enabled Video Services by
AT&T Arkansas is beyond the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 and is subject to
Fayetteville's cable television franchising authority.
G. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree that the
deployment of the IP Network and the provision of IP -enabled Video Services should not
1
be delayed by litigation to establish the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 or the
application of Fayetteville's franchise ordinance to IP -enabled Video Services.
H. Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas further agree that litigation to resolve
this issue would be complex and protracted, and that it is in the best interests of both
Parties and the residents of Fayetteville to reach a compromise of each other's positions
and claims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance upon the respective
representations, promises, concessions, terms and conditions contained herein,
Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas agree as follows:
1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and continue through the end of 2011. The term may be extended
upon mutual agreement of the Parties.
2. Change of Law. AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree to
consult in the event that after the Effective Date, any court, agency, commission,
legislative body, or other authority of competent jurisdiction issues a finding that limits
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, in whole or in part. Should the finding
be final, non -appealable and binding upon either Fayetteville or AT&T, this Agreement
shall be deemed modified or limited to the extent necessary to address the subject of the
finding unless either party, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the ruling provides
written notice to the other party of election to terminate, in which case this Agreement
shall terminate within six (6) months or such earlier period as the parties mutually may
agree Where the effect of a finding is a modification, the parties shall enter into good
faith negotiations to modify this Agreement in the manner which best effectuates its
overall purposes and the intentions of the parties. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory
modification within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such efforts shall entitle
either party to terminate the Agreement on the provision of thirty (30) days' written
notice.
3. Compensation to Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement, AT&T
Arkansas shall pay to Fayetteville a fee of 5% of the gross revenues from subscription
fees, pay-per-view fees and equipment rental, installation and repair fees collected from
each subscriber to AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled Video Services product delivered over
the IP Network in Fayetteville's rights of way. It is understood by the parties that the 5%
fee paid to Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is applicable to the same gross revenue items
as presently required of the current cable television provider for all subscriber paid
services and no others until and unless the FCC or a Court determines the fee should
apply to more or fewer items. The fee does not apply to non -video revenues or the non -
video revenues of a bundled product containing video and non -video offerings. The fee
will be forwarded to Fayetteville quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of
the subsequent quarter Upon request, AT&T Arkansas shall make their records available
to Fayetteville to demonstrate compliance with this paragraph for a period of three (3)
years preceding the request.
-2-
4. Public. Educational and Governmental Programming.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall provide some form of access for Fayetteville's
noncommercial, public, education and governmental ("PEG") programming through
AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled Video Services.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall not be responsible for content of PEG programming.
(c) As soon as practicable, AT&T shall provide written notice that it has the
technical capability to provide IP based access for Fayetteville's PEG channel (in use on
the Execution Date of this Agreement) over the platform AT&T wishes to use with this
agreement. If technological feasibility requires a change in the current Fayetteville
technology, Fayetteville may be required to support a change in or addition to current
Fayetteville technology now in use for PEG programming to make it compatible with
AT&T Arkansas' IP enabled video technology.
(d) AT&T Arkansas will provide Fayetteville capacity on its platform to carry the
same number of PEG channels that Fayetteville currently has activated as of the effective
date of this Agreement PEG content will be made available by Fayetteville placing its
content on the public Internet. AT&T Arkansas will carry this PEG content on its video
platform in its basic (lowest tier package) using its standard Internet -sourced PEG
solution. AT&T will provide Fayetteville a one-time up front capital grant to cover the
initial set up costs incurred by Fayetteville to make this content available on the Internet.
Should AT&T seek to improve its transmission method in a fashion that will substantially
affect the integrity of the Internet sourced PEG solution (compatibility), AT&T accepts
the responsibility for necessary costs of capital improvements that might be needed by
Fayetteville.
(e) PEG programming will be available via Internet for AT&T Arkansas' IP
Video subscnbers to view both on the TV and computer. PEG programming will be
available via the Internet from the end user's computer for AT&T HomeZone subscnbers
who also have High Speed Internet Access.
5. Emergency Message. AT&T Arkansas shall carry all Federal, State and
Local alerts provided over the Federal Emergency Alert System through AT&T's IP -
enabled Video Services in the event of a public safety emergency, which at a minimum
will include the concurrent rebroadcast of local broadcast channels.
6. Customer Service. AT&T Arkansas will offer IP -enabled Video Services
and provide customer service consistent with the requirements of 47 C.F.R. Section
76.309(c). AT&T Arkansas will respond to complaints and outages in a diligent fashion.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall give subscribers in Fayetteville thirty (30) days notice
of any rate increases, channel lineup changes, or other substantive service changes.
-3-
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall restore any pavements, sidewalks, driveways that are
disturbed during the installation, improvement or extension of IP -enabled Video services
to a standard that is both commercially reasonable and in compliance with the ordinances
of Fayetteville.
(c) AT&T Arkansas shall not refuse to render IP -enabled Video Services based
solely upon the income or minority status of any resident or group of residents.
7. Service area This Agreement shall apply to AT&T's service area within
the mumcipal boundaries of Fayetteville as they exist upon the date of execution of this
agreement and may hereafter be extended AT&T shall make video programming
available, subject to technology or other economic feasibility, to all residential units
within the service area, by use of IP -based video technology or other alternative video
programming technology.
(a) On December 31, 2007 and the same date in every year thereafter, AT&T
Arkansas shall tender an annual report indicating the status of its video programming
service The report shall: (i) indicate the number of subscribers; and (ii) the technology
being used to provide such video programming.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall be considered to have breached this agreement if
AT&T Arkansas fails to diligently offer video programming throughout Fayetteville,
unless: (i) delay is attributable to Force Majeure; (ii) delay is attributable to Fayetteville;
(iii) delay is attributable to AT&T Arkansas' inability to obtain needed private
easements: (iv) delay is attributable to special technical requirements; or (v) delay is
justified by reasonable commercial standards of construction.
8. Obligations of Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement
Fayetteville will not attempt to nor subject the provision of AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled
Video Services over the IP Network to regulation under any cable television franchise
ordinance or similar ordinance. In addition:
(a) Fayetteville agrees to subject the construction and installation of the IP
Network to the same process and review as it subjects the installation and construction of
AT&T Arkansas' existing telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Fayetteville agrees not to unreasonably block, restrict, or limit the
construction and installation of the IP Network.
(c) Fayetteville agrees to process any and all applicable permits for the
installation, construction, maintenance, repair, removal, and other activities associated
with the IP Network in a timely and prompt manner.
9. Jurisdiction and Venue This contract shall be construed pursuant to the
laws of Arkansas. Jurisdiction and venue shall be in Washington County, Arkansas.
-4-
10. Breach of Agreement. Should either party claim that a breach of any part
of this Agreement has occurred, that party will provide prompt written notice to the other,
specifying the nature of the breach; and upon receipt the other party shall cure such
breach within 60 days.
11 Mediation Recommended. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville shall make diligent good faith efforts to resolve all issues and disputes that
might anse in the administration of this Agreement through discussions between
designated representatives of the Parties. If such discussions have failed, the use of a
mediator is recommended.
12. Insurance. AT&T Arkansas shall maintain, throughout the term of this
Agreement, insurance in the minimum amounts as follows:
Workers Compensation
Commercial General Liability
Auto Liability
Umbrella Liability
Statutory Limits
$1,000,000 per occurrence,
Combined Single Liability (CSL)
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
(including all owned, non -owned,
and hired vehicles) $1,000,000
per occurrence (CSL)
$1,000,000 per occurrence (CSL)
13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered to either personally, by facsimile or by certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid and return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to The City of Fayetteville:
If to AT&T Arkansas:
City Attorney's Office
City of Fayetteville
113 W. Mountain Street, Ste. 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701
FAX: (479) 575-8315
Mr. Edward Drilling,
President, AT&T Arkansas
AT&T Arkansas
1111 W. Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201-3005
14. Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both Parties.
15. Assignment. AT&T Arkansas may not assign or transfer this Agreement
or any interest therein without the prior consent of Fayetteville except to any affiliate of
AT&T Arkansas.
-5
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas with respect to AT&T Arkansas' use
of Fayetteville ROW in connection with the offering and provision of IP -enabled services
including IP -enabled Video Services within Fayetteville using facilities constructed and
placed within Fayetteville's ROW. As such it merges and supersedes all prior verbal
agreements, understandings and representations by either party on the matters set forth
herein.
17. Waiver. Failure on the part of either Party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to compel enforcement of
such provision or any other provision.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville each hereby warrants that it has the
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to
the terms hereof.
(b) The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience or
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or affect the interpretation of any term
or provision hereof. The singular shall include the plural; the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neutral gender.
(c) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville shall cooperate fully with one another in the
execution of any and all other documents and in the completion of any additional actions
including, without limitation, the processing of penmts that may be necessary or
appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
creating or conferring any nghts, benefits or remedies upon, or creating any obligations
of the Parties hereto toward any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly set forth herein
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
amending, modifying or otherwise affecting any other agreements, authorizations or
memoranda which Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas have now. Further, nothing
contained in this Agreement is meant to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit any
current rights or junsdiction that either Fayetteville or other governmental entities
currently have nor is this Agreement intended to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit
any rights AT&T Arkansas currently has under existing federal and state law and under
existing Fayetteville ordinances and existing construction permits issued by Fayetteville.
19. Binding Effect This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit
of AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville
-6-
20. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be transmitted by facsimile
and any signature transmitted by facsimile will be given the same force and effect as an
original signature.
