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City Council approves new cable Tv franchise in Luverne

By
Mavis Fodness

Luverne City Council members have granted a franchise to cable TV company Clarity Telecom, LLC, which is doing business as Vast Broadband.
The council approved an ordinance at the Tuesday, Sept. 22, meeting that outlines the conditions of the franchise agreement.
The Cable TV Board has reviewed the franchise with Clarity Telecom and recommended the city approve a new 10-year franchise with Clarity.
The council action was prompted by the end of the current franchise agreement.
City staff working with Brian Grogan, the city’s franchise attorney, over the last few months have negotiated a new contract with Clarity following a template of the previous agreement with updates.
He told City Council members that he felt comfortable with the deal, and said a primary concern — local, responsive customer service — has been addressed.
The new contract includes the following changes:
•10-year contract instead of 15,
•new service requirements for extension of service,
•Vast will maintain a Twin Cities-based news, weather, and informational broadcast channel, unless prohibited by law,
•fees for violating franchise agreement,
•new PEG fees of $.95 per customer — to be used by the city for the formation of a city-operated access channel; the PEG fees will not start until a new franchise agreement is in effect with MediaCom (estimated Jan. 1, 2017),
•capital equipment grant of $2,500 for the access channel,
•franchise fees will be paid quarterly,
•new insurance requirements for Vast.
The ordinance was approved unanimously.
“Congratulations,” Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian told the cable representatives at the meeting. “Welcome to Luverne.”
In October 2014 Clarity Telecom purchased WOW, which purchased Knology in 2012. Clarity has operated cable and telecommunications businesses for more than 20 years and is headquartered in Sikestan, Missouri.
There are still only two cable providers in Luverne, the new Vast (Clarity) and the existing Mediacom.

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