AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date:           July 28, 2008

From:                          Kevin Cochrane, Manager – Communications Utility            

Subject:                      Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 02-74 pertaining to Telecommunications Services, removing reference to “dial-up internet service”        

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends adoption of the amendment to remove “dial-up Internet service” from the existing ordinance.

Analysis:

Ordinance 02-74 created a new Chapter 22, Article V, Division 7 of the Code of Ordinances entitled “Telecommunications Services” to provide for the approval of rates to be charged by the City for internet fees and other telecommunications services provided by the City’s Communications Utility. The ordinance includes reference to “dial-up Internet service”.  Staff recommends removing dial-up internet service from our list of ‘Telecommunications Services’ provided by the utility. The customer base for dial-up Internet service provided by the City has diminished during the past four years from a high of approximately 500 customers to less than 175 customers. Technology enhancements, including heavy use of graphics by virtually all web sites, have pushed most users to rely on broadband internet service rather than dial up. There are several private dial up internet providers who offer both service and support for this product, and several advertise at prices lower than the City’s. The difficulty in providing support to our dial up customers has become apparent in the last six months. It has put additional burden on our customer service and IT departments to provide back up support to our supplier, Atlantic.net. Staff recommends terminating the service as of 10/1/2008. Customers will be notified 60 days in advance, and again 30 days in advance of this change. This should leave our customers sufficient time to find and compare various providers’ dial up solutions.

Options:

1.  Approve the amendment to remove ‘dial-up internet service’ from the existing ordinance, or

2.  Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact: 

The City currently realizes annual revenue of approximately $23,310.00 [the revenue number changes monthly as customers drop or add service]. The City pays Atlantic.net 78% of revenue to provide service and telephone support, leaving the City with an annual net of $5,310.00. However, the additional cost to our customer service and IT departments to provide additional back up telephone support makes the actual net to the City considerably smaller.

Submission Date and Time:    7/25/2008 3:48 PM____

Department: IT / Communications Prepared by:  Kevin Cochrane                     Attachments:         Yes  No  X Advertised:   ____Not Required   X                       Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No  X _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. _________JB_______                                    Deputy C.M. _________EFS______                                          Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. 045-0000-343-90.20 Project No. _________________ WF No. ____________________ Budget  ____________________ Available __                   ________

ORDINANCE  NO._______________

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22, ARTICLE V, DIVISION 7 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA PERTAINING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, REMOVING FROM SECTION 22-255 REFERENCE TO "DIAL-UP INTERNET SERVICE"; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

SECTION I.

Existing Chapter 22, Article V, Division 7, Section 22-255 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Leesburg, Florida, is hereby amended in it’s entirety to read as set forth below:

Sec. 22-255 Telecommunications Rate Schedules.

The rates for leasing City owned fiber optic cables, and the rates for T-1 Internet service, fractional T-1 Internet Service, and data transport service provided by the City shall be set and modified as desired by Resolution of the City Commission.

SECTION II.

This ordinance shall become effective October 1, 2008.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the _28th____ day of ___July___ 2008.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________

City Clerk