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-