HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 3029
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RESOLUTION.NO. 3029
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION
OF LOCAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER CABLE
TELEVISION SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the Cable Communications Acts of 1984
restricted states' and local governments' abilities to
regulate the Cable Television Industry directly; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the Cable Communica-
tions Act of 1984, concentrations of ownership amounting to
monopolies have increased among cable television operations
through that Act was intended to "promote competition in cable
communications and minimize unnecessary regulations that
impose undue economic burden on cable systems", and
WHEREAS, municipalities throughout the nation,
including this one have been subjected to substantial rate
increases, ervice reductions, and programming changes that do
not reflect consumers' needs or the original intentions of
their franchise agreements; and
WHEREAS, more than half of the nations' households and
more than 40 percent of the residents of the City subscribe to
cable, and television is increasingly becoming the main means
of access to information and entertainment; and
WHEREAS, cable subscribers in this City have been
subjected to rate increases of over 40 percent over the past
four years, as well as increases in the costs of remote
control units, late fee charges, elimination of Senior
Citizens rates, and installations; and
WHEREAS, cable television is rapidly being priced
beyond the reach of lower income people, including families
with children, and the elderly who are particularly in need of
information and other services that are available solely
through cable television; and
WHEREAS, the diversity of information services promised
by the 1984 Cable Communications Act has failed to
materialize; and
WHEREAS, the promise of universal service similarly has
not been fulfilled; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 3029
PAGE TWO
WHEREAS, existing law provides the City and other
franchising authorities no authority to control or question
the imposition by cable franchisees of exorbitant rates upon
cities whose rights-of-way have been placed at the companies'
disposal by virtue of the grant of franchises; and
WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has adopted
policies in favor of increasing local governments' cable
regulatory authority and in favor of more competition in the
provision of cable television services to consumers; and
WHEREAS, legislation that is now pending in the
Congress seeks comprehensive changes in the Cable
Communications Act of 1984.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council
of the City of Mounds View declares its support for the
restoration of local regulatory authority over cable
television systems.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Congress of the United
States should rewrite the Cable Communications Policy Act of
1984 with particular focus on reregulation of subscriber
rates, allowance of telephone company provision of cable
service under the circumstances that respect local government
authority, system ownership transfers, the impact of vertical
integration in the cable industry, and other aspects of the
Act that directly impact local regulation and consumers;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of
Mounds View urges congressional action for appropriate federal
legislation to restore local authority over cable systems to
eliminate the barriers to competition, and to rectify other
aspects of the 1984 Act that work to disfavor cable consumers.
Adopted this 23 day of April, 1990.
ATTEST:
(SEAL)