HomeMy WebLinkAbout99-042
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CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 99-42
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO REMOVE
LOCAL AUTHORITY OF FRANCHISED CABLE COMPANIES
WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills has been granted the legal authority to negotiate, award and
regulate cable television franchises under both federal Statute, Title 6 and Minnesota State
Statute, Chapter 238; and
WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills accepted the responsibility that comes with the awarding of
the cable television franchise, including ensuring that the cable company meets the identified
needs of the community such as community television and institutional networks and serving as
a local resource to resolving customer service issues; and
WHEREAS, state legislation has been proposed that would repeal Chapter 238 and revoke the
City's authority to award a cable television franchise, eliminate the City as a local resource to its
citizens for resolving customer service issues, and remove the City's ability to receive direct
support for community television and other provisions that meet community needs; and
WHEREAS, it has not been demonstrated by any means that local governments' role in cable
franchising impedes in any manner the ability of cable and telecommunications companies to
offer full and competitive services; and
WHEREAS, while the City of Arden Hills acknowledges the regulatory challenge of addressing
the convergence of voice, video and data services, local governments are essential to any
legislative discourse in this area and must retain authority to ensure continued local support for
its community;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arden Hills,
Minnesota that the City must retain its authority to franchise companies providing cable
television services and is, absent any acceptable alternatives, hereby opposed to any legislation
that would revoke this authority and that it further asserts its constitutional rights to retain its
local authority to cnter into contracts to serve its community.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OP-;,tJIE qtYOF ARDEN HILLS
THIS 29th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1999. ,/,',};:t:;)~ . '/,.~/ " //
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ATTEST: DENNIS PRcKBST, MAYOR