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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5G Franchising Authority Report Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: APRIL 16, 2018 AGENDA #: 5G PREPARED BY: FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER PRESENTED BY: FRANK BOYLES AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT APPROVING A CHANGE IN THE CORPORATE COMPOSITION OF A CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE HOLDER DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to consider granting approval of a corporate composition change to Integra Telecom pursuant to the terms of our cable TV Franchise Agreement. History The city has entered into Cable Television franchise agreements pursuant to state statute with both Mediacom and Integra Telecom. The terms of both agreements are virtually identical. Both provide under Section 9 that if the corporate composition of the franchise holder changes appreciably the city council as franchisor must approve the change. Current Circumstances In a letter dated March 23, 2018, Mary Korthour, General Manager of Integra Telecom dba Scott Rice Telephone Company and its sole shareholder Allstream Business US, LLC have entered into a purchase agreement with New Ulm Telecom to purchase all issued and outstanding capital stock. The letter goes on to request acknowledgement of the city council’s approval by countersigning the letter. ISSUES: This is a typical provision in franchise agreements. The new owner will be responsible for complying with the terms of the franchise agreement to the same extent that Integra was. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Since none of the terms or obligations under the franchise agreement change, there should be no financial impact. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second as part of the consent agenda to authorize the mayor and city manager to countersign the letter acknowledging the corporate changes set forth above. 2. Motion and second to remove this item from the consent agenda for additional discussion. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative #1 0,,4690 Colorado Street S.E. Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 Telephone : (952) 226-7 OOO Fax: (952) 447-6016rct TELECOM Re: March 23,2018 City of Prior Lake Attn: Frank Boyles 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 City of Prior Lake ("Franchising Authority") Cable Television Franchise Ordinance No. I 15-08 dated as of March 23,2015 (the "Ordinance") Dear Mr. Boyles: Please be advised that Scott-Rice Telephone Co., a Minnesota corporation ("Company") and its sole shareholder, Allstream Business US, LLC, an Oregon limited liability company ("Seller"), have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with New Ulm Telecom, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("Buyer"). The Purchase Agreement provides that the Buyer will purchase from the Seller all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (the "Transaction") as of the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"). Pursuantto Section 238.083 of the Minnesota Statutes, the change in control of ownership of the Company that will result from the Transaction is a "fundamental corporate change" that requires the prior written consent of the Franchising Authority. By this letter, the Company, Seller and Buyer respectfully request that the Franchising Authority provide such consent as soon as possible. By signing below, the Franchising Authority hereby consents to the transt'er by means of a fundamental corporate change in accordance with Section 238.083 of the Minnesota Statutes. The Franchising Authority agrees that the Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect following the Closing in accordance with its terms. Please sign a copy of this letter and fax or email a pdf copy of the same to the Company's attorney at (612) 632-4468, attention Richard H. Bennett, or richard.bennett@gpmlaw.com. Please forward the signed original to the following address: Gray, Plant, Mooty, Moofy & Bennett, P.A 500 IDS Center 80 South 8tl'street Minneapolis, MN 55402 Attn: Richard H. Bennett, Esq. If for whatever reason the Transaction fails to close, the Company will notify you of the same as soon as is reasonably possible. In the event that the Transaction fails to close, this consent to transfer by means of a fundamental corporate change will become null and void. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter and for your consent to the contemplated fundamental corporate change as set forth above. "Your local communications partner for home and business." If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me by email at mjkorthour@integratelecom.com or by telephone at (952) 226-9766. Sincerely, SCOTT.RICE J , General Manager co. Acknowledged and Consented to this _ day of CITY OF PRIOR LAKE 2018 by: By: Its: