HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-041 Council Resolution•
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CITY OF LINO LAKES
RESOLUTION NO. 20-41
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE
PROTECT COMMUNITY TELEVISION ACT
WHEREAS, the City of Lino Lakes is a member of the North Metro Telecommunications
Commission (the "Commission"), a Joint Powers Commission organized pursuant to Minn. Stat.
§ 471.59, as amended, and includes the municipalities of Ham Lake, Spring Lake Park, Blaine,
Lexington, Circle Pines, Centerville and Lino Lakes, Minnesota (collectively the "Member
Cities"); and
WHEREAS, the Commission negotiates and manages the cable franchises agreements of the
Member Cities and operates North Metro TV, the local community public educational and
governmental ("PEG") access facility on behalf of the Member Cities; and
WHEREAS, North Metro TV provides coverage of local events, such as local high school
sporting events and most government meetings that local broadcast stations (i.e. WCCO, KSTP,
KMSP, and KARE) typically will not cover, and in light of a rapidly decreasing print media,
North Metro TV is the principal, and may soon be the sole, source for local residents to have
access to coverage of local events; and
WHEREAS, North Metro TV is funded through franchise fee and PEG fee revenues negotiated
in the cable franchise agreements; and
WHEREAS, the Member Cities require, as part of the cable franchise agreements, that cable
companies meet demonstrated community needs by providing non -monetary in -kind
contributions that benefit the Member Cities, local schools, public safety buildings, as well as
North Metro TV; and
WHEREAS, in 1984 Congress defined a franchise fee as a "tax, fee, or assessment" and, for the
past 35 years, it has been solely a monetary fee; and
WHEREAS, last year the FCC departed from the clear language of the Cable Act and ruled that
a franchise fee is both a monetary and non -monetary fee and permits cable companies to
unilaterally assign a value to the non -monetary in -kind contributions and then subtract that
amount from the franchise fees the cable operator pays the local community; and
WHEREAS, the FCC order results in decreased vital funding to the Member Cities and North
Metro TV; and
WHEREAS, the Protect Community Television Act (currently S. 3218/HR 5659) has been
introduced in Congress and its goal is to maintain the status quo by reversing the FCC order and
allowing franchise fees to be calculated as they have been for over 35 years as monetary only
fees; and
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WHEREAS, this legislation is supported by the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference
of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, the Minnesota League of Cities, and NATOA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lino Lakes
calls on Congress to pass legislation, such as the Protect Community Television Act, which
would undo the FCC's action; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City urges all House members and Senators from
Minnesota to cosponsor the Protect Community Television Act.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lino Lakes this 27th day of April 2020.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Councilmember
Stoesz and was duly seconded by Councilmember Cavegn and upon vote being taken thereon, the
following voted in favor thereof:
Stoesz, Cavegn, Ruhland, Lyden, Rafferty
The following voted against same:
None P"•
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Rcc7afferty, Mayor
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