The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About106-06 RESOLUTION• RESOLUTION NO. 106-06 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL TELEVISION CABLE FRANCHISING AUTHORITY AND IN OPPOSITION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION REDUCING LOCAL AUTHORITY WHEREAS, bills have been introduced into the 109th Congress of the United States that would prevent the City of Fayetteville from requiring providers of cable and video services that use City rights-of-way from having to obtain a franchise from the City and thus prevent the City from meeting local community needs; and WHEREAS, under the guise of public choice and increased competition, these bills would nationalize franchising, setting a course toward preemption of all local authority over the provision of cable and video services within the community; and WHEREAS, these bills would reduce or eliminate financial and technical support that is critical to the City of Fayetteville for the creation of local programs through public, educational and governmental access; and WHEREAS, these bills eliminate any build -out requirements for any video service provider, thereby allowing providers to discriminate based on the wealth of the local neighborhoods they choose to serve; and WHEREAS, these bills would deprive Fayetteville residents of the ability to address issues locally by removing to the state and federal government all customer service issues, transferring local enforcement of franchise issues to the federal bureaucracies and courts; and WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville supports competition, diversity and localism in media with a level playing field where everyone plays by the same rules to accomplish those goals; 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, under existing law telephone companies are free to enter the video market today as common carriers, as open video service providers, or under the same local franchising framework as cable companies; 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 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby urges the Arkansas Congressional Delegation and all other members of Congress to oppose Senate Bill S. 2686 and House Bill H.R. 5252. PASSED and APPROVED this 6th day of June, 2006. APPROVED. By: DAN COOD , Mayor ATTEST: By ,r`•��R <111.9 JTREA /, oc F9SG. `c�A •. •G\S Y OE% 4:0 U • • •A E :FAYETTEVILLE; "si•, :` ,-- 9iQkANs>co w i cisigTipult000 S 1 NDRA SMITH, City Clerk ALDERMAN AGENDA REQUEST FORM • FOR: COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 6, 2006 /04 In gppor V Local Cablt -rat ill (514 j FROM: ALDERMAN BRENDA THIEL ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TITLE AND SUBJECT: A Resolution In Support Of Local Television Cable Franchising Authority And In Opposition To Federal Legislation Reducing Local Authority APPROVED FO . GENDA: Bren Alderman a hie! /, City Attorney (as to form) , D to 06-66-06 Date a RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL TELEVISION CABLE FRANCHISING AUTHORITY AND IN OPPOSITION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION REDUCING LOCAL AUTHORITY WHEREAS, bills have been introduced into the 109th Congress of the United States that would prevent the City of Fayetteville from requiring providers of cable and video services that use City rights-of-way from having to obtain a franchise from the City and thus prevent the City from meeting local community needs; and WHEREAS, under the guise of public choice and increased competition, these bills would nationalize franchising, setting a course toward preemption of all local authority over the provision of cable and video services within the community; and WHEREAS, these bills would reduce or eliminate financial and technical support that is critical to the City of Fayetteville for the creation of local programs through public, educational and governmental access, and WHEREAS, these bills eliminate any build -out requirements for any video service provider, thereby allowing providers to discriminate based on the wealth of the local neighborhoods they choose to serve, and WHEREAS, these bills would deprive Fayetteville residents of the ability to address issues locally by removing to the state and federal government all customer service issues, transferring local enforcement of franchise issues to the federal bureaucracies and courts; and WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville supports competition, diversity and localism in media with a level playing field where everyone plays by the same rules to accomplish those goals; 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, under existing law telephone companies are free to enter the video market today as common carriers, as open video service providers, or under the same local franchising framework