21. Authority of City Council. This agreement is not intended to limit the
authority of the Fayetteville City Council regarding the use of streets, easements, and
public rights of way ("ROW") by public utilities, specifically including those that
communicate information. The City Council expressly reserves the right to increase the
fee imposed in paragraph 3 of this Agreement to that which is imposed on other video
service providers in order to generally maintain competitive neutrality, so long as such
fee does not exceed the maximum rate authorized under Section 622 of the Federal
Communications Act (47 U.S.C. Section 542).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized
representatives, have executed this Agreement and made the same effective as of the 6th
day of February, 2007.
AT&T ARKANSAS
By:
Name: Edward Drilling U
Title: President — AT&T Arkansas
CITY OF FAY TTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
By:
Name: DAN COOD
Title: Mayor
ATTEST:
By: �� 6)1AA-sifik)
SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
... RK/TR� .
E,
(.°°G\tY p,: • SGS
cU.•�•:
e :FAYETTEVILLE:
% r7.1:91ANSQcJ�'a
C13\
-7-
•
AGENDA REQUEST
FOR: COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2007
307-07
iti7%Arlo
.Jnf..erivl 5ter/rce.
FROM:
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TITLE AND SUBJECT:
A Resolution To Approve An Agreement With AT&T Arkansas To Allow It To Offer Internet
Protocol/Cable TV Type Service In Fayetteville
APPROVED FOR AGENDA:
Public nformation and
,tolicy*-Advisor
'm/7
Date
Date
- /g/
Date
74Wed 516 ooicv7 ae 4 c)107
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: Dan Coody, Mayor
City Council
Susan Thomas, Public Information & Policy Advisor
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney( �1
DATE: January 19, 2007
RE• Proposed Agreement with AT&T Arkansas to provide
Internet Protocol/Cable Television type service in Fayetteville
The Fayetteville Telecom Board held a hearing about the proposed
Agreement with AT&T Arkansas on January 18, 2007. The Internet
Protocol services to be offered by AT&T Arkansas were explained by
representatives from AT&T and citizens were allowed to present their
opinions and questions about the proposal-.
I also attended (after leaving the Ordinance Review Committee
meeting on Public Art) and explained that this proposed Agreement was an
interim agreement because the law concerning the power of cities in
Arkansas to regulate the type of services to be offered by AT&T Arkansas to
our citizens was unsettled both at the state and federal levels. I have tried to
formulate this interim agreement so that AT&T Arkansas would have to
match (approximately) the basic terms of our agreement with Cox
Communications. The Telecom Board unanimously gave their general
approval to this proposed agreement.
AT&T Arkansas would pay the same 5% franchise fee (although it
might not cover allthe components Cox Communications is paying the 5%
fee on). AT&T Arkansas would also carry the Public, Educational and
Government Channels on its basic package (lowest tier). AT&T Arkansas
would also be required to pay for the new equipment our PEG station would
need to convert our programs to run on an Internet Protocol cable.
If the law becomes clearer in the future, which removes, alters, or
enhances the City's power of regulation over internet protocol services, this
interim agreement would be modified after further negotiation between the
parties.
To avoid the necessity for litigation and to bring further competition
into the cable/satellite television market in Fayetteville, I join with the
Telecom Board in recommending that the City Council approve this
agreement
•
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: City Council
CC: Telecom Board
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney �C
DATE: February 7, 2007
RE: Proposed AT&T Arkansas contract
Attached is the final proposed Agreement accepted by AT&T Arkansas.
This contract differs from the one submitted to the Telecom Board in a few
sections:
(1) Paragraph 3. Compensation to Fayetteville.
In order to make this more comparable to the City's agreement with Cox
Communications, I enlarged the definition of "gross revenues" to include "pay
per -view fees, equipment rental, installation and repair fees ..." I also included
the language that "the 5% fee paid to Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is
applicable to the same gross revenue items as presently required of the current
cable television provider for all subscriber paid services ..." This 5% fee is
payable to Fayetteville "quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of
the subsequent quarter." I believe these additional terms create a more level
playing field for Cox and AT&T Arkansas.
(2) Paragraph 4. Public. Education and Government Programming.
In response to concerns of the Telecom Board and others, I added:
"AT&T Arkansas will .carry this PEG content on its video platform in its basic
(lowest tier package) ..."
I cannot recommend, nor will I include within the proposal unless so
instructed by the City Council, a provision to charge AT&T Arkansas more
(1% of gross revenues for the PEG channels) than is charged to Cox. The City
Council long ago determined that the franchise fees generated by Cox should
not be designated for nor paid directly to the PEG channel operation, but should
be paid into the City's General Fund to be appropriated by the City Council for
all City needs. These funds are not generated by the PEG channels, but are
derived from the use of the City's streets and rights of way by Cox (or now by
AT&T Arkansas). Therefore, I will follow the City Council's established
policy and not designate any part of the fee on gross revenue for PEG.
Requests for free INET services or other extra benefits are premature for
this contract. In four years, I. hope Fayetteville has at least two viable, healthy
competitors in this market. At that point, we will be in a much better position
to offer incentives (such as a longer contract) for providers in exchange for
additional services for the City.
That will also be the time to look at and address coverage and
availability issues (if any). This contract will give AT&T Arkansas enough
time to expand its system and demonstrate to the City that it will voluntarily
provide the wide and equitable accessibility for our citizens that our City
Council desires. If we find problems with fair accessibility after this initial four
year expansion, the City will be in a better and more informed position to
require improvements.
CONCLUSION
I recommend we agree to the terms presented by AT&T Arkansas in the
attached contract. Competition is surely healthy and will likely lower costs and
improve services and choices for our citizens. Our more detailed and lengthy
contract with Cox was negotiated when the City had clear franchising rights
with which a TV cable company had to comply. It was also negotiated not
when the cable company was first entering Fayetteville's market, but after it
had been here for years and had an established system and customer base.
The voluntary agreement offered by AT&T Arkansas satisfies the basic
needs of Fayetteville, ensures a fairly level playing field for both Cox and
AT&T Arkansas, and fosters healthy competition for our citizens' cable
options. I recommend its approval.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH
AT&T ARKANSAS TO ALLOW IT TO OFFER INTERNET
PROTOCOL/CABLE TV TYPE SERVICE IN FAYETI'EVILLE
WHEREAS, AT&T Arkansas wishes to use City of Fayetteville rights-of-way to
provide Internet Protocol enabled broadband voice, data, and video (TV) services to
Fayetteville residents; and
WHEREAS, the law regulating such services is unclear and still evolving; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Fayetteville to provide
"legal means for AT&T Arkansas to provide cable TV type competition into our market
under similar conditions existing for Cox Cable.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby
approves the Agreement with AT&T Arkansas allowing it to use the City's rights-of-way
to furnish its intemet protocol cable television type services for the same 5% franchise
fee paid by Cox Cable and with the same requirement to carry the Public, Educational
and Government channels on its lowest tier, basic cable package and authorizes Mayor
Coody to sign this Agreement attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A.
PASSED and APPROVED this 20,1, day of February, 2007.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
By: By:
DAN COODY, Mayor SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated this 20`h day of February, 2007
("Effective Date") is made by and between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership doing business as AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T Arkansas") and the City
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a municipal corporation ("Fayetteville"). AT&T Arkansas and
Fayetteville shall sometimes be referred to separately as a "Party," and collectively as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. As a telecommunications provider, AT&T Arkansas has statewide
authority under Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 to construct, operate and maintain its
telecommunications facilities in the public rights of way ("ROW") throughout the state of
Arkansas.
B. Under Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101, Fayetteville is permitted to impose
reasonable terms and conditions on AT&T Arkansas' use and occupation of the
Fayetteville's ROW and to collect a reasonable franchise fee for such use and occupation
of its ROW.
C. AT&T Arkansas is in the process of upgrading its existing
telecommunications network to provide an integrated Internet Protocol ("IP") enabled
broadband platform of voice, data and video services ("IP Network"), the video
component of which is a switched, two-way, point-to-point and interactive service ("IP -
enabled Video Service"). The IP Network upgrade will involve the use of Fayetteville's
ROW.
D. AT&T Arkansas believes that Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 covers the
construction, operation and maintenance of the IP Network, and that AT&T Arkansas is
not required to obtain a separate franchise or other authorization from Fayetteville to
offer IP -enabled services including IP -enabled Video Services within Fayetteville over
the IP Network.
E AT&T Arkansas further believes that Fayetteville's right to regulate the
construction of the IP Network in Fayetteville's ROW is limited to the right to impose
reasonable conditions regarding the time, place, and manner of AT&T Arkansas' use and
occupation of Fayetteville's ROW.
F. Fayetteville believes that the provision of IP -enabled Video Services by
AT&T Arkansas is beyond the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 and is subject to
Fayetteville's cable television franchising authority.
G. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree that the
deployment of the IP Network and the provision of IP -enabled Video Services should not
be delayed by litigation to establish the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 or the
application of Fayetteville's franchise ordinance to IP -enabled Video Services.
H. Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas further agree that litigation to resolve
this issue would be complex and protracted, and that it is in the best interests of both
Parties and the residents of Fayetteville to reach a compromise of each other's positions
and claims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance upon the respective
representations, promises, concessions, terms and conditions contained herein,
Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas agree as follows:
1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and continue through the end of 2011. The term may be extended
upon mutual agreement of the Parties.
