HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 6829RESOLUTION N0.6829
CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CABLE AND VIDEO PROVIDER
FRANCHISING
WHEREAS, the City of Mounds View is committed to ensuring that all of its
citizens have access to the most technologically advanced broadband services
available in the marketplace today as a means to ensure the competitiveness of
the City, as well as its corporate and individual citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City, by means of the local cable franchising process, has
obtained commitments to meet the cable-related needs and interests of the
community, including full access to a wide array of video and broadband services
for all citizens of the City; public, educational and government access channels;
financial support for facilities and equipment for the production of programming;
free cable services to schools and governmental facilities, and an Institutional
• Network and other services that support important government, educational, and
public interests; and
WHEREAS, in Congress, bills have either been introduced or drafted and
discussed in committee that would hinder or preclude the City from requiring
providers of cable and video services that use City rights-of--way to fully meet
local community needs; and
WHEREAS, these bills - HR 5252 and S 2686 -would effectively nationalize the
franchising of video services, setting a course toward preemption of all local
authority over the provision of cable and video services within the community;
and
WHEREAS, HR 5252 and S 2686 would reduce the funding support for public,
educational and government access services provided by the North Suburban
Access Corporation/CTV North Suburbs by 80%, lowering its income from $1
million to $218,000, thereby decreasing the ability of the community to produce
programs about local issues, people, organizations and activities; and
WHEREAS, HR 5252 and S 2686 would eliminate any build-out requirements for
any video service provider, thereby allowing providers to cherrypick the City's
most lucrative neighborhoods while leaving others unserved; and
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WHEREAS, HR 5252 and S 2686 would permit companies that may not be
financially, legally, or technically qualified to get a license or franchise to build
and operate a cable systems m the City's public rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, HR 5252 and S 2686 would deprive City residents of the ability to
address issues locally by removing to the state and federal government all
customer service issues and transferring local enforcement of franchise issues to
the federal bureaucracies and courts; and
WHEREAS, HR 5252 and S 2686 would threaten the ability of the City to
manage its public rights-of-way by allowing video service providers with a
national license or new cable franchise to appeal the City's regulations to the
Federal Communications Commission; and
WHEREAS, local cable franchising allows for cities and towns around the country
to exercise local authority, decision-making and consumer protection, to establish
and support commercial-free community television, and to receive franchise fees
that private companies pay as compensation for their use of local public rights-of-
way; and
WHEREAS, the City objects to legislation that creates a subsidy to the
telecommunications industry at the expense of the City's taxpayers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The City Council of The City of
Mounds View:
That the City is opposed to federal legislation that:
1. Pre-empts the local franchising process;
2. Limits the City's ability to negotiate local franchises that enable the
community to obtain commitments to meet the cable-related needs
and interests of the community,
3. Voids existing cable franchises;
4. Limits or preempts the City's ability to require any entity that is
issued a video provider franchise to fully build out a franchise area
such that said services are equally available to all residents in the
franchise area; and
5. Limits or preempts the ability of the City to manage its public rights-
of-way in the best interest of its corporate and individual residents.
That the City, for the reasons stated above, urges the Minnesota Congressional
Delegation and all other members of Congress to oppose HR 5252 and S 2686
and any other bills promoting national franchising and preferential treatment of
providers of cable and video services entering the market and to support
legislation that encourages fair competition to all areas of the City and that does
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not reduce the compensation paid by franchised cable operators, including the
funding of public, educational and governmental access television.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council directs that this Resolution be
forwarded immediately to the members of the Minnesota Congressional
Delegation, State Legislators and other members of Congress and House of
Representatives as deemed appropriate.
Adopted this 22nd day of May 2006.
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Rob Marty, Mayor
ATTEST:
,r"~ ~-.
Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator
(seal}
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