A RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Miami Valley Cable Television Council (MVCTC) was established as a Council of Governments (COG) in 1975 for the primary purpose of administering the cablevision franchises granted by the cities of Centerville, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood and West Carrollton; and

WHEREAS, MVCTC’s mission (“Mission”) also included developing and implementing intergovernmental projects and collaborative programs designed to strengthen member city capacities to deliver services more efficiently and cost effectively; and

WHEREAS, when the new cable system was completed in 1980, the member cities set aside 40% of the cable franchise fee revenue to operate the MVCTC organization; and

WHEREAS, during the 1980’s, membership in MVCTC grew with the addition of the Village of Germantown along with the cities of Bellbrook and Springboro; and

WHEREAS, since its inception, MVCTC established several management and advisory groups to develop and implement projects and programs that benefit the region including GOV TECH, Tactical Crime Suppression Unit, Municipal Training Academy, and the Alliance of Public Service Officials; and

WHEREAS, as its organizational responsibilities grew and the size of the staff expanded, in 1985, the member cities unanimously agreed to assign to MVCTC the full amount of cable franchise fees otherwise payable to it for as long as the city is a member of the COG; and

WHEREAS, that funding formula adopted in 1985 remained in effect until 2006 when the Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) (name change adopted in 2003) Board passed a Resolution authorizing a 20% rebate of franchise fees to its member cities; and

WHEREAS, as consumer viewing habits changed during the past 10+ years, franchise fee payments became stagnant; and

WHEREAS, as consumers began disconnecting from traditional cable boxes, there has been a precipitous decline in franchise fee revenue while MVCC employee expenses and service costs have continued to increase; and

WHEREAS, while MVCC has significantly downsized its full-time and part-time staff those cost saving measures have been inadequate to keep pace with the franchise fee decline; and

WHEREAS, given current trends, it is estimated that by 2028, MVCC will have exhausted its balances under the current funding model; and

WHEREAS, given these economic realities and the fact that MVCC provides its member and affiliate communities in the region with a myriad of beneficial programs and services, it became necessary to explore opportunities to chart a path forward that would guarantee that those programs and services continue; and

WHEREAS, in the fourth quarter of 2024 MVCC undertook a Strategic Plan initiative and met with groups of stakeholders to identify goals and priorities for ensuring organizational sustainability; and

WHEREAS, one of the priority themes identified was organizational growth and adaptability, including exploring opportunities to collaborate or merge with organizations offering complimentary services; and

WHEREAS, consistent with that priority and goal, for approximately the past 6 months , MVCC staff has engaged in merger discussions with another local COG, Miami Valley Educational Computer Association (MVECA), on an organizational merger that will align the goals of the two organizations, allow for greater volume and scale on projects and purchases, and create a new organization that can improve affordability, reliability, and security of networks and technology implementation while simultaneously expanding growth potential to education and government organizations seeking enhanced communication capabilities and services; and