2. Change of Law. AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree to
consult in the event that after the Effective Date, any court, agency, commission,
legislative body, or other authority of competent jurisdiction issues a finding that limits
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, in whole or in part. Should the finding
be final, non -appealable and binding upon either Fayetteville or AT&T, this Agreement
shall be deemed modified or limited to the extent necessary to address the subject of the
finding unless either party, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the ruling provides
written notice to the other party of election to terminate, in which case this Agreement
shall terminate within six (6) months or such earlier period as the parties mutually may
agree. Where the effect of a finding is a modification, the parties shall enter into good
faith negotiations to modify this Agreement in the manner which best effectuates its
overall purposes and the intentions of the parties. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory
modification within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such efforts shall entitle
either party to terminate the Agreement on the provision of thirty (30) days' written
notice.
3. Compensation to Fayetteville. During the term of this Agre ment, AT&T
Arkansas shall pay to Fayetteville a fee of 5% of the gross revenues from subscription
fees, pay-per-view fees and equipment rental, installation and repair fees collected from
each subscriber to AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled Video Services product delivered over
the IP Network in Fayetteville's rights of way. It is understood by the parties that the 5%
fee paid to Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is applicable to the same gross revenue items
as presently required of the current cable television provider for all subscriber paid
services and no others until and unless the FCC or a Court determines the fee should
apply to more or fewer items. The fee does not apply to non -video revenues or the non -
video revenues of a bundled product containing video and non -video offerings. The fee
will be forwarded to Fayetteville quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of
the subsequent quarter. Upon request, AT&T Arkansas shall make their records available
to Fayetteville to demonstrate compliance with this paragraph for a period of three (3)
years preceding the request.
•
4. Public, Educational • and Governmental Programming.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall provide some form of access for Fayetteville's
noncommercial, public, education and governmental ("PEG") programming through
AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled Video Services.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall not be responsible for content of PEG programming.
(c) As soon as practicable, AT&T shall provide written notice that it has the
technical capability to provide IP based access for Fayetteville's PEG channel (in use on
the Execution Date of this Agreement) over the platform AT&T wishes to use with this
agreement. If technological feasibility requires a change in the current Fayetteville
technology, Fayetteville may be required to support a change in or addition to current
Fayetteville technology now in use for PEG programming to make it compatible with
AT&T Arkansas' IP enabled video technology.
(d) AT&T Arkansas will provide Fayetteville capacity on its platform to carry the
same number of PEG channels that Fayetteville currently has activated as of the effective
date of this Agreement PEG content will be made available by Fayetteville placing its
content on the public Internet. AT&T Arkansas will carry this PEG content on its video
platform in its basic (lowest tier package) using its standard Internet -sourced PEG
solution. AT&T will provide Fayetteville a one-time up front capital grant to cover the
initial set up costs incurred by Fayetteville to make this content available on the Internet.
Should AT&T seek to improve its transmission method in a fashion that will substantially
affect the integrity of the Internet sourced PEG solution (compatibility), AT&T accepts
the responsibility for necessary costs of capital improvements that might be needed by
Fayetteville.
(e) PEG programming will be available via Internet for AT&T Arkansas' IP
Video subscribers to view both on the TV and computer. PEG programming will be
available via the Internet from the end user's computer for AT&T HomeZone subscribers
who also have High Speed Internet Access.
5. Emergency Message. AT&T Arkansas shall carry all Federal, State and
Local alerts provided over the Federal Emergency Alert System through AT&T s IP -
enabled Video Services in the event of a public safety emergency, which at a minimum
will include the concurrent rebroadcast of local broadcast channels.
6. Customer Service. AT&T Arkansas will offer IP -enabled Video Services
and provide customer service consistent with the requirements of 47 C.F.R. Section
76.309(c). AT&T Arkansas will respond to complaints and outages in a diligent fashion.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall give subscribers in Fayetteville thirty (30) days notice
of any rate increases, channel lineup changes, or other substantive service changes.
-3-
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall restore any pavements, sidewalks, driveways that are
disturbed during the installation; improvement or extension of IP -enabled Video services
to a standard that is both commercially reasonable and in compliance with the ordinances
of Fayetteville.
(c) AT&T Arkansas shall not refuse to render IP -enabled Video Services based
solely upon the income or minority status of any resident or group of residents.
7. Service area. This Agreement shall apply to AT&T's service area within
the municipal boundaries of Fayetteville as they exist upon the date of execution of this
agreement and may hereafter be extended. AT&T shall make video programming
available, subject to technology or other economic feasibility, to all residential units
within the service area, by use of IP -based video technology or other alternative video
programming technology.
(a) On December 31, 2007 and the same date in every year thereafter, AT&T
Arkansas shall tender an annual report indicating the status of its video programming
service. The report shall: (i) indicate the number of subscribers; and (ii) the technology
being used to provide such video programming.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall be considered to have breached this agreement if
AT&T Arkansas fails to diligently offer video programming throughout Fayetteville,
unless: (i) delay is attributable to Force Majeure; (ii) delay is attributable to Fayetteville;
(iii) delay is attributable to AT&T Arkansas' inability to obtain needed private
easements: (iv) delay is attributable to special technical requirements; or (v) delay is
justified by reasonable commercial standards of construction.
8. Obligations of Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement
Fayetteville will not attempt to nor subject the provision of AT&T Arkansas' IP -enabled
Video Services over the IP Network to regulation under any cable television franchise
ordinance or similar ordinance. In addition:
(a) Fayetteville agrees to subject the construction and installation of the IP
Network to the same process and review as it subjects the installation and construction of
AT&T Arkansas' existing telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Fayetteville agrees not to unreasonably block, restrict, or limit the
construction and installation of the IP Network.
(c) Fayetteville agrees to process any and all applicable permits for the
installation, construction, maintenance, repair, removal, and other activities associated
with the IP Network in a timely and prompt manner.
9. Jurisdiction and Venue. This contract shall be construed pursuant to the
laws of Arkansas. Jurisdiction and venue shall be in Washington County, Arkansas.
4
10. Breach of Agreement. Should either party claim that a breach of any part
of this Agreement has occurred, that party will provide prompt written notice to the other,
specifying the nature of the breach; and upon receipt the other party shall cure such
breach within 60 days.
11. Mediation Recommended. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville shall make diligent good faith efforts to resolve all issues and disputes that
might arise in the administration of this Agreement through discussions between
designated representatives of the Parties. If such discussions have failed, the use of a
mediator is recommended.
12. Insurance. AT&T Arkansas shall maintain, throughout the term of this
Agreement, insurance in the minimum amounts as follows:
Workers Compensation
Commercial General Liability
Auto Liability
Umbrella Liability
Statutory Limits
$1,000,000 per occurrence,
Combined Single Liability (CSL)
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
(including all owned, non -owned,
and hired vehicles) $1,000,000
per occurrence (CSL)
$1,000,000 per occurrence (CSL)
13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered to either personally, by facsimile or by certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid and return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to The City of Fayetteville:
If to AT&T Arkansas:
City Attorney's Office
City of Fayetteville
113 W. Mountain Street, Ste. 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701
FAX: (479) 575-8315
Mr. Edward Drilling,
President, AT&T Arkansas
AT&T Arkansas
1111 W. Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201-3005
14. Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both Parties.
15. Assignment. AT&T Arkansas may not assign or transfer this Agreement
or any interest therein without the prior consent of Fayetteville except to any affiliate of
AT&T Arkansas.
5
16. Entire Agreement. This Agre ment embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas with respect to AT&T Arkansas' use
of Fayetteville ROW in connection with the offering and provision of IP -enabled services
including IP -enabled Video Services within Fayetteville using facilities constructed and
placed within Fayetteville's ROW. As such it merges and supersedes all prior verbal
agreements, understandings and representations by either party on the matters set forth
herein.
17. Waiver. Failure on the part of either Party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to compel enforcement of
such provision or any other provision. •
18. Miscellaneous.
•
(a) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville each hereby warrants that it has the
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to
the terms hereof.
(b) The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience or
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or affect the interpretation of any term
or provision hereof. The singular shall include the plural; the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neutral gender.
(c) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville shall cooperate fully with one another in the
execution of any and all other documents and in the completion of any additional actions
including, without limitation, the processing of permits that may be necessary or
appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
creating or conferring any rights, benefits or remedies upon, or creating any obligations
of the Parties hereto toward any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly set forth herein.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
amending, modifying or otherwise affecting any other agreements, authorizations or
memoranda which Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas have now. Further, nothing
contained in this Agreement is meant to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit any
current rights or ,jurisdiction that either Fayetteville or other governrnental entities
currently have nor is this Agreement intended to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit
any rights AT&T Arkansas currently has under existing federal and state law and under
existing Fayetteville ordinances and existing construction permits issued by Fayetteville.
19. Binding Effect This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit
of AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville.
•
-6-
20. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be transmitted by facsimile
and any signature transmitted by facsimile will be given the same force and effect as an
original signature.
21. Authority of City Council. This agreement is not intended to limit the
authority of the Fayetteville City Council regarding the use of streets, easements, and
public rights of way ("ROW") by public utilities, specifically including those that
communicate information. The City Council expressly reserves the right to increase the
fee imposed in paragraph 3 of this Agreement to that which is imposed on other video
service providers in order to generally maintain competitive neutrality, so long as such
fee does not exceed the maximum rate authorized under Section 622 of the Federal
Communications Act (47 U.S.C. Section 542).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized
representatives, have executed this Agreement and made the same effective as of the 20t°
day of February, 2007.
AT&T ARKANSAS
By:
Name: Edward Drilling
Title: President — AT&T Arkansas
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
By:
Name: DAN COODY
Title: Mayor
ATTEST:
By:
SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
-7-
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated this 6`h day of February, 2007
("Effective Date") is made by and between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership doing business as AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T Arkansas") and the City
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a municipal corporation ("Fayetteville"). AT&T Arkansas and
Fayetteville shall sometimes be referred to separately as a "Party," and collectively as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. As a telecommunications provider, AT&T Arkansas has statewide
authority under Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 to construct, operate and maintain its
telecommunications facilities in the public rights of way ("ROW") throughout the state of
Arkansas.
