The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reached an agreement on Sept. 23, with cable provider Cox Communications laying out specific steps the company has to make to live up to its franchise obligations.
Under the agreements, Cox has to complete 92 percent of its Home Subscriber Network by Aug. 31, 2003, and 95 percent of the HSN by Sept. 30, 2003. The company also has to measure progress of the upgrade regularly and reach certain quarterly goals.
Cox will also place $2,000 a day into an escrow account until the upgrade is 95 percent complete. If the company meets its goals, the money in the account will be returned.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cox will also complete all of the installation of a fiber network connecting county and public school facilities by May 31, 2003. An additional 39 county and school sites will also be wired by Aug. 31, 2003, at the cost of the company. Until the network is 95 percent complete, the company will deduct $271,673 from the county’s purchase price for the network.
The company also agreed not to pass on the additional costs of the deductions and the escrow fund to its subscribers.
Referendum Information
Fairfax County will produce and distribute pamphlets informing voters of the three local referendums on the ballot this November. The explanation is to be “in plain English” and will not address the four statewide referendums also on the ballot this November.
The three local referendums will ask voters about raising the sales tax by 0.5 percent to pay for transportation improvements, about issuing $20 million in bonds for parks and about issuing $60 million in bonds for public safety facilities. The county expects printing the pamphlets will cost less than $1,500.