Agenda Packets - 1987/09/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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GLP-19. Joint Powers Act (C) In conducting a review of the currant act, the League urges the Governor's Advisory Council on State -Local Relations or the Lecislature to consider the policy behind establishing such boards and the need to encourage cooperation between governmental units. The main goal of the study should be to encourage the use and establishment of joint power boards. GLP-20. Cable Communications (C) The League supoorts continua ion of the existing Minnesota Statutes chapter 238. Cities in Minnesota enjoy among the most modern and technically sound cable communications systems in the world, due to strong partnerships and commitments among cable operators and federal, state, and local governments. These relationships are defined at the federal level by the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, at the state level by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 238, and at the local level by local cable franchise ordinances. In 1985, the Minnesota Legislature abolished the Minnesota Cable Communications Board, an appointed body of the Department of Administration which promulgated and enforced Minnesota Statutes Chapter 238 and its accompanying rules. This legislation codified some previously existing board rules into statutory form and reassigned responsibility for the enforcement of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 238 from the board to the commissioner of commerce. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 238, in its present form, is very important to local governments because it protects cities rights to enforce local standards and cable operator commitments for technical, construction, and programming performance. No changes should be made to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 238 until a th-)rough and coop3rative effort involving local and stag, government and cable operators is completed. Such an effort should include analysis of present federal and state law and contemporaneous judicial and business environments. - 32- V