Lake Elmo workshop hears case for broadband franchise to expand access, customer protections

At a Lake Elmo City Council workshop on April 14, 2026, representatives of the Ramsey Washington Suburban Cable Commission (SEC) and consultant Mike Bradley presented broadband franchising as a tool to secure buildout, consumer protections and public benefits for the city.

Mary Klene, production and content manager for the SEC, told the council the commission's revenues have fallen and that local franchising offers a way to modernize funding. "We've seen a 43% decrease in revenue, and we simply need to modernize our funding model," Klene said, describing the commission's role in recording meetings, helping residents with operator complaints and coordinating technical support across nine member cities, including Lake Elmo.

Bradley, who advised the council on franchise terms used by nearby South Washington County and Woodbury, said local franchise agreements can require buildout timelines, provide dark fiber or service to municipal buildings, and include customer-service and penalty provisions. "The future of franchising really is in broadband," he said, adding that "a franchise is a really unique document. It's an ordinance and it's a contract."

Key provisions discussed included a typical five-year negotiated buildout in neighboring agreements, liquidated-damage penalties for franchise violations, customer-service complaint channels routed to the local franchising authority (the SEC in Lake Elmo's region), and a negotiated senior and disabled discount required by some franchises. Bradley said the commission and recent franchise agreements chose a 5% franchise fee to match existing cable-fee parity, while noting state and federal rules differ by service type.

Council members asked whether franchising would cover both new construction and existing providers, how complaints and repairs would be routed, whether franchise fees would be passed to subscribers, and whether companies might refuse to build. Bradley said franchises generally apply to all broadband providers that fall under the "cable communication system" definition being asserted by some cities; he warned of two main risks: potential litigation over local authority, and a company choosing not to build in a given city. "If they want to bring that to court, okay," he said, advising cities to check insurance coverage for litigation risk.

Several council members expressed support for pursuing the option while asking staff to analyze risks and next steps. One council member pressed for clarity on the senior/disabled discount and how eligibility would be defined; Bradley said the detail is negotiable and was intentionally left general in examples shown to the council. Council direction at the workshop was to have staff work with Bradley and SEC representatives on next steps and return with an application and recommended timeline; staff also said they would involve the city attorney and the city's risk/insurance contacts before any formal franchise notice is published.

What happens next: Staff will coordinate with SEC and Bradley on a draft franchise application and return to the council for further direction. No formal motion or vote was taken at the workshop.