B. Under Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101, Fayetteville is permitted to impose
reasonable terms and conditions on AT&T Arkansas' use and occupation of the
Fayetteville's ROW and to collect a reasonable franchise fee for such use and occupation
of its ROW.
C. AT&T Arkansas is in
the process of upgrading
its existing
telecommunications network to provide an
integrated Internet
Protocol ("IP")
enabled
broadband platform of voice, data and
video services ("IP
Network"),
the video
component of which is a switched, two-way,
point-to-point and
interactive
service ("IP-
enabled Video Service"). The IP Network
upgrade will involve
the use of Fayetteville's
ROW.
D. AT&T Arkansas believes that Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 covers the
construction, operation and maintenance of the IP Network, and that AT&T Arkansas is
not required to obtain a separate franchise or other authorization from Fayetteville to
offer IP-enabled services including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville over
the IP Network.
E. AT&T Arkansas further believes that Fayetteville's right to regulate the
construction of the IP Network in Fayetteville's ROW is limited to the right to impose
reasonable conditions regarding the time, place, and manner of AT&T Arkansas' use and
occupation of Fayetteville's ROW.
F. Fayetteville believes that the provision of IP-enabled Video Services by
AT&T Arkansas is beyond the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 and is subject to
Fayetteville's cable television franchising authority.
G.
Both
AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree that
the
deployment
of the IP
Network and the provision of IP-enabled Video Services should
not
1Is
-
be delayed
by litigation to
establish
the scope
of Ark. Code Ann.
§23-17-101 or the
application
of Fayetteville's
franchise
ordinance
to IP-enabled Video
Services.
H. Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas further agree that litigation to resolve
this issue would be complex and protracted, and that it is in the best interests of both
Parties and the residents of Fayetteville to reach a compromise of each other's positions
and claims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance upon the respective
representations, promises, concessions, terms and conditions contained herein,
Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas agree as follows:
1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and continue through the end of 2011. The term may be extended
upon mutual agreement of the Parties.
2. Change of Law. AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree to
consult in the event that after the Effective Date, any court, agency, commission,
legislative body, or other authority of competent jurisdiction issues a finding that limits
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, in whole or in part. Should the finding
be final, non -appealable and binding upon either Fayetteville or AT&T, this Agreement
shall be deemed modified or limited to the extent necessary to address the subject of the
finding unless either party, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the ruling, provides
written notice to the other party of election to terminate, in which case this Agreement
shall terminate within six (6) months or such earlier period as the parties mutually may
agree. Where the effect of a finding is a modification, the parties shall enter into good
faith negotiations to modify this Agreement in the manner which best effectuates its
overall purposes and the intentions of the parties. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory
modification within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such efforts shall entitle
either party to terminate the Agreement on the provision of thirty (30) days' written
notice.
3. Compensation to Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement, AT&T
Arkansas shall pay to Fayetteville a fee of 5% of the gross revenues from subscription
fees collected from each subscriber to AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled Video Services
product delivered over the IP Network in Fayetteville's rights of way; such product to be
defined by AT&T Arkansas when it is offered to the public. The fee does not apply to
non -video revenues or the non -video revenues of a bundled product containing video and
non -video offerings. The fee will be forwarded to Fayetteville monthly on the last of
each month. Upon request, AT&T Arkansas shall make their records available to
Fayetteville to demonstrate compliance with this paragraph for a period of three (3) years
preceding the request.
-2-
4. Public, Educational and Governmental Programming.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall provide some form of access for Fayetteville's
noncommercial, public, education and governmental ("PEG") programming through
AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled Video Services.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall not be responsible for content of PEG programming.
(c) As soon as practicable, AT&T shall provide written notice that it has the
technical capability to provide IP based access for Fayetteville's PEG channel (in use on
the Execution Date of this Agreement) over the platform AT&T wishes to use with this
agreement. If technological feasibility requires a change in the current Fayetteville
technology, Fayetteville may be required to support a change in or addition to current
Fayetteville technology now in use for PEG programming to make it compatible with
AT&T Arkansas' IP enabled video technology.
(d) AT&T Arkansas will provide Fayetteville capacity on its platform to carry the
same number of PEG channels that Fayetteville currently has activated as of the effective
date of this Agreement. PEG content will be made available by Fayetteville placing its
content on the public Internet. AT&T Arkansas will carry this PEG content on its video
platform in its basic (lowest tier package) using its standard Internet -sourced PEG
solution. AT&T will provide Fayetteville a one-time up front capital grant to cover the
initial set up costs incurred by Fayetteville to make this content available on the Internet.
Should AT&T seek to improve its transmission method in a fashion that will substantially
affect the integrity of the Internet sourced PEG solution (compatibility), AT&T accepts
the responsibility for necessary costs of capital improvements that might be needed by
Fayetteville.
(e) PEG programming will be available via Internet for AT&T Arkansas' IP
Video subscribers to view both on the TV and computer. PEG programming will be
available via the Internet from the end user's computer for AT&T Home7_one subscribers
who also have High Speed Internet Access.
5. Emergency Message. AT&T Arkansas shall carry all Federal, State and
Local alerts provided over the Federal Emergency Alert System through AT&T's IP-
enabled Video Services in the event of a public safety emergency, which at a minimum
will include the concurrent rebroadcast of local broadcast channels.
6. Customer Service. AT&T Arkansas will offer IP-enabled Video Services
and provide customer service consistent with the requirements of 47 C.F.R. Section
76.309(c). AT&T Arkansas will respond to complaints and outages in a diligent fashion.
(a)
AT&T Arkansas
shall give subscribers in
Fayetteville
thirty (30) days notice
of any rate
increases, channel
lineup changes,
or other
substantive
service changes.
-3-
(b) AT&T Arkansas "shall restore any pavements, sidewalks, driveways that are
disturbed during the installation, improvement or extension of IP-enabled Video services
to a standard that is both commercially reasonable and in compliance with the ordinances
of Fayetteville.
(c) AT&T Arkansas shall not refuse to render IP-enabled Video Services based
solely upon the income or minority status of any resident or group of residents.
7. Service area. This Agreement shall apply to AT&T's service area within
the municipal boundaries of Fayetteville as they exist upon the date of execution of this
agreement and may hereafter be extended. AT&T shall make video programming
available, subject to technology or other economic feasibility, to all residential units
within the service area, by use of IP-based video technology or other alternative video
programming technology.
(a) On December 31, 2007 and the same date in every year thereafter, AT&T
Arkansas shall tender an annual report indicating the status of its video programming
service. The report shall: (1) indicate the number of subscribers; and (ii) the technology
being used to provide such video programming.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall be considered to have breached this agreement if
AT&T Arkansas fails to diligently offer video programming throughout Fayetteville,
unless: (i) delay is attributable to Force Majeure; (ii) delay is attributable to Fayetteville;
(iii) delay is attributable to AT&T Arkansas' inability to obtain needed private
easements: (iv) delay is attributable to special technical requirements; or (v) delay is
justified by reasonable commercial standards of construction.
8. Obligations of Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement
Fayetteville will not attempt to nor subject the provision of AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled
Video Services over the IP Network to regulation under any cable television franchise
ordinance or similar ordinance. In addition:
(a) Fayetteville agrees to subject the construction and installation of the IP
Network to the same process and review as it subjects the installation and construction of
AT&T Arkansas' existing telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Fayetteville agrees not to unreasonably block, restrict, or limit the
construction and installation of the IP Network.
(c) Fayetteville agrees to process any and all applicable permits for the
installation, construction, maintenance, repair, removal, and other activities associated
with the IP Network in a timely and prompt manner.
9. Jurisdiction and Venue. This contract shall be construed pursuant to the
laws of Arkansas. Jurisdiction and venue shall be in Washington County, Arkansas.
-4-
10. Breach of Agreement. Should either party claim that a breach of any part
of this Agreement has occurred, that party will provide prompt written notice to the other,
specifying the nature of the breach; and upon receipt the other party shall cure such
breach within 60 days.
11. Mediation Recommended. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville shall make diligent good faith efforts to resolve all issues and disputes that
might arise in the administration of this Agreement through discussions between
designated representatives of the Parties. If such discussions have failed, the use of a
mediator is recommended.
12.
Insurance.
AT&T Arkansas shall
maintain, throughout the term of this
Agreement,
insurance in
the minimum amounts as
follows:
Workers Compensation
Commercial General Liability
Auto Liability
Umbrella Liability
Statutory Limits
$1,000,000 per occurrence,
Combined Single Liability (CSL)
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
(including all owned, non -owned,
and hired vehicles) $1,000,000
per occurrence (CSL)
$1,000,000 per occurrence (CSL)
13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered to either personally, by facsimile or by certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid and return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to The City of Fayetteville:
If to AT&T Arkansas:
Attn:
City Attorney's Office
City of Fayetteville
113 W. Mountain Street, Ste. 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701
FAX: (479) 575-8315
AT&T Arkansas
14. Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both Parties.
15. Assignment. AT&T Arkansas may not assign or transfer this Agreement
or any interest therein without the prior consent of Fayetteville except to any affiliate of
AT&T Arkansas.
-5-
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas with respect to AT&T Arkansas' use
of Fayetteville ROW in connection with the offering and provision of IP-enabled services
including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville using facilities constructed and
placed within Fayetteville's ROW. As such it merges and supersedes all prior verbal
agreements, understandings and representations by either party on the matters set forth
herein.
