HomeMy WebLinkAbout110-14 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 110-14
A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR NET
NEUTRALITY
WHEREAS, the Internet has become an essential tool utilized by the City of Fayetteville
for operations and communications, both internally and externally; and
WHEREAS, reduced access to the Internet could both increase the costs and reduce the
efficiency of the City's ability to communicate effectively with its citizens and for citizens to
communicate with the City; and
WHEREAS, open and non-discriminatory access to the Internet for content providers
and consumers is essential for the free exchange of ideas, open discussion, open and transparent
government, and an informed citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission has issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to address the issue of net neutrality with a sixty day period for public comment and
the City Council desires for its position to be made part of the public record on this issue.
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 expresses
its support for net neutrality and urges the Federal Communications Commission to ensure equal
access by reclassifying broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of the
Communications Act.
PASSED and APPROVED this 17th day of June, 2014.
APPROVED:
IO ELD e+ AN, Mayor
ATTEST:
By:SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer
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City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form
2014-0235
Legistar File ID
6/17/14
City Council Meeting Date -Agenda Item Only
N/A for Non -Agenda Item
Telecommunications Board via Fritz Gisler
Submitted By
Communications & Marketing
Action Recommendation:
Division / Department
Pass a Resolution in support of true Net Neutrality, specifically urging the FCC to assure equal access by reclassifying
broadband providers as common carriers under Title 11 of the Communications Act, and to communicate said Resolution to
the Federal Communications Commission by July 15, 2014, in response to the FCC's "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" FCC
#14-61 and Proceeding No. 14-28 Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet.
Budget Impact:
Account Number
Project Number
Budgeted Item? No
Does item have a cost? No
Fund
Current Budget
Funds Obligated
Current Balance
Item Cost
Budget Adjustment Attached? No Budget Adjustment
Remaining Budget
Project Title
Previous Ordinance or Resolution #
104\k) %41-11I'
Original Contr _ct Number: Approval Date:
Comments.
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V20140314
CITY OF
a' y�ille
MEETING OF JUNE 17, 2014
TO: Mayor and City Council
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO
THRU: Lindsley Smith, Director of Communication
Fritz Gisler, Director of Media Services
FROM: Telecommunications Board
DATE: May 23, 2014
SUBJECT: Net Neutrality and the Federal Communications Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
Pass a Resolution supporting completely open access to the Internet and providing the
Resolution to the Federal Communications Commission.
BACKGROUND:
On January 14, 2014, a Federal Appeals Court struck down the Federal Communications
Commission's rules regarding 'net neutrality', a term coined by Columbia University law
professor Tim Wu.
Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all
data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site,
platform, application, type of attached equipment, or modes of communication.
From an article in the Wall Street Journal, dated January 14, 2014:
"The ruling was a blow to the Obama administration, which has pushed the idea of "net
neutrality." And it sharpened the struggle by the nation's big entertainment and
telecommunications companies to shape the regulation of broadband, now a vital pipeline for tens
of millions of Americans to view video and other media.
For consumers, the ruling could usher in an era of tiered Internet service, in which they get some
content at full speed while other websites appear slower because their owners chose not to pay
up.
,,
On May 15, 2014, the FCC issued a "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" FCC 14-61
(http://www.fcc.gov/document/protecting-and-promoting-open-internet-nprm)
to address the issue of net neutrality. There is now a 60 -day period open to allow comments
from the public to the FCC regarding these proposed rules.
DISCUSSION:
At its May 15, 2014, meeting, The City of Fayetteville Telecommunications Board discussed the
issue of Net Neutrality and the impact that discrimination of access based on content would
have on open and transparent government in general, and specifically in Fayetteville. The
Mailing Address:
113 W. Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Internet (including Web sites, email, alert systems, software systems, data storage, data
exchange, etc.) has become an essential tool utilized by the City of Fayetteville for operations
and communications, both internally and externally. Anything that can have a detrimental effect
on open and non-discriminatory access to the Internet will have far-reaching consequences.
Reduced access to the Internet could both increase the costs and reduce the efficiency of the
City's ability to communicate effectively with its citizens, and they in return.
It is the opinion of the Telecommunications Board that open and non-discriminatory access to
the Internet for both content providers and content consumers is essential for the free exchange
of ideas, open discussion, open and transparent government, and an informed citizenry. We
cannot support a two-tiered Internet with fast lanes that speed the access and messages of the
privileged and leave our citizens, local governments, schools, libraries, and hospitals lagging
behind on dirt roads.
By a unanimous vote at its May 15th meeting, the Telecommunications Board advises the City
Council to pass a Resolution in support of true Net Neutrality, specifically urging the FCC to
assure equal access by reclassifying broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of
the Communications Act, and to communicate said Resolution to the Federal Communications
Commission by July 15, 2014, in response to the FCC's "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" FCC
#14-61 and Proceeding No. 14-28 Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet.
BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT:
None
2
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT FOR NET
NEUTRALITY
WHEREAS, the Internet has become an essential tool utilized by the City of Fayetteville
for operations and communications, both internally and externally; and
WHEREAS, reduced access to the Internet could both increase the costs and reduce the
efficiency of the City's ability to communicate effectively with its citizens and for citizens to
communicate with the City; and
WHEREAS, open and non-discriminatory access to the Internet for content providers
and consumers is essential for the free exchange of ideas, open discussion, open and transparent
government, and an informed citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission has issued a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to address the issue of net neutrality with a sixty day period for public comment and
the City Council desires for its position to be made part of the public record on this issue.
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 expresses
its support for net neutrality and urges the Federal Communications Commission to ensure equal
access by reclassifying broadband providers as common carriers under Title II of the
Communications Act.
PASSED and APPROVED this 17th day of June, 2014.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
By: By:
LIONELD JORDAN, Mayor SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer