11-22-1999 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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SAMPLE RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of has been granted the legal authority to negotiate, award and regulate cable television franchises under both federal statute Title 6 and Minnesota State statute Chapter 238; and WHEREAS, the City of accepted the responsibility that comes with the awarding of the cable television franchise, including ensuring that the cable company meets the identified needs of the community such as community television and institutional networks and serving as a local resource to resolving customer service issues; and WHEREAS, state legislation has been proposed that would repeal Chapter 238 and revoke the City's authority to award a cable television franchise, eliminate the City as a local resource to its citizens for resolving customer service issues, and remove the City's ability to receive direct support for community television and other provisions that meet community needs; and WHEREAS, it has not been demonstrated by any means that local governments' role in cable franchising impedes in any manner the ability of cable and telecommunications companies to offer full and competitive services; and WHEREAS, while the City of acknowledges the regulatory challenge of addressing the convergence of voice, video and data services, local governments are essential to any legislative discourse in this area and must retain authority to ensure continued local support for its community; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of must retain its authority to franchise companies providing cable television services and is hereby opposed to any legislation that would revoke this authority and that it further asserts its Constitutional rights to retain its local authority to enter into contracts to serve its community. Page 82