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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2391A Resolution ~ .~ S ,~ Finding Marcus Cable in Non-Compliance with Customer Service Standards and Collecting Liquidated Damages for Such Non-Compliance WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth ("City') agreed to transfer a cable television franchise from Sammons of Fort Worth, Inc. to Marcus Cable Associates, L.P ("Marcus ') pursuant to Ordinance No 12105 and an Acceptance Agreement attached thereto and dated November 1 1995 and WHEREAS, the Acceptance Agreement requires Marcus to comply with customer service rules and regulations established for cable operators by the Federal Communications Commission and published in Section 76.309 of Chapter 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations and WHEREAS, the Acceptance Agreement allows the City to collect liquidated damages from Marcus in the event that Marcus fails to meet these customer service rules and regulations ninety percent (90%) of the time during a given quarter and WHEREAS, the amount of liquidated damages that the City may collect from Marcus under the provisions of the Acceptance Agreement are (i) a finding of non-compliance but no monetary assessment for the first quarter of non-compliance during the term of the franchise (ii) $5 000 00 m liquidated damages for the second quarter of non-compliance, and (iii} $10 000 00 to liquidated damages per quarter for the third and subsequent quarters of non-compliance and WHEREAS, from facts and figures collected by and provided to the City and by Marcus s own admission, Marcus failed to comply with customer service rules and regulations established for cable operators by the Federal Communications Commission during the Third Quarter 1997 and Fourth Quarter 1997 and WHEREAS, the City has provided Marcus with timely notices of rts non compliance for both the Third Quarter 1997 and Fourth Quarter 1997 and has given Marcus the opportunity to be heard at a meeting of the City Council prior to the City's taking any action with regard to that non-compliance. CITY OF FORT WORTH NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS I. That the City Council hereby finds that during the Third Quarter 1997 Marcus failed to comply with customer service rules and regulations established for cable operators by the Federal Communications Commission and published in Section 76 309 of Chapter 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and that the citizens of Fort Worth were harmed as a result of such non-compliance II. That the City Council hereby finds that during the Fourth Quarter 1997 Marcus failed to comply with customer service rules and regulations established for cable operators by the Federal Communications Commission and published in Section 76 309 of Chapter 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and that the citizens of Fort Worth were harmed as a result of such non-compliance. III. That the City Council hereby assesses Marcus $5 000 00 m liquidated damages for rts failure to comply with these customer service rules and regulations during the Fourth Quarter 1997 and directs the City Manager or his designee to collect such liquidated damages in accordance with the Acceptance Agreement or as otherwise provided by law Adopted this ~ day of , 1998 ~.i i x V r r V tc-1- w V K l"ri