ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Section 6(a) of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution provides that a home rule unit "may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax . . ."; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to section 4-280-050 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, the City Council is authorized to grant one or more nonexclusive franchises creating a right to construct and operate a cable television system within the public ways of the City; and
WHEREAS, RCN Cable TV of Chicago, Inc. ("RCN") currently maintains and operates a cable television system in City of Chicago Franchise Area 1 pursuant to a Cable Television Franchise Agreement with a predecessor company, 21st Century Cable TV, Inc., which became effective on June 24, 1996 (the "RCN Franchise"); and
WHEREAS, The RCN Franchise is scheduled to expire on June 26, 2011 (the "Expiration Date"); and
WHEREAS, RCN has indicated an interest in renewing the RCN Franchise and continuing to operate in Franchise Area 1; and
WHEREAS, The Cable Administrator of the City of Chicago has been conducting renewal negotiations with RCN, which are ongoing; and
WHEREAS, It is expected that these renewal negotiations will not be concluded on or before the Expiration Date; and
WHEREAS, It is in the interests of the City of Chicago and the City's cable consumers that adequate time be provided for the Cable Administrator to reach an agreement with RCN that best serves and protects the interests of the City and its cable-viewing public; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The Cable Administrator is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with RCN to extend the term of the RCN Franchise to expire on or before September 30, 2011. Except for the provision extending the expiration date, the remaining aspects of the RCN Franchise sha...
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