At its November 1999 meeting, the JPA Working Group decided not to establish a Franchise Review Board at that time. Powers of the City of Palo Alto as the Local Franchise Authority Federal law defines the powers of the City of Palo Alto as the local franchising authority. There are a number of things that Palo Alto can negotiate for in franchise agreements. Transfer Process Federal and state law, as well as the existing franchise agreement, govern the process of transferring ownership of the cable system. The documentation must include sufficient detail to enable the City to review and evaluate the transfer and to exercise its reasonable judgement with respect to the transfer.
Applicable law provides a basis for denial of transfer requests.
Palo Alto may deny a franchise transfer request based upon the buyer's unique financial, legal, technical, and character qualifications, and its ability to provide the required cable service. Federal law and the franchise agreement allow both parties to agree to an extension. In order to provide sufficient time to evaluate the transfer application, once the City determines it to be complete, the City Manager may request that Cable Co-op waive the time requirements set forth in the franchise agreement and follow the guidelines established by federal law. Under Federal Communication Commission rules, the City has 30 days to notify Cable Co-op concerning any questions related to the transfer application and supporting documentation, including questions regarding the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. Under federal law, if no action has been taken, and no extension has been granted, the transfer request is deemed approved 120 days after receipt.