HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 2005-417CITY OF PLYMOUTH
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-417
SUPPORTING CONTINUED AUTHORITY OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT REGARDING FRANCHISING OF CABLE SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City of Plymouth, Minnesota (herein "City") through its City Council
adopts this Resolution to express its concern about proposals coming before Congress that will
adversely affect the ability of local governments to continue to franchise cable services; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Cities of Plymouth, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal,
Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, and Robbinsdale created a joint consortium
known as the Northwest Suburbs Cable Communications Commission (herein "NWSCCC")
approximately twenty (20) years ago to streamline cable television administration in our area and
to ensure that the needs and interests of each member city was represented in regard to the initial
development, installation and continued operation of cable television through our cities' public
rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, NWSCCC has proven to be an effective, efficient model for developing and
administering cable franchises, addressing concerns about the use of public right-of-way, and
handling customer service issues; and
WHEREAS, NWSCCC has developed a national standard for providing local
programming that promotes civic involvement, public awareness of community news and events
via public, educational and government cable channels; and
WHEREAS, NWSCCC has provided each member city with the tools to efficiently
televise city meetings, and provide citizens with gavel -to -gavel coverage and easy access to their
local government officials and the decision-making process; and
WHEREAS, by providing gavel -to -gavel coverage of local government meetings and
local news, NWSCCC has promoted openness and accountability, a key ingredient to successful
government and strong communities; and
WHEREAS, the NWSCCC has advised the City of recent proposals which Congress is
considering that would change the role of local governments in granting cable franchises and
negotiating franchise agreements with local cable operators that meet the unique needs and
interests of communities; and
WHEREAS, on behalf of the City and other communities that are part of the NWSCCC,
the NWSCCC has written to Congressional members requesting help with the preservation of
local control, a copy of which letter is attached; and
WHEREAS, because Congress is giving increasing consideration to principles that
threaten the interest of the City and other members of the NWSCCC as well as cities throughout
the country, the City believes that through this Resolution now is the time for local government
to take a stand to protect the local authority and it is absolutely essential for Congressional
representatives to fully understand the importance of retaining the current stricture of local
franchising authority, which has proven itself to be an effective system for governing the
utilization of public rights-of-way by private industry offering cable and related services; and has
spawned an important local communications tool; and
WHEREAS, many communities throughout the country, including the City and the other
members of the NWSCCC consortium, expended substantial sums to negotiate franchises that
ensure that local needs are met, including the development of local community programs and
televised public meetings of community interest; and
WHEREAS NWSCCC and its member cities have worked diligently with cable service
providers to offer service to all citizens within the franchise area without regard to location or
income status; and
WHEREAS, certain Congressional legislation has the potential to destroy these
community benefits, robbing communities of rightful sources of revenue for utilization of public
right-of-way, and
WHEREAS, the proposals under consideration would eliminate the ability of the City
and other NWSCCC cities to:
• Cablecast city meetings,
• Replace aging cable television equipment;
• Provide the award-winning local newscasts and community programming
covering our franchise area;
• Offer public access facilities for to allow citizens to produce local, community -
oriented and diverse programming services; and
• Ensure that all citizens of the community are offered access to cable television
regardless of their income status or location.
NOW, THEREFORE, in a regular meeting assembled of the City, it is resolved as
follows:
1. That the City hereby vigorously opposes any federal legislation that will reduce
the right of local governments to approve and administer franchised cable services; to charge
reasonable franchise fees for the use of the right-of-way; to establish benefit requirements
including public, educational, and governmental access channels, including funding, facilities,
and equipment for such channels; and to require dedicated capacity or institutional network
systems for educational and governmental purposes.
2. That representatives serving the City and each of the Member Cities of the
NWSCCC, within the United States Senate and House of Representatives be made aware of this
Resolution, and that they be invited to confer with community leaders to become better informed
on the special needs and interests of the City and other Member Cities of the NWSCCC, and to
commit to fight against any form of legislation that will reduce the rights of localities with regard
to local franchising and cable system administration and enforcement.
3. That a copy of this Resolution shall be provided to each of the Member Cities that
is part of the NWSCCC and shall be also through a certified copy delivered immediately after its
passage to the members of the U.S. Congress serving this City.
Adopted by the Plymouth City Council on November 8, 2005.