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Home My WebLink AboutM-82-09130 A TO Howard V. Gary City Manager CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM �R�:• lark Mer ill • Assistant to the City Manager Intergovernmental Affairs DATE October 6, 1982 FILE SU 9JE C.1 Request for Transfer of Taft Broadcastinc Company's Ownership Interest in Cable Television License REFERENCES ENCLOSURES Letter from Taft Broadcasting Company's Attorney "It is recommended that the attached Resolution transferring the Taft Broadcasting Company's ownership interest in the Miami Cable Television License to Tele-Communications Cable Company be presented to the City Commission for its approval." Under the terms of the Miami Cable Television License Ordinance and the Federal Communications Commission Rules, the City's Cable Licensee is prohibited from holding any beneficial ownership in a television broadcast station whose signals are carried on the cable system on a regular basis. Taft Broadcasting Company has entered into an agreement to purchase a Miami Television Station and is required by Section 205 of the City of Miami's Cable Television License and the Federal Telecommunications Commission, to divest itself of interest in the Miami Cable Television License. Presently, Taft Cable Company (an affiliate of Taft Broadcasting Company), and Tele-Communications Cable Company (an affiliate of Tele-Communications,Inc.), are equal partners in TCI-Taft Cablevision Associates and owns an 800v voting share and equity share in Miami Tele-Communications, Inc., which has been awarded the Miami Cable Television License jointly with Americable of Greater Miami, Ltd. No local owners are involved in this transfer of ownership interest. The letter from Taft Broadcasting Company's attorney requesting the City's approval of this transfer is attached for review and additional information. CM/mmm Encl. 0 C b LAW OFFICES OF PAU L, LAN DY, B El LEY, HAR PER & ROSCRT PAUL 6VRTON A. LANOT ►CTCR H.►4001 ISOM STANItT A.6EILCT OCORGC R.NARPER LAWNCNCE R.►eCTSCM TCRRANC E J. MULLIN ROSCIlT M.SONOAK JAM C! A. NAyStR G CRALO G. PAUL• - WENDYR.ANDCRSON ENRI000 ARROYO LAWRENCE S.6EN RICMARD C.8ftOoSKY 6TEVCN R.BROWNSTEIN MARTIN J.00NAUER aCOTT LOotN FORRCST 0.MeSURDY MARTI A.ROTMEN/CRG ALVIN ROVER• • ADM ITTEO IN NCW PORK ONLY RECEIVED INTERGOVERNMENTAL M ETSrdVf;SP. A. .ENTMOUSE,PENINSULA FEDERAL oU1lD1��2 SEP 29 a� Il•'S 200 SOUTHEAST FIRST STREET 1'j/ Mr. Howard Gary City Manager Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida 33133 MIAM11 FLORIOA 33131 TEL. (306) 365.9300 • CABLE "PAULAN" TELEX E1-9466 September 27, 1982 NEW YORK OFFICE MORRISON, PAUL i HCILEY I10 EAST so" STREET NCW YORK, N.Y, 10011t TEL.(21!) 593-0100 CASK "MORRPAUL' TELtx 64.0612 CJ N/� C-t C • �1 f-n G � li •. -O r r, 0 r- Re: Miami Cablevision Our File No. 81-7301 Dear Howard: On behalf of Taft Broadcasting Company, this is to advise you that Taft Broadcasting Company has entered into an agreement in principle to purchase a television station in Miami, Florida. Taft Cable Company, an affiliate of Taft Broadcasting Company, is .a 50% general partner of TCI-Taft Cablevision Associates ("Associates") , which In turn is an 80% shareholder of Miami Tele-Communications, Inc. Miami Tele-Communications, inc. is one of the joint licensees ("Licensee") for the Miami cable television license issued pursuant to Ordinance No. 9332 of the City of Miami ("Ordinance"). Under the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission and under Section 205 of the Ordinance, a stockholder of a Licensee is prohibited from having a direct or Indirect interest in a local television station. Accordingly, it is necessary for Taft Cable Company to sell its one-half partnership interest in Associates (such interest constitutes a 40% interest in Miami Tele-Communications, Inc.). Tele-Communications Cable Company, an affiliate of Tele- Communications, Inc. and the other 50% partner of Associates, has, subject to City of Miami approval, agreed to purchase Taft Cable Company's interest in Associates. Section 204(e) of the Ordinance requires that the City of Miami approve any change in control in a Licensee. Under the definition contained in such Section a transfer of Taft Cable Company's interest . to Tele- Communications Cable Company would constitute such a change In control. The only matter remaining to be completed before such transfer can be fully consummated is the approval of the City of Miami. Accordingly, Taft Cable Company and Tele-Communications Cable Company hereby formally request that the City of TO: MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION L� F. Y. 1. TRANSMITTAL DATE._____/Q� h Page 2 Miami approve the sale of Taft Cable Company's 50% general partnership•. interest in Associates to Tele-Communications Cable Company. In connection with this request, I would like to point out that Tele-Communications Cable Company has already been approved as a qualified licensee for purposes of the Miami cable television license by virtue of the original award of the cable television license to the joint venture consisting of Miami Tele-Communications, Inc. and Americable of Greater Miami, Ltd. It should also be noted that Tele-Communications Cable Company has been the active partner in this partnership and has represented Miami Tele- Communications, Inc. in connection with its dealings with the City. Finally, since neither of the companies involved are local companies the proposed transfer would have no effect on local ownership of the cable television venture. Because of the time pressures involved in this matter I would appreciate it if you would take all steps which are necessary to secure the formal approval of the proposed transfer described above as soon as possible. 1 thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter. Very truly yours, DLA3x cc: Paul Alden Charles Lindberg George Castrucci PAUL, LANDY, BEILEY, HARPER & METSCH, P.A. Martin J. Genauer PAUL, LANDY, PEILFY, RAPPER s mn'seH. P A. I