County Hosts Public Hearing for Residents

County Hosts Public Hearing for Residents
Public Hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 1st at 1pm via Zoom
Event Link | Service Area

On December 10, 2020, Montgomery County, Maryland (“County”) received a request to approve the transfer of the ownership of cable operator RCN. The request for approval comes in an FCC Form 394 and other written materials (“Application”), describing the transfer. See attached. In the proposed transaction the ownership of Starpower Communications, LLC dba RCN, that holds the franchise from the County, will be transferred, but only if the County finds the new ownership is legally, financially and technically capable of meeting the County’s franchise obligations.

The transfer request represents that operations of Starpower Communications, LLC dba RCN, will not change nor will it change RCN’s obligations to comply with the Open Video System Franchise Agreement, dated March 14, 2019, that it holds with Montgomery County. Under the County Code and the Agreement, County approval is required for the transfer. The County intends to review and act upon the Application in accordance with all relevant statutes, including 47 U.S.C. § 537 which establishes certain procedural requirements with respect to any application that triggers the cable transfer provisions of federal law.

The financial terms will be further detailed in a report to the County that is being assembled by an expert that the County has engaged to review the financial representations of the parties. The application indicated that upon the consummation of the transaction, Stonepeak Associates IV, LLC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stonepeak GP Investors IV, LLC will become the sole member of, and have the ability to appoint a majority of the directors of, Radiate Holdings GP, LLC, the general partner of Radiate Holdings, LP, and accordingly will indirectly control Radiate Holdings, LP and its subsidiaries, including franchisee Starpower Communications, LLC dba RCN. As a result, control of Starpower Communications, LLC dba RCN will be transferred. read more....

Public Hearing

On Monday, March 1st, 2021 at 1pm a Public Hearing will be held to obtain public testimony in the RCN Transfer of Ownership. The sign-up period to testify at the meeting ended on Thursday, February 25, 2021. You can submit testimony online here or send email to Marjorie Williams ([email protected]).. no later than Wednesday, March 3rd at 5pm. If you have additional questions please call 240-777-3762. You can find the speakers list for the Public Hearing attached.

Zoom link to View meeting

When: Mar 1, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: RCN Public Hearing

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83410513241

Or iPhone one-tap :

US: +13017158592,,83410513241# or +19294362866,,83410513241#

Or Telephone:

Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 929 436 2866 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782

Webinar ID: 834 1051 3241

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbwPxUNCE9