Agenda Packets - 1995/02/06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I3490 Lexington Avenue North League of Minnesota Cities St. Paul, MN 55126-8044 January 24, 1995 TO: MACTA 1995 Annual Conference FROM: Ann Higgins, IGR Representative League of Minnesota Cities RE: Proposed-Com untcations-ConvergenceAct The League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Association of Cable Television Administrators are working together to propose legislation to respond to the new era in telecommunications and provide a new direction for policy to respond to rapidly changing advances In the delivery of those services. Below is an overview of legislation that LMC and MACTA will present: Overview • Minnesota telecommunications policy and associated legislative efforts have evolved over the century in direct response to rapidly changing advances in the telecommunications industry. Often the industry has led policymakers, demanding response to market-driven needs of an emerging industry. Major policy thrusts included fostering development of the industry, universality of service, and regulation of virtual vendor monopolies, all the while turning over the use of public property to private interests for the purpose of furthering the development of the businesses of these telecommunications providers. Policymakers are now faced with a radically different environment in telecommunications. Competition is a buzz word. Fairly linear telecommunications delivery systems and services such as telegraph and plain old telephone services have given way to daily additions and Introductions of telecommunications.services - all clamoring for visibility and profit, and all still claiming the traditional access to public property for the delivery of the burgeoning new services for the purpose of making a profit. Minnesota Statutes and associated rules in sections 237 and 238 have developed along with the traditional industries. Section 237 has developed in response to Plain Old Telephone, (POTS) service, and Section 238 has developed in response to Plain Old Cable Television (POCS) service. Additionally, these statutes have traditionally been associated with providers, as well as services - 237 associated with phone companies and 238 associated with cable companies. Unfortunately, as new services and technologies have rapidly developed in recent years, traditional providers now have the ability to offer the service of other providers, and policymakers are faced with obvious questions: AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER (612)490.5600 1-800.925-1122 plus your city code TDD(6121490-9038 Fax 612}490.0(1'.