Approval of the Application for Transfer of Control of District Cablevision, Inc., to ATT&T Corp. Act of 1999
Bill 13-477

DC Watch Home

Council Period 12

Council Period 13

Council Period 14

Council Period 15

Election 1998

Election 2000

Election 2002

themail

Search DCWatch

A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Chairman Linda W. Cropp introduced the following bill, at the request of the Mayor, on _____

To approve the application for the transfer of the stock of District Cablevision, Inc., which is the general partner of District Cablevision Limited Partnership, to AT&T Corp.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Approval of the Application for Transfer of Control of District Cablevision, Inc., to AT&T Corp. Act of 1999."

Sec. 2. Definitions. For the purpose of this act, the term:

(a) "AT&T" means AT&T Corp., a New York corporation.

(b) "AT&T Cable Merger Company" means a District of Columbia corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T.

(c) "Cable Ordinance" means the Cable Television Communications Act of 1981, as amended, effective August 21, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-142; D.C. Code §43-1801 et seq.).

(d) "CFA" means the Cable Franchise Agreement, dated September 30, 1985, as amended, between the District of Columbia and District Cablevision Limited Partnership.

(e) "Change of Control Agreement" means the binding contractual agreement between the District of Columbia, DCI, AT&T Cable Merger Co., AT&T, and DCLP, dated _, 1999, which sets forth the details regarding the change in control.

(f) "Committee" means the Council Committee on Economic Development.

(g) "Council" means the Council of the District of Columbia.

(h) "DCI" means District Cablevision, Inc., a District of Columbia corporation.

(i) "DCLP" means District Cablevision Limited Partnership, a District of Columbia Limited Partnership.

(j) "District" means the District of Columbia.

(k) "Franchisee" means District Cablevision Limited Partnership or DCLP.

(l) "OCTT" means the Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications.

(m) "Proposed Transaction" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 1, 1999, among AT&T, AT&T Cable Merger Co., DCI and Robert L. Johnson, under which AT&T Cable Merger Co. will be merged with and into DCI, with DCI surviving.

(n) "System" means the cable system currently serving the District of Columbia.

(o) "Transfer Application" means the completed Federal Communications Commission Form 394, together with all exhibits, that was filed as of September 9, 1999.

Sec. 3. Findings.

The Council finds that:

(a) DCLP currently holds a cable franchise from the District, subject to the Cable Ordinance and other applicable laws, and subject to the terms and conditions of the CFA.

(b) AT&T, DCI, and AT&T Cable Merger Co. have entered into the Proposed Transaction.

(c) DCI is the general partner and controls twenty-five percent (25%) of the Franchisee and has approximately 100 shareholders, most of whom live in the District of Columbia and who are individuals with long-term holdings.

(d) Pursuant to approval granted by the Council via the Approval of the Application for Transfer of Control of District Cablevision Limited Partnership from TeleCommunications, Inc. to AT&T Corporation Emergency Act of 1999, effective February 5, 1999 (D.C. Act 13-20; 46 DCR 2535), AT&T is the parent corporation of TCI of D.C., Inc., the limited partner of DCLP. TCI of D.C., Inc. owns and controls seventy-five percent (75%) of DCLP and exercises day-to-day operational control over the System.

(e) On June 22, 1999, AT&T and DCI filed materials with the District seeking the District's consent to the Proposed Transaction by which DCI's stock would be transferred from individual shareholders to AT&T, and AT&T would become the one hundred percent (100%) owner of the Franchisee. However, various documents, including a final, signed agreement, were not included.

(f) On June 30, 1999, OCTT determined that DCI did not submit a completed Federal Communications Commission Form 394, together with all exhibits, and that additional information would be necessary to complete the application and for OCTT to make a recommendation regarding the proposed transaction. Therefore, OCTT requested supplemental information from AT&T and DCI.

(g) AT&T and DCI submitted the additional information to complete the Transfer Application on September 3 and September 9, 1999.

(h) The Council has legal authority, as the local franchising authority, to approve or deny the transfer of control over DCLP that would result from the Proposed Transaction pursuant to section 21 of the Cable Television Communications Act of 1981, effective August 21, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-142; D.C. Code §43-1820), and Section 3.11.03 of the CFA.

(i) Pursuant to section 617 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, approved October 5, 1992 (106 Stat. 1489; 47 U.S.C. §537), and title 47, section 76.502 of the Code of Federal Regulations (47 CFR §76.502), the Council has 120 days following the filing of the completed Transfer Application to render a final decision thereon or the Transfer Application will be deemed to be granted, unless the District, DCI, and AT&T agree to an extension.

(j) While reserving all applicable rights, the parties mutually agree to take steps to finalize all necessary review and authorization of the Proposed Transaction by November 22, 1999.

(k) Pursuant to section 21 (g) of the Cable Television Communications Act of 1981, effective August 21, 1982 (D.C. Law 4-142; D.C. Code §43-1820(g)), and Section 3.11.05 of the CFA, OCTT has reviewed the Transfer Application, supplemental information submitted by AT&T and DCI, and the relevant qualifications of AT&T.

