Agenda Packets - 1992/04/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RESOLUTION NO. 4224 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA A RESOLUTION URGING THE MINNESOTA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO CO- SPONSOR AND SUPPORT CABLE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD PROVIDE CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR CABLE TELEVISION SUBSCRIBERS, PRESERVE COMMUNITY TELEVISION CHANNELS AND FUNDING SUPPORT, AND PROTECT THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO CONTROL AND MANAGE ITS PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF- WAY WHEREAS, THE 1984 Cable Act deregulated cable subscriber rates in over 90% of the cable systems in the United States; and WHEREAS, the economics of cable television, like those of local telephone and electric service, do not favor head-to- head competition between cable companies, thereby creating a de facto monopoly even when franchises are non-exclusive; and WHEREAS, subscriber rates have increased dramatically, far higher than the annual rate of inflation, since the enactment of the 1984 Cable Act; and WHEREAS, proposed alternatives to the cable company monopoly, telephone entry into the cable business and direct broadcast satellites, have no provisions for community television channels or funding for public, educational or government access; and WHEREAS, _the_Federahommunications _Commission_has issued a ruling favoring Video Dialtone Service, which would allow telephone companies to provide television services without having to request a franchise to use the public rights-of-way from the local government's authority to control and manage this valuable piece of public property; and WHEREAS, local regulatory cable commissions and local governments are not protected from legal claims challenging local regulation contemplated by applicable federal, state or local law or franchise; and WHEREAS, H.R. 3560, which was introduced by Congressmen Eckart and Cooper, contains provisions that clearly represent consumer interests and better balance the regulation of cable television services; and