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Basic Cable Information Cable television is regulated through federal and state law, along with a local franchise agreement through the City of Elk River. Federal law also requires franchise agreements be non-exclusive which means no city may grant an exclusive franchise to any one company. A franchise agreement allows a cable company to operate cable television in the city and run-on fiber line in city owned right-of-way. The city collects fees as compensation for the cable company's use of operating their systems in our right-of-way. For many years most cities have not seen more than one provider mainly due to the expense to construct in throughout a city. With technology changes more telephone companies, particularly in rural areas, are adding video to their service packages. Sherburne Wright Cable Commission Elk River is part of the Sherburne Wright Cable Commission, a joint powers organization that oversees the operation of the cities' cable franchise. Ten cities are part of the commission. The commission meets as needed, and acts on behalf of the member cities to enforce and administer their franchises and monitor the overall performance of the cable franchisee, which can include handling customer service issues, the company's use of the public right-of-way, and equipment and channel issues. Elk River has a 15-year franchise agreement with Charter Communications (Spectrum). Via the franchise agreement, the city receives certain benefits to transparently communicate with the community, and includes: ■ Channels to use for programming. ■ Dedicated fiber to help connect government facilities to video and data services. ■ PEG (Public, Educational, and Government) and franchise fees. ■ Complimentary basic cable service to certain public safety facilities. ■ Allowing residents to receive cable TV and other technology service from Charter. The franchise pertains only to the cable television services. Per federal law, the city does not have any role in the regulation of the cable company's internet or telephone services. Internet concerns are addressed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and phone services to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The federal government has substantially deregulated the cable industry with the intent of encouraging competition in the cable, telephone, and internet arenas and is continuing to change as technology changes. As a result, the city's franchising authority is limited in what it can review. The city cannot regulate cable pricing, programming, or equipment to be used by the cable operator. Complaints received by the city consist of fiber lines run over property, typically during winter/spring as the snow melts. The local cable office is contracted to remedy the issues. Common complaints seen online are typically about internet speeds, which the city has no authority to regulate.