CC PACKET 04101990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I ( � A � • � �' � Volurr�B,N ..bar 3 IThe Nallorel ) MAY- AssaclaUott Of I - JUNE 1989 • Teleeotrin fd:atlona I O"rs I I and AMors q j r An Alfiltoto of the National League I \ I ' of Cl Wes I ��YY.CLf•i�t, .-r Legislating Volgy CABLE ` 1s 6 Congressional Testifies r Debate Begins: Bills Hit for Cities by Catharine Rice With a flurry of activity,a yL„ a major debate on regulatory On April 12,1989,Mayor policy for the cable Industry has Thomas J.Volgy testified on been kicked oft In Congress. behalf of NLC and USCM during Three places of legislation have hearings on the anticompetitive ^' e. been Introduced which are nature of the cable Industry. ��' ' designed to provide titles and This hearing was held by ;. towns with broad new regulatory Senator Metzenbaum,Chair, authority and Increase compell- Senafe subcommittee on anti- lion,and more bills are trust,monopolies and business expected In the next taw weeks. rights.What follows are ;(•F Sen.Howard Metzenbaum excerpts from testimony sub- z r, _ (DOhlo),Chairman of the milted by Mayor Volgy as well ; Senate Judiciary Committee's • as other representatives from subcommittee On antitrust, the media field. '.' monopolies end business rights, s Introduced two bills(S.833 and y S.834)on April 18 which are Intended to check the monopoly Mr.Chairman: t power of cable companies.Just I want to thank you for this ��- two weeks later,Son.Joseph opportunity to testify before Lieberman(D-Conn.)Introduced you and the Committee on the a bill(S.905)that would repeal vital telecommunications rate deregulation In Its entirety. It to A)Thomas J.Mooney,mayor.Tucson,Arizona and Re Christopher Shays Intro- the former you h considering.f th Nati As Mayor Pro-Tom,Soul N.Romlrer,Jr..Laredo,Teres testily c p y L a former Cheer Of the mmuni- on behalf of cities during Senator Metzsnbaum's hearings. (H.R. companion 22)In t e House.As League o1 Cities Telecommunl• (H.R.2222)In the House.As cations and Transportation NATOA News went to press, Steering Committee,as the introduction of legislation on present chair of the Conference the question of telephone com- of Mayors'Telecommunications Telecommunications Act of consumers of telecommunica• pany entry Into the cable busl- Committee and the Chair of Its 1984,1 am extremely encour- lions. ness was anticipated. new Task Force on Telecom- aged by your Interest,Mr.Chair- Senate Bill 66 promised us municatlons and Telco's,and as man,and that of the committee, competition Instead of regula• The Metzenbaum B))ie one of the original negotiators In this vital area of public tlon.Today we have neither.In Citing the fact that 99 percent representing the titles on Fed- policy fact,what we have today Is a of the nation's cable sub• eral legislation leading to the At stake Is something as (continued on page q (continued on Page M crucial as freedom of speech In the electronic age.At stake is something as crucial as access to a technology which can National League of Cities Institute Fly pass rase Also In Improve the quality of our lives 1301 Pennsylvania Ave.,NW end which can Improve the Washington.DC 20004 Para This Issue: economic well-being of our cite- Westafgton•be zens.At stake are the rights of �iMN0.>ar consumers In a monopolistic Plvideni's fetter...........2 market. Freedom of speech Is guaran- I.egidative k Legal Affairs teed not only to those who can r Hearings Highlights.........5 afford It,but to rich and poor MN=rnMum Stn!! alike.Contractual commitments ! I Y