HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 20-052 IN SUPPORT OF THE PROTECTING COMMUNITY TELEVISION ACTCITY OF ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 20-052
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
THE PROTECTING COMMUNITY TELEVISION ACT
WHEREAS, the City of St. Anthony is a member of the North Suburban
Communications Commission (the "Commission"), a Joint Powers Commission organized
pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 471.59, as amended, and includes the municipalities of Arden Hills,
Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, Roseville
and St. Anthony, Minnesota (collectively the "Member Cities");
WHEREAS, the Commission negotiates and manages the cable franchises agreements of
the Member Cities and operates North Suburban Access Corporation (doing business as CTV
North Suburbs), a local community public educational and governmental ("PEG") access facility
on behalf of the Member Cities;
WHEREAS, CTV North Suburbs provides coverage of local events, such as local high
school sporting events and most government meetings that local broadcast stations (i.e. WCCO,
KSTP, KMSP, and KARE) typically will not cover, and, in light of a rapidly decreasing print
media, as CTV North Suburbs is the principal, and may soon be the sole, source for local
residents to have access to coverage of local events;
WHEREAS, CTV North Suburbs is funded through franchise fee and PEG fee revenues
negotiated in the cable franchise agreements;
WHEREAS, the Member Cities require, as part of the cable franchise agreements, that
cable companies meet demonstrated community needs by providing non -monetary in -kind
contributions that benefit the Member Cities, local schools, public safety buildings, as well as
CTV North Suburbs ;
WHEREAS, in 1984 Congress defined a franchise fee as a "tax, fee, or assessment" and,
for the past 35 years, it has been solely a monetary fee;
WHEREAS, last year the FCC departed from the clear language of the Cable Act and
ruled that a franchise fee is both a monetary and non -monetary fee and permits cable companies
to unilaterally assign a value to the non -monetary in -kind contributions and then subtract that
amount from the franchise fees the cable operator pays the local community;
WHEREAS, the FCC order results in decreased vital funding to the Member Cities and
CTV North Suburbs;
WHEREAS, the Protect Community Television Act (currently S. 3218/HR 5659) has
been introduced in Congress and its goal is to maintain the status quo by reversing the FCC order
and allowing franchise fees to be calculated as they have been for over 35 years as monetary
only fees; and
WHEREAS, this legislation is supported by the National League of Cities, the U.S.
Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, the Minnesota League of Cities,
and NATOA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City calls on Congress to pass
legislation, such as the Protect Community Television Act, which would undo the FCC's action;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City urges all House members and Senators
from Minnesota to cosponsor the Protect Community Television Act; and
Adopted this 26th day of May, 2020.
ATTEST:
Nicole Miller, City Clerk
Review for Administration:
Randy Stille,1Vlayor
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Mark Casey, City Mana
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