17. Waiver. Failure on the part of either Party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to compel enforcement of
such provision or any other provision.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville each hereby warrants that it has the
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to
the terms hereof.
(b) The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience or
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or affect the interpretation of any term
or provision hereof. The singular shall include the plural; the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neutral gender.
(c) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville shall cooperate fully with one another in the
execution of any and all other documents and in the completion of any additional actions
including, without limitation, the processing of permits that may be necessary or
appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
creating or conferring any rights, benefits or remedies upon, or creating any obligations
of the Parties hereto toward any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly set forth herein.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
amending, modifying or otherwise affecting any other agreements, authorizations or
memoranda which Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas have now. Further, nothing
contained in this Agreement is meant to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit any
current rights or jurisdiction that either Fayetteville or other governmental entities
currently have nor is this Agreement intended to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit
any rights AT&T Arkansas currently has under existing federal and state law and under
existing Fayetteville ordinances and existing construction permits issued by Fayetteville.
19. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit
of AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville.
-6-
20. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be transmitted by facsimile
and any signature transmitted by facsimile will be given the same force and effect as an
original signature.
21. Authority of City Council. This agreement is not intended to limit the
authority of the Fayetteville City Council regarding the use of streets, easements, and
public rights of way ("ROW") by public utilities, specifically including those that
communicate information. The City Council expressly reserves the right to increase the
fee imposed in paragraph 3 of this Agreement to that which is imposed on other video
service providers in order to generally maintain competitive neutrality, so long as such
fee does not exceed the maximum rate authorized under Section 622 of the Federal
Communications Act (47 U.S.C. Section 542).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized
representatives, have executed this Agreement and made the same effective as of the 6`h
day of February, 2007.
AT&T ARKANSAS
By:
Name: Edward Drilling
Title: President — AT&T Arkansas
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
By:
Name: DAN COODY
Title: Mayor
ATTEST:
By:
SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
-7-
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY DAVID WHITAKER, ASST. CITY ATTORNEY
A
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: Dan Coody, Mayor
City Council
Susan Thomas, Public Information & Policy Advisor
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney
DATE: January 30, 2007
RE: Proposed AT&T Arkansas Cable Contract
I have proposed slight modifications to the AT&T Arkansas proposed
agreement. The modifications require AT&T Arkansas to carry the public,
educational and governmental (PEG) channels on its basic (lowest tier)
package just as we require Cox Communications to provide PEG on its
basic cable package. This change is in paragraph 4 (d).
Another proposed change is in paragraph 3 Compensation to
Fayetteville. AT&T Arkansas has already agreed to pay the same 5% fee as
Cox Communication pays for its use of the City's rights of way. The change
specifies that the 5% fee applies to the identical revenues generated by both
carriers including pay -per -view charges, equipment rental, installation and
maintenance fees and advertising revenue generated or attributable to
Fayetteville subscribers. The City wishes to place AT&T Arkansas and Cox
Communications on a level playing field so that fair competition will
improve services while restraining costs for our citizens.
i, Le�Q ,Fo A/p GC o3/6/a
KIT WILLIAMS
FAYETTEVILLE CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID J. WHITAKER
Assistant City Attorney
Judy Housley
Office Manager
Phone (479) 575-8313
FAX (479) 575-8315
January 30, 2007
Mr. Edward Drilling
President, AT&T Arkansas, Inc.
I 1 I I W. Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201-3005
Dear Mr. Drilling:
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS
113 W. Mountain, Suite 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701-6083
Enclosed please find a copy of a letter sent by Cox Communications
to Mayor Dan Coody. It is the City's intent to treat Cox and AT&T equally
in terms of your proposed use of the City's right of ways to deliver television
signals to Fayetteville residents and businesses.
We appreciate your agreement to the same 5% franchise fee rate that
Cox pays. To be further equitable, this 5% rate should be applied not only to
your subscription rate but to the same items of "gross revenue" which Cox
must apply the franchise fee. If later rulings by the FCC (as affirmed or
modified after any court review) or separate Court Judgment changes the
definition of "gross revenue" to which cities may charge a franchise fee, the
City of Fayetteville will immediately apply such final Judgment or ruling to
your contract. Until that point, the City believes the same current definition
of "gross revenue" applied for years to our television cable provider should
also be applied to the newest proposed television cable provider, AT&T
Arkansas.
Attached is the amendment to your proposed contract to provide the
level field so that both you and Cox will be treated as equitably as possible.
With kindest regards,
KIT WILLIAMS
Fayetteville City Attorney
KW/jh
Enclosure
cc: Mayor Dan Coody
Nelson Mower, Cox Communications
January 24, 2007 4901 South 48th Street
Springdale, AR 72762
(479)
Honorable Dan Coody 27
(479)-5644
273-5644
Mayor, City of Fayetteville (479) 756-1081 tax
113 W. Mountain Street
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Co%t
COMMUNICATIONS
Dear Mayor Coody:
Thank you for visiting with Jay Allbaugh and me this past Friday, January 19th. We
app rec.iate_y"our interest_in.ensuring access to Fayetteville's rights_of way is_providedin a
non-discriminatory manner.
Cox Communications has been at the forefront of bringing the benefits of competition to
consumers for video, voice and data services. We compete every day for video
customers against satellite providers many times our size. We compete for Internet
customers against my............a'ce providers and against a century old monopoly
for'tele'phone'customers. tAnd if -the numerous LID. Power Awards Cox has received'. are
any indication, we compete successfully.
�JQ R^:�;'Suc O.(. d'(dF�A^;.i"JuC: Cl; i !'vL USA.Ai Cl
Cox.Communications`'has'been'a'leadeinih'thecrriationaldebate-over:cable`franchiise
`reform. We`do"not seek to'irnpede`tlfe entry'of competitors; but=we"ask'that,'regul'atoryar
Bodies treat• • rall providers equally' "' r= r; 1Cot 1t C
This reasonable approach has been the policy of Fayetteville and is expressly stated in
Section V (B) of Cox's franchise with the City:
B. Franchise Required - No person shall construct, install, maintain or operate on
or under any street, any equipment or facilities for the distribution of television
���_ signals. or radio signals or other intelligence, either analog or digital, over a
— Broadband Tel ce ommunications Network to any subscriber unless a franchise
authorizing the use of the streets has first been obtained. Such a franchise shall
contain material terms and conditions no less restrictive than those set forth in this
Franchise.
This language, which encompasses an authorization such as that being considered by the
City to allow AT&T to provide its IPTV service, requires the City to make a choice:
regulate AT&Tas Cox isregulated or regulate Cox as the City chooses to regulate
AT&T. N • either'provider should.have special rule's'or be given' a' special;advantage.OThe
Citty'Isrole'should'be-unbiased!anditshould'not; through -its •regulato"ry;authonty r
advantage or disadvantage either provider.
u1. ;A� 'llr `IIfLI�i" I on-; :lhl." riy)-
We`arelcoricerried that the document being considered by the City provides AT&T'with
ndue advantages.'- For instance, the definition of "gross revenue" in the AT&T' '
agreement would require AT&T to pay a far smaller price for access to exactly the same
public rights -of -way used by Cox. Our analysis indicates that the difference in 2006
would have been more than $86,000. Specifically, AT&T would pay no fees on revenues
collected for advertising, Pay -Per -View, equipment rental, or installation and
maintenance agreements. There are other instances where the AT&T agreement contains
provisions that are far less restrictive than those in Cox's franchise.
We appreciate your consideration of these issues. Again, our intent is not to impede the
entry of AT&T into the Fayetteville video market. Al] we ask is that the City exercises
its regulatory authority to ensure that Cox and AT&T compete on a level playing field.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
• Sincerely,
Nelson Mower
Vice President Cox Arkansas Operations
cc: Kit Williams — City Attorney
Susan Thomas — Public Information & Policy Advisor
Jay Allbaugh — VP of Public and Government Affairs — Cox Kansas/Arkansas
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated this 6'h day of February, 2007
("Effective Date") is made by and between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership doing business as AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T Arkansas") and the City
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a municipal corporation ("Fayetteville"). AT&T Arkansas and
Fayetteville shall sometimes be referred to separately as a "Party," and collectively as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. As a telecommunications provider, AT&T Arkansas has statewide
authority under Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 to construct, operate and maintain its
telecommunications facilities in the public rights of way ("ROW") throughout the state of
Arkansas.
B. Under Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101, Fayetteville is permitted to impose
reasonable terms and conditions on AT&T Arkansas' use and occupation of the
Fayetteville's ROW and to collect a reasonable franchise fee for such use and occupation
of its ROW.
C. AT&T Arkansas is in the process of upgrading its existing
telecommunications network to provide an integrated Internet Protocol ("IP") enabled
broadband platform of voice, data and video services ("IP Network"), the video
component of which is a switched, two-way, point-to-point and interactive service ("IP-
enabled Video Service"). The IP Network upgrade will involve the use of Fayetteville's
ROW.
D. AT&T Arkansas believes that Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 covers the
construction, operation and maintenance of the IP Network, and that AT&T Arkansas is
not required to obtain a separate franchise or other authorization from Fayetteville to
offer IP-enabled services including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville over
the IP Network.
E. AT&T Arkansas further believes that Fayetteville's right to regulate the
construction of the IP Network in Fayetteville's ROW is limited to the right to impose
reasonable conditions regarding the time, place, and manner of AT&T Arkansas' use and
occupation of Fayetteville's ROW.
F. Fayetteville believes that the provision of IP-enabled Video Services by
AT&T Arkansas is beyond the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 and is subject to
Fayetteville's cable television franchising authority.
G.
