June 14, 2022Asheville City Council
From the minutes, not yet reviewedCouncil gives first approval to hand a City fiber franchise to ERC Broadband.
Since 2004, the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas has had a City franchise to use public right of way. Instead of paying fees, it gives the City fiber optic service. It wants to pass the deal to a new company, ERC Broadband, LLC. The City says this saves it from building its own fiber, estimated in 2012 at more than $4.9 million.
- Passed with the routine items, in one vote, without discussion.
- What the City says it's for: “This agreement provides fiber optic capability to the City of Asheville in lieu of franchise fees for the use of City right of way.”
Still pending: This was the first reading of the ordinance. A second reading is still to come.
What that means
- Consent agenda:
- Routine items Council approves together in one vote, without discussion. Any member can pull an item out for its own vote.
- First reading:
- The first of two votes on this ordinance. It needs a second vote at a later meeting.
Official title: First reading of the ordinance authorizing assignment of the franchise agreement between the City of Asheville and the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas, LLC to ERC Broadband, LLC
Carried unanimously, as part of the consent agenda
From the minutes: This motion was seconded by Councilwoman Wisler and carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Read the motion as recorded
“FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 4951 - ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ASSIGNMENT OF THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE AND THE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CONSORTIUM OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS, LLC TO ERC BROADBAND, LLC”
Open the minutesConsent agenda, item N