as cable companies; 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 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby urges the Arkansas Congressional Delegation and all other members of Congress to oppose Senate Bill S. 2686 and House Bill H.R. 5252. PASSED and APPROVED this 6th day of June, 2006. ATTEST: By: SONDRA SMITH, City Clerk APPROVED: By: DAN COODY, Mayor Clarice Pearman - Re: resolution. s - Page 1 From: Sondra Smith To: Thomas, Susan Date: 6.13.06 11:40AM Subject: Re: resolution. I do not think the Mayor has signed the Resolutions and Ordinances. When we get it signed we will forward a copy to you to send to our Congressional delegation. Sondra Smith City Clerk City of Fayetteville 113 West Mountain Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 (479) 718-7695 (Fax) ssm ith@ci.fayetteville. ar. us »> Susan Thomas 06/13/06 10:57 AM >» the resolution that Brenda added to the agenda last week on Franchise fees which passed included a clause that it be forwarded to our Congressional delegation. Do we have a final signed copy of that yet? Will your office forward that, or should I? Thanks for your help. Susan CC: Pearman, Clarice • 4 Clarice Pearman - Res. 106-06 Page 1 From: Clarice Pearman To: Thomas, Susan Date: 6.15.06 11:45AM Subject: Res. 106-06 Susan: Attached is a copy of the resolution passed by City Council regarding the support of franchising authority. Thanks. Have a good day. Clarice • From: Clarice Pearman To: Brenda Date: 6.15.06 6:09PM Subject: Res. 106-06 Alderman Thiel, Attached is a copy of the above resolution. I have forwarded it to Susan Thomas for passing on to the appropriate person. Thanks. Clarice rClarice Pearman - Res. 106-06 Page 1 From: Clarice Pearman To: Brenda Date: 6.15.06 6:09PM Subject: Res. 106-06 Alderman Thiel, Attached is a copy of the above resolution. I have forwarded it to Susan Thomas for passing on to the appropriate person. Thanks. Clarice ta)TtVile THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS June 19,2006 The Hon. John Boozman United States Representative 213 W. Monroe Suite K Lowell, AR 72745 Dear Representative Boozman, • On June 6, 2006 the City of Fayetteville Council passed Resolution 106-06 in opposition of Federal legislation that limits municipal control of local franchise agreements. I strongly encourage you to not support S 2686, Communications Consumer's Chore & Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 or HR 5252, Communications Opportunity Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006. The citizens of Fayetteville are grateful to have a Representative who is committed to protecting the best interests of our state and our communities. As always, I thank you for your service and hope that you will call on me if I can ever be of assistance to you or your staff. Sincerely, Dan Coody Mayor • 113 WEST MOUNTAIN 72701 479-575-8330 FAX 479-575-8257 HntertilIe THE CITY OF FAVETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS June 19, 2006 The Hon. Blanche Lincoln Senator 912 W. Fourth Street Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Senator Lincoln, • On June 6, 2006 the City of Fayetteville Council passed Resolution 106-06 in opposition of Federal legislation that limits municipal control of local franchise agreements. I strongly encourage you to not support S 2686, Communications Consumer's Chore & Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 or HR 5252, Communications Opportunity Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006. The citizens of Fayetteville are grateful to have a Senator who is committed to protecting the best interests of our state and our communities. As always, I thank you for your service and hope that you will call on me if I can ever be of assistance to you or your staff. Sine an Coody Mayor 113 WEST MOUNTAIN 72701 479576-6330 FAX 479.676-8257 • • • • connyeesr tete THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS June 19, 2006 The Hon. Mark Pryor Senator 700 W. Capitol Federal Building Room 2527 Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Senator Pryor, On June 6, 2006 the City of Fayetteville Council passed Resolution 106-06 in opposition of Federal legislation that limits municipal control of local franchise agreements. I strongly encourage you to not support S 2686, Communications Consumer's Chore & Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 or HR 5252, Communications Opportunity Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006. The citizens of Fayetteville are grateful to have a Senator who is committed to protecting the best interests of our state and our communities. As always, I thank you for your service and hope that you will call on me if I can ever be of assistance to you or your staff. Sincerely, an Coody Mayor t 113 WEST MOUNTAIN 72701 479-5754330 FAX 479-576-8257 •