Both
AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree that
the
deployment
of the IP
Network and the provision of IP-enabled Video Services should
not
-1-
be delayed
by litigation to
establish
the scope
of Ark. Code Ann.
§23-17-101 or the
application
of Fayetteville's
franchise
ordinance
to IP-enabled
Video
Services.
H. Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas further agree that litigation to resolve
this issue would be complex and protracted, and that it is in the best interests of both
Parties and the residents of Fayetteville to reach a compromise of each other's positions
and claims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance upon the respective
representations, promises, concessions, terms and conditions contained herein,
Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas agree as follows:
1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and continue through the end of 2011. The term may be extended
upon mutual agreement of the Parties.
2. Change of Law. AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree to
consult in the event that after the Effective Date, any court, agency, commission,
legislative body, or other authority of competent jurisdiction issues a finding that limits
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, in whole or in part. Should the finding
be final, non -appealable and binding upon either Fayetteville or AT&T, this Agreement
shall be deemed modified or limited to the extent necessary to address the subject of the
finding unless either party, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the ruling, provides
written notice to the other party of election to terminate, in which case this Agreement
shall terminate within six (6) months or such earlier period as the parties mutually may
agree. Where the effect of a finding is a modification, the parties shall enter into good
faith negotiations to modify this Agreement in the manner which best effectuates its
overall purposes and the intentions of the parties. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory
modification within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such efforts shall entitle
either party to terminate the Agreement on the provision of thirty (30) days' written
notice.
3. Compensation to Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement, AT&T
Arkansas shall pay to Fayetteville a fee of 5% of the gross revenues from subscription
fees, pay -per -view fees and equipment rental, installation and maintenance fees collected
from each subscriber to AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled Video Services product delivered
over the IP Network in Fayetteville's rights of way. It shall also apply to advertising
revenue generated or attributable to Fayetteville subscribers of AT&T Arkansas IP-
enabled Video Services. It is understood by the parties that the 5% fee paid to
Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is applicable to the same gross revenue items as
presently required of the current cable television provider and no others until and unless
the FCC or a Court determines the fee should apply to more or fewer items. The fee does
not apply to non -video revenues or the non -video revenues of a bundled product
containing video and non -video offerings. The fee will be forwarded to Fayetteville
quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of the subsequent quarter. Upon
-2-
request, AT&T Arkansas shall make their records available to Fayetteville to demonstrate
compliance with this paragraph for a period of three (3) years preceding the request.
4. Public, Educational and Governmental Programming.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall provide some form of access for Fayetteville's
noncommercial, public, education and governmental ("PEG") programming through
AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled Video Services.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall not be responsible for content of PEG programming.
(c) As soon as practicable, AT&T shall provide written notice that it has the
technical capability to provide IP based access for Fayetteville's PEG channel (in use on
the Execution Date of this Agreement) over the platform AT&T wishes to use with this
agreement. If technological feasibility requires a change in the current Fayetteville
technology, Fayetteville may be required to support a change in or addition to current
Fayetteville technology now in use for PEG programming to make it compatible with
AT&T Arkansas' IP enabled video technology.
(d) AT&T Arkansas will provide Fayetteville capacity on its platform to carry the
same number of PEG channels that Fayetteville currently has activated as of the effective
date of this Agreement. PEG content will be made available by Fayetteville placing its
content on the public Internet. AT&T Arkansas will carry this PEG content on its video
platform in its basic (lowest tier package) using its standard Internet -sourced PEG
solution. AT&T will provide Fayetteville a one-time up front capital grant to cover the
initial set up costs incurred by Fayetteville to make this content available on the Internet.
Should AT&T seek to improve its transmission method in a fashion that will substantially
affect the integrity of the Internet sourced PEG solution (compatibility), AT&T accepts
the responsibility for necessary costs of capital improvements that might be needed by
Fayetteville.
(e) PEG programming will be available via Internet for AT&T Arkansas' IP
Video subscribers to view both on the TV and computer. PEG programming will be
available via the Internet from the end user's computer for AT&T HomeZone subscribers
who also have High Speed Internet Access.
5. Emergency Message. AT&T Arkansas shall carry all Federal, State and
Local alerts provided over the Federal Emergency Alert System through AT&T's IP-
enabled Video Services in the event of a public safety emergency, which at a minimum
will include the concurrent rebroadcast of local broadcast channels.
6. Customer Service. AT&T Arkansas will offer IP-enabled Video Services
and provide customer service consistent with the requirements of 47 C.F.R. Section
76.309(c). AT&T Arkansas will respond to complaints and outages in a diligent fashion.
-3-
(a)
AT&T Arkansas
shall give subscribers in
Fayetteville
thirty (30) days notice
of any rate
increases, channel
lineup changes, or other
substantive
service changes.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall restore any pavements, sidewalks, driveways that are
disturbed during the installation, improvement or extension of IP-enabled Video services
to a standard that is both commercially reasonable and in compliance with the ordinances
of Fayetteville.
(c)
AT&T Arkansas shall
not refuse to
render IP-enabled Video Services based
solely upon
the income or minority
status of any
resident or group of residents.
7. Service area. This Agreement shall apply to AT&T's service area within
the municipal boundaries of Fayetteville as they exist upon the date of execution of this
agreement and may hereafter be extended. AT&T shall make video programming
available, subject to technology or other economic feasibility, to all residential units
within the service area, by use of IP-based video technology or other alternative video
programming technology.
(a) On December 31, 2007 and the same date in every year thereafter, AT&T
Arkansas shall tender an annual report indicating the status of its video programming
service. The report shall: (i) indicate the number of subscribers; and (ii) the technology
being used to provide such video programming.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall be considered to have breached this agreement if
AT&T Arkansas fails to diligently offer video programming throughout Fayetteville,
unless: (i) delay is attributable to Force Majeure; (ii) delay is attributable to Fayetteville;
(iii) delay is attributable to AT&T Arkansas' inability to obtain needed private
easements: (iv) delay is attributable to special technical requirements; or (v) delay is
justified by reasonable commercial standards of construction.
8. Obligations of Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement
Fayetteville will not. attempt to nor subject the provision of AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled
Video Services over• the IP Network to regulation under any cable television franchise
ordinance or similar ordinance. In addition:
(a) Fayetteville agrees to subject the construction and installation of the IP
Network to the same process and review as it subjects the installation and construction of
AT&T Arkansas' existing telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Fayetteville agrees not to unreasonably block, restrict, or limit the
construction and installation of the IP Network.
(c) Fayetteville agrees to process any and all applicable permits for the
installation, construction, maintenance, repair, removal, and other activities associated
with the IP Network in a timely and prompt manner.
-4-
9. Jurisdiction and Venue. This contract shall be construed pursuant to the
laws of Arkansas. Jurisdiction and venue shall be in Washington County, Arkansas.
10. Breach of Agreement. Should either party claim that a breach of any part
of this Agreement has occurred, that party will provide prompt written notice to the other,
specifying the nature of the breach; and upon receipt the other party shall cure such
breach within 60 days.
11. Mediation Recommended. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville shall make diligent good faith efforts to resolve all issues and disputes that
might arise in the administration of this Agreement through discussions between
designated representatives of the Parties. If such discussions have failed, the use of a
mediator is recommended.
12.
Insurance.
AT&T Arkansas shall
maintain, throughout the term of this
Agreement,
insurance in
the
minimum amounts as
follows:
Workers Compensation
Commercial General Liability
Auto Liability
Umbrella Liability
Statutory Limits
$1,000,000 per occurrence,
Combined Single Liability (CSL)
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
(including all owned, non -owned,
and hired vehicles) $1,000,000
per occurrence (CSL)
$1,000,000 per occurrence (CSL)
13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered to either personally, by facsimile or by certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid and return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to The City of Fayetteville:
If to AT&T Arkansas:
City Attorney's Office
City of Fayetteville
113 W. Mountain Street, Ste. 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701
FAX: (479) 575-8315
Mr. Edward Drilling,
President, AT&T Arkansas
AT&T Arkansas
1111 W. Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201-3005
14. Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both Parties.
-5-
15. Assignment. AT&T Arkansas may not assign or transfer this Agreement
or any interest therein without the prior consent of Fayetteville except to any affiliate of
AT&T Arkansas.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas with respect to AT&T Arkansas' use
of Fayetteville ROW in connection with the offering and provision of IP-enabled services
including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville using facilities constructed and
placed within Fayetteville's ROW. As such it merges and supersedes all prior verbal
agreements, understandings and representations by either party on the matters set forth
herein.
17. Waiver. Failure on the part of either Party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to compel enforcement of
such provision or any other provision.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville each hereby warrants that it has the
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to
the terms hereof.
(b) The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience or
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or affect the interpretation of any term
or provision hereof. The singular shall include the plural; the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neutral gender.
(c) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville shall cooperate fully with one another in the
execution of any and all other documents and in the completion of any additional actions
including, without limitation, the processing of permits that may be necessary or
appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
creating or conferring any rights, benefits or remedies upon, or creating any obligations
of the Parties hereto toward any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly set forth herein.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
amending, modifying or otherwise affecting any other agreements, authorizations or
memoranda which Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas have now. Further, nothing
contained in this Agreement is meant to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit any
current rights or jurisdiction that either Fayetteville or other governmental entities
currently have nor is this Agreement intended to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit
any rights AT&T Arkansas currently has under existing federal and state law and under
existing Fayetteville ordinances and existing construction permits issued by Fayetteville.
-6-
19. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit
of AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville.
20. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be transmitted by facsimile
and any signature transmitted by facsimile will be given the same force and effect as an
original signature.
