The City of Rochester is about to renegotiate its cable television franchise, now with Spectrum/Time Warner, a process so important the city is paying $100,000 to an outside law firm for its expertise.
The franchise agreement governs the terms by which Spectrum, the former Time Warner, is allowed to use the city’s public rights of way to route its cable feeds. It provides for the city to be compensated for that use and establishes the rights and services to be received by cable customers.
The city doesn’t get to discuss rates or service issues; those are covered exclusively by state and federal laws.
The mayor has sent legislation to city council authorizing an increase in compensation for the Cohen Law Group which is negotiating with Spectrum on the city’s behalf. Her letter says more work is needed on the agreement and it extends the city’s deal with Cohen for another year.