(l) DCLP, DCI, and AT&T entered into a Change of Control Agreement with the District to certify the District's consent to the transaction and to establish the parties' rights in connection with the transaction.

(m) Based on the foregoing, OCTT has recommended that the Council approve the Proposed Transaction.

Sec. 4. Consideration of recommendation.

The Council has reviewed the OCTT's recommendation and has received and considered comments, evidence, and information from the public and interested parties, including DCI and AT&T.

Sec. 5. Adoption of recommendation.

Pursuant to authority granted under the Cable Ordinance and the findings contained in section 3, the Council hereby adopts the recommendation regarding the proposed transfer of control of DCI's general partnership interest in DCLP to AT&T.

Sec. 6. Approval.

By adoption of the recommendation, pursuant to section 5, the Council hereby approves the Transfer Application. The Council approves the Change of Control Agreement, allowing the transfer of control of DCI's general partnership interest in DCLP to AT&T, as set forth below.

Sec. 7. Interpretation.

The Council, as the local franchising authority intends that this act constitutes a "final decision" of the franchising authority, for purposes of section 617 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, approved October 5, 1992 (106 Stat. 1489; 47 U.S.C. §537), and the "consent of the Council" required under the Cable Ordinance.

Sec. 8 Authorization to sign.

This act authorizes the Chairman of the Council to sign, on behalf of the Council, the Change of Control Agreement, referred to herein, and approved by this act.

Sec. 9. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the attached fiscal impact statement as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3)).

Sec. 10. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Back to top of page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REGARDING PROPOSED DCI/AT&T AT&T TRANSFER

Prepared by the Office of Cable Television & Telecommunications

October 29, 1999

Description of Transfer

District Cablevision Limited Partnership ("DCLP") currently provides cable television service to District residents and has held a cable television franchise from the District of Columbia since March, 1985. DCLP is a District of Columbia entity and consists of one limited partner and one general partner. District Cablevision, Inc. ("DCI") is the general partner and owns and controls twenty-five percent (25%) of DCLP. AT&T Corp. ("AT&T") is the parent corporation of TCI of D.C., the limited partner, which owns and controls seventy-five percent (75%) of DCLP.

Control of DCLP's limited partner was transferred in February 1999, from TeleCommunications, Inc. ("TCI") to AT&T pursuant to approval by the Council of the District of Columbia ("Council"). DCI is owned by approximately one hundred (100) individual shareholders, most of whom are residents of the District of Columbia. TCI, and now AT&T pursuant to Council approval, has managed the day-to-day operations of the franchisee in accordance with the terms of a management agreement.

In the proposed transaction, the existing shareholders of DCI would sell their shares to AT&T in exchange for AT&T shares. DCLP would remain the franchisee and AT&T, which already controls 75% of DCLP, would acquire ownership of one hundred percent (100%) of the franchise. DCI would continue to exist as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transfer, the franchisee would continue to abide by all of the terms and conditions of the existing Cable Franchise Agreement ("CFA") after the stock exchange occurs. Three current members of the DCI Board of Directors would continue to serve on the AT&T appointed DCI Board to assure continuity and compliance with the terms of the CFA.

Although effectuating little or no change to the cable system or its day-to-day operation, this transaction is significant to DCI's shareholders because it permits the shareholders an opportunity to capitalize on their long-term investment in the cable system. Nearly all of the shareholders are individuals with small interests in DCI that they have held for many years, some since 1982 when DCI was formed to apply for the cable franchise.

City Council's Authority

The Council, as the local franchising authority, is charged with reviewing the proposed transaction. Two provisions, D.C. Code Section 43-1820 and CFA Section 3.1 1.03 of the CFA, establish the authority of the Council to grant or withhold consent to the proposed transfer of DCI stock to AT&T. These provisions also require the transferor and the transferee to seek consent of the District of Columbia prior to any change in control or transfer of interest exceeding 5%. Hence, DCI and AT&T must seek and receive the consent of the District of Columbia before the proposed transfer of control is consummated.

The Council must review the proposed transaction and make a final decision within an appointed time period or the transaction automatically would be deemed granted. Federal law gives local franchising authorities one hundred-twenty (120) days to consider completed transfer applications. Although the District maintains that the review period will not expire until early January 2000, the District, DCI and AT&T have agreed to complete all required actions by November 22, 1999 to accommodate the time constraints in the agreement between DCI and AT&T.

The Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications' Recommendation

After carefully reviewing the qualifications of the transferee, AT&T, as well as the contents of the completed FCC Form 394 (transfer application) submitted by DCI and AT&T, OCTT recommends that, the Council approve the proposed transfer. OCTT further recommends that, as is customary in such transactions, AT&T and/or DCI be required to reimburse the District of Columbia for all reasonable costs and expenses the District of Columbia incurred for services of third parties (including attorneys and other consultants) in connection with its consideration of the proposed transaction.