21. Authority of City Council. This agreement is not intended to limit the
authority of the Fayetteville City Council regarding the use of streets, easements, and
public rights of way ("ROW") by public utilities, specifically including those that
communicate information. The City Council expressly reserves the right to increase the
fee imposed in paragraph 3 of this Agreement to that which is imposed on other video
service providers in order to generally maintain competitive neutrality, so long as such
fee does not exceed the maximum rate authorized under Section 622 of the Federal
Communications Act (47 U.S.C. Section 542).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized
representatives, have executed this Agreement and made the same effective as of the 6`h
day of February, 2007.
AT&T ARKANSAS
By:
Name: Edward Drilling
Title: President — AT&T Arkansas
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
By:
Name: DAN COODY
Title: Mayor
ATTEST:
By:
SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
-7-
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST. CITY ATTORNEY LEGAL DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
TO: Dan Coody, Mayor
City Council
Susan Thomas, Public Information & Policy Advisor
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney
DATE: February 2, 2007
RE: Proposed AT&T Contract for Cable TV services
AT&T Arkansas, Inc. has reviewed and agreed to my proposed change to
the contract which required the Public. Educational and Governmental channels to
be offered on its basic (lowest tier) package.
AT&T Arkansas, Inc. has also agreed to most of my proposed changes in
paragraph 3 Compensation to Fayetteville. AT&T Arkansas, Inc. agreed that the
5% fee would apply to "pay -per -view fees and equipment rental, installation and
repair (as opposed to maintenance) fees collected from each subscriber ...." I will
let AT&T Arkansas, Inc. explain the difference between "repair" and
''maintenance'' from its perspective, but I have no opposition to that change.
AT&T Arkansas, Inc. did object to application of the 5% fee to potential
advertising revenue which I have removed at their request. This would be a very
minor item of revenue for the City for the early start-up years for AT&T Arkansas
in Fayetteville. By the end of this contract, I hope the law concerning advertising
revenue will, have become settled and clear. If AT&T Arkansas is by then serving
a large subscriber base in Fayetteville, the potential advertising revenue will also
be a much more important revenue consideration for the City.
I hope . AT&T Arkansas, Inc. will have signed the amended contract
(attached) prior to your meeting: on February 6°i so that we will know that they
have accepted the contract and are ready to go forward to serve Fayetteville
residents.
m6/a' 6drMt( Sp, aool :
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated this 6`h day of February, 2007
("Effective Date") is made by and between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., a Texas
limited partnership doing business as AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T Arkansas") and the City
of Fayetteville, Arkansas, a municipal corporation ("Fayetteville"). AT&T Arkansas and
Fayetteville shall sometimes be referred to separately as a "Party," and collectively as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. As a telecommunications provider, AT&T Arkansas has statewide
authority under Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 to construct, operate and maintain its
telecommunications facilities in the public rights of way ("ROW") throughout the state of
Arkansas.
B. Under Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101, Fayetteville is permitted to impose
reasonable terms and conditions on AT&T Arkansas' use and occupation of the
Fayetteville's ROW and to collect a reasonable franchise fee for such use and occupation
of its ROW.
C. AT&T Arkansas is in the process of upgrading its existing
telecommunications network to provide an integrated Internet Protocol ("IP") enabled
broadband platform of voice, data and video services ("IP Network"), the video
component of which is a switched, two-way, point-to-point and interactive service ("IP-
enabled Video Service"). The IP Network upgrade will involve the use of Fayetteville's
ROW.
D. AT&T Arkansas believes that Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 covers the
construction, operation and maintenance of the IP Network, and that AT&T Arkansas is
not required to obtain a separate franchise or other authorization from Fayetteville to
offer IP-enabled services including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville over
the IP Network.
E. AT&T Arkansas further believes that Fayetteville's right to regulate the
construction of the IP Network in Fayetteville's ROW is limited to the right to impose
reasonable conditions regarding the time, place, and manner of AT&T Arkansas' use and
occupation of Fayetteville's ROW.
F. Fayetteville believes that the provision of IP-enabled Video Services by
AT&T Arkansas is beyond the scope of Ark. Code Ann. §23-17-101 and is subject to
Fayetteville's cable television franchising authority.
G.
Both
AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree that
the
deployment
of the IP
Network and the provision of IP-enabled Video Services should
not
be delayed
by litigation to
establish
the scope
of Ark. Code Ann.
§23-17-101 or the
application
of Fayetteville's
franchise
ordinance
to IP-enabled Video
Services.
H. Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas further agree that litigation to resolve
this issue would be complex and protracted, and that it is in the best interests of both
Parties and the residents of Fayetteville to reach a compromise of each other's positions
and claims.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance upon the respective
representations, promises, concessions, terms and conditions contained herein,
Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas agree as follows:
1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and continue through the end of 2011. The term may be extended
upon mutual agreement of the Parties.
2. Change of Law. AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville agree to
consult in the event that after the Effective Date, any court, agency, commission,
legislative body, or other authority of competent jurisdiction issues a finding that limits
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, in whole or in part. Should the finding
be final, non -appealable and binding upon either Fayetteville or AT&T, this Agreement
shall be deemed modified or limited to the extent necessary to address the subject of the
finding unless either party, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the ruling, provides
written notice to the other party of election to terminate, in which case this Agreement
shall terminate within six (6) months or such earlier period as the parties mutually may
agree. Where the effect of a finding is a modification, the parties shall enter into good
faith negotiations to modify this Agreement in the manner which best effectuates its
overall purposes and the intentions of the parties. Failure to reach a mutually satisfactory
modification within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such efforts shall entitle
either party to terminate the Agreement on the provision of thirty (30) days' written
notice.
3. Compensation to Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement, AT&T
Arkansas shall pay to Fayetteville a fee of 5% of the gross revenues from subscription
fees, pay -per -view fees and equipment rental, installation and repair fees collected from
each subscriber to AT&T Arkansas IP-enabled Video Services product delivered over
the IP Network in Fayetteville's rights of way. It is understood by the parties that the 5%
fee paid to Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is applicable to the same gross revenue items
as presently required of the current cable television provider and no others until and
unless the FCC or a Court determines the fee should apply to more or fewer items. The
fee does not apply to non -video revenues or the non -video revenues of a bundled product
containing video and non -video offerings. The fee will be forwarded to Fayetteville
quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of the subsequent quarter. Upon
request, AT&T Arkansas shall make their records available to Fayetteville to demonstrate
compliance with this paragraph for a period of three (3) years preceding the request.
-2-
4. Public, Educational and Governmental Programming.
(a) AT&T Arkansas shall provide some form of access for Fayetteville's
noncommercial, public, education and governmental ("PEG") programming through
AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled Video Services.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall not be responsible for content of PEG programming.
(c) As soon as practicable, AT&T shall provide written notice that it has the
technical capability to provide IP based access for Fayetteville's PEG channel (in use on
the Execution Date of this Agreement) over the platform AT&T wishes to use with this
agreement. If technological feasibility requires a change in the current Fayetteville
technology, Fayetteville may be required to support a change in or addition to current
Fayetteville technology now in use for PEG programming to make it compatible with
AT&T Arkansas' IP enabled video technology.
(d) AT&T Arkansas will provide Fayetteville capacity on its platform to carry the
same number of PEG channels that Fayetteville currently has activated as of the effective
date of this Agreement. PEG content will be made available by Fayetteville placing its
content on the public Internet. AT&T Arkansas will carry this PEG content on its video
platform in its basic (lowest tier package) using its standard Internet -sourced PEG
solution. AT&T will provide Fayetteville a one-time up front capital grant to cover the
initial set up costs incurred by Fayetteville to make this content available on the Internet.
Should AT&T seek to improve its transmission method in a fashion that will substantially
affect the integrity of the Internet sourced PEG solution (compatibility), AT&T accepts
the responsibility for necessary costs of capital improvements that might be needed by
Fayetteville.
(e) PEG programming will be available via Internet for AT&T Arkansas' IP
Video subscribers to view both on the TV and computer. PEG programming will be
available via the Internet from the end user's computer for AT&T HomeZone subscribers
who also have High Speed Internet Access.
5. Emergency Message. AT&T Arkansas shall carry all Federal, State and
Local alerts provided over the Federal Emergency Alert System through AT&T's IP-
enabled Video Services in the event of a public safety emergency, which at a minimum
will include the concurrent rebroadcast of local broadcast channels.
6. Customer Service. AT&T Arkansas will offer IP-enabled Video Services
and provide customer service consistent with the requirements of 47 C.F.R. Section
76.309(c). AT&T Arkansas will respond to complaints and outages in a diligent fashion.
(a)
AT&T Arkansas
shall give subscribers in
Fayetteville
thirty (30) days notice
of any rate
increases, channel
lineup changes, or other
substantive
service changes.
-3-
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall restore any pavements, sidewalks, driveways that are
disturbed during the installation; improvement or extension of IP-enabled Video services
to a standard that is both commercially reasonable and in compliance with the ordinances
of Fayetteville.
(c)
AT&T Arkansas shall
not refuse to
render IP-enabled Video Services based
solely upon
the income or minority
status of any
resident or group of residents.
7. Service area. This Agreement shall apply to AT&T's service area within
the municipal boundaries of Fayetteville as they exist upon the date of execution of this
agreement and may hereafter be extended. AT&T shall make video programming
available, subject to technology or other economic feasibility, to all residential units
within the service area, by use of IP-based video technology or other alternative video
programming technology.
(a) On December 31, 2007 and the same date in every year thereafter, AT&T
Arkansas shall tender an annual report indicating the status of its video programming
service. The report shall: (i) indicate the number of subscribers; and (ii) the technology
being used to provide such video programming.
