CCP 03-17-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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--- 03/11/94 13:41 NSAC/NSCC 002 ..,.:::~.... '1--.. _./~". ACTION ALERT . .../' ~~l _:.. _.~ ~, " ~&., "" ...... "~:.:...';.. '~... . :j.'N .....,.,~ ~I'.'..~:...~ ",." . ~ ... '7." -<~i' <:,~;~.*. .:.~. r j '--<_::..(::"W .......< ' '<v"- The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors !vi affiliate of the Notiooolleague of Cities ~ March 8, 1994 Congress is now seriously considerinalegislation to allow telephone companies to enter the cable market without a local franchise. Local oMcials must act now to safeguard our communities. interests. The House Telecommunications Subcommittee has passed H.R. 3636, which has no fr~nchising requirement for teloos providing cable. While H.R. 3636 would pennit a local government to impose a fee, even that provision would not match the franchise fee obligation of cable companies. The full House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to act on H.R. 3636 . as early as next week! The bill then will go to the House floor for action. The Senate Commerce Committee is now holding hearings on S. 1822, which appears to require a franchise for teIeos providing cable but is silent on whether video diallone service would need a franchise. While S. 1822 is therefore far superior to the House bill in that regard, there will be efforts to weaken it as the process moves forward. The Clinton Administration supports teleo entry into the cable market without a franchise. Even more alarming, a White House position paper recommends relieving cable companies of their franchise obligations in most instances. In the rush to unleash the telephone companies and promote competition, many Washington officials are ignoring the community needs and interests protected by tJle franchising system. IF LOCAL OFFICIALS DO NOT ACT NOW, CONGRESS MAY SOON PASS, AND THE PRESIDENT MAY SIGN, LEGISLATION TO PREEMPT LOCAL JURISDICTION AND ALLOW USE OF RlGlITS-OF-WAY WITH NO COMMUNITY OBLIGATIONS. You should immediately brief local elected officials in your area and urge them to communicate as soon as possible with your Senators and Representatives. Personal meetings or telephone call.s are better than letters. . The key points to make are: . Telephone companies should be subject to the same obligations as cable companies, a level playing field. . Telephone companies should not object to making the same commitments to the community as cable companies.