(b) AT&T Arkansas shall be considered to have breached this agreement if
AT&T Arkansas fails to diligently offer video programming throughout Fayetteville,
unless: (i) delay is attributable to Force Majeure; (ii) delay is attributable to Fayetteville;
(iii) delay is attributable to AT&T Arkansas' inability to obtain needed private
easements: (iv) delay is attributable to special technical requirements; or (v) delay is
justified by reasonable commercial standards of construction.
8. Obligations of Fayetteville. During the term of this Agreement
Fayetteville will not attempt to nor subject the provision of AT&T Arkansas' IP-enabled
Video Services over the IP Network to regulation under any cable television franchise
ordinance or similar ordinance. In addition:
(a) Fayetteville agrees to subject the construction and installation of the IP
Network to the same process and review as it subjects the installation and construction of
AT&T Arkansas' existing telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Fayetteville agrees not to unreasonably block, restrict, or limit the
construction and installation of the IP Network.
(c) Fayetteville agrees to process any and all applicable permits for the
installation, construction, maintenance, repair, removal, and other activities associated
with the IP Network in a timely and prompt manner.
9. Jurisdiction and
Venue.
This contract shall be construed
pursuant to the
laws of Arkansas. Jurisdiction
and venue
shall be in Washington County,
Arkansas.
4-
10. Breach of Agreement. Should either party claim that a breach of any part
of this Agreement has occurred, that party will provide prompt written notice to the other,
specifying the nature of the breach; and upon receipt the other party shall cure such
breach within 60 days.
11. Mediation Recommended. Both AT&T Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville shall make diligent good faith efforts to resolve all issues and disputes that
might arise in the administration of this Agreement through discussions between
designated representatives of the Parties. If such discussions have failed, the use of a
mediator is recommended.
12. Insurance. AT&T Arkansas shall maintain, throughout the term of this
Agreement, insurance in the minimum amounts as follows:
Workers Compensation
Commercial General Liability
Auto Liability
Umbrella Liability
Statutory Limits
$1,000,000 per occurrence,
Combined Single Liability (CSL)
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
(including all owned, non -owned,
and hired vehicles) $1,000,000
per occurrence (CSL)
$1.000,000 per occurrence (CSL)
13. Notices. Any notice to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and may be delivered to either personally, by facsimile or by certified or registered mail
with postage prepaid and return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to The City of Fayetteville: City Attorney's Office
City of Fayetteville
113 W. Mountain Street, Ste. 302
Fayetteville, AR 72701
FAX: (479) 575-8315
If to AT&T Arkansas: Mr. Edward Drilling,
President, AT&T Arkansas
AT&T Arkansas
1111 W. Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201-3005
14. Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a
written instrument executed by both Parties.
15. Assignment. AT&T Arkansas may not assign or transfer this Agreement
or any interest therein without the prior consent of Fayetteville except to any affiliate of
AT&T Arkansas.
-5-
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas with respect to AT&T Arkansas' use
of Fayetteville ROW in connection with the offering and provision of IP-enabled services
including IP-enabled Video Services within Fayetteville using facilities constructed and
placed within Fayetteville's ROW. As such it merges and supersedes all prior verbal
agreements, understandings and representations by either party on the matters set forth
herein.
17. Waiver. Failure on the part of either Party to enforce any provision of
this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to compel enforcement of
such provision or any other provision.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville each hereby warrants that it has the
requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform according to
the terms hereof.
(b) The headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience or
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or affect the interpretation of any term
or provision hereof. The singular shall include the plural; the masculine gender shall
include the feminine and neutral gender.
(c) AT&T Arkansas and Fayetteville shall cooperate fully with one another in the
execution of any and all other documents and in the completion of any additional actions
including, without limitation, the processing of permits that may be necessary or
appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
creating or conferring any rights, benefits or remedies upon, or creating any obligations
of the Parties hereto toward any person or entity not a party to this Agreement, unless
otherwise expressly set forth herein.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as
amending, modifying or otherwise affecting any other agreements, authorizations or
memoranda which Fayetteville and AT&T Arkansas have now. Further, nothing
contained in this Agreement is meant to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit any
current rights or jurisdiction that either Fayetteville or other governmental entities
currently have nor is this Agreement intended to change, limit, modify, restrict or limit
any rights AT&T Arkansas currently has under existing federal and state law and under
existing Fayetteville ordinances and existing construction permits issued by Fayetteville.
19. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and for the benefit
of AT&T Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville.
-6-
20. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be transmitted by facsimile
and any signature transmitted by facsimile will be given the same force and effect as an
original signature.
21. Authority of City Council. This agreement is not intended to limit the
authority of the Fayetteville City Council regarding the use of streets, easements, and
public rights of way ("ROW") by public utilities, specifically including those that
communicate information. The City Council expressly reserves the right to increase the
fee imposed in paragraph 3 of this Agreement to that which is imposed on other video
service providers in order to generally maintain competitive neutrality, so long as such
fee does not exceed the maximum rate authorized under Section 622 of the Federal
Communications Act (47 U.S.C. Section 542).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their duly authorized
representatives, have executed this Agreement and made the same effective as of the 6`h
day of February, 2007.
AT&T ARKANSAS
By:
Name: Edward Drilling
Title: President — AT&T Arkansas
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
By:
Name: DAN COODY
Title: Mayor
ATTEST:
By:
SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk
-7-
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST. CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: Dan Coody, Mayor
City Council
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney
DATE: February 14, 2007 ��—
RE: Signed proposed Agreement with AT&T Arkansas
The Fayetteville Telecom Board had a second hearing on the proposed
Agreement with AT&T Arkansas yesterday. Members of the public, CAT,
AT&T representatives and I all addressed issues surrounding this agreement.
The Telecom Board then unanimously passed a motion
recommending the City Council adopt this Agreement. After the meeting
AT&T Arkansas' representative presented the Agreement signed by its
President, Edward Drilling (attached). Also attached is my memo of
February 7, 2007 about the minor changes to the contract which were
presented to the Telecom Board as well as reasons other changes proposed
by CAT and others are not included nor recommended at this time.
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID WHITAKER, ASST. CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
TO: City Council
CC: Telecom Board
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney ____
DATE: February 7, 2007
RE: Proposed AT&T Arkansas contract
Attached is the final proposed Agreement accepted by AT&T Arkansas.
This contract differs from the one submitted to the Telecom Board in a few
sections:
(1) Paragraph 3. Compensation to Fayetteville.
In order to make this more comparable to the City's agreement with Cox
Communications, I enlarged the definition of "gross revenues" to include "pay -
per -view fees, equipment rental, installation and repair fees ..." I also included
the language that "the 5% fee paid to Fayetteville by AT&T Arkansas is
applicable to the same gross revenue items as presently required of the current
cable television provider for all subscriber paid services ...." This 5% fee is
payable to Fayetteville "quarterly by the twenty-first day of the first month of
the subsequent quarter." I believe these additional terms create a more level
playing field for Cox and AT&T Arkansas.
(2) Paragraph 4. Public Education and Government Programming.
In response to concerns of, the Telecom Board and others, I added:
"AT&T Arkansas.will. carry this PEG content on its video platform in its basic
(lowest tier package) ...."
I cannot recommend, nor will I include within the proposal unless so
instructed by the City Council, a provision to charge AT&T Arkansas more
(1% of gross revenues for the PEG channels) than is charged to Cox. The City
Council long ago determined that the franchise fees generated by Cox should
not be designated for nor paid directly to the PEG channel operation, but should
be paid into the City's General Fund to be appropriated by the City Council for
all City needs. These funds are not generated by the PEG channels, but are
derived from the use of the City's streets and rights of way by Cox (or now by
AT&T Arkansas). Therefore, I will follow the City Council's established
policy and not designate any part of the fee on gross revenue for PEG.
Requests for free INET services or other extra benefits are premature for
this contract. In four years, I hope Fayetteville has at least two viable, healthy
competitors in this market. At that point, we will be in a much better position
to offer incentives (such as a longer contract) for providers in exchange for
additional services for the City.
That will also be the time to look at and address coverage and
availability issues (if any). This contract will give AT&T Arkansas enough
time to expand its system and demonstrate to the City that it will voluntarily
provide the wide and equitable accessibility for our citizens that our City
Council desires. If we find problems with fair accessibility after this initial four
year expansion, the City will be in a better and more informed position to
require improvements.
CONCLUSION
I recommend we agree to the terms presented by AT&T Arkansas in the
attached contract. Competition is surely healthy and will likely lower costs and
improve services and choices for our citizens. Our more detailed and lengthy
contract with Cox was negotiated when the City had clear franchising rights
with which a TV cable company had to comply. It was also negotiated not
when the cable company was first entering Fayetteville's market, but after it
had been here for years and had an established system and customer base.
The voluntary agreement offered by AT&T Arkansas satisfies the basic
needs of Fayetteville, ensures a fairly level playing field for both Cox and
AT&T Arkansas, and fosters healthy competition for our citizens' cable
options. I recommend its approval.
(2 27 07) Clarice Pearman - Res. 32-07 Page 1
Clarice Pearman
Williams, Kit -
2.27.07 11:20 AM
Res. 32-07
32-07 AT&T Arkansas.pdf
CC: Audit
Kit:
Attached is a copy of the above resolution passed by City Council, February 20, 2007 regarding AT&T Arkansas.
me know if anything else Is needed.
Thanks.
Clarice
Clarice Buffalohead-Pearman, CMC
City Clerk/Treasurer Division
113 West Mountain
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-575-8309
cpearman@ci.fayetteville.ar.us