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<br />WHEREAS, statewide cable franchising in other states has not resulted in <br />vigorous wireline video competition, lower prices, improved customer service or the <br />widespread deployment of advanced broadband networks; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City does not believe amendments to Chapter 238 are needed to <br />promote competition at this time, and that any such amendments could. among other <br />things, destroy PEG access facilities and programming thereby eliminating a primary <br />source of media diversity, result in forced access to public rights-of-way, eliminate local <br />government authority to ensure that advanced services and networks are widely available, <br />reduce or eliminate bargained for compensation for the use of local public rights-of-way, <br />cause local cable-related needs and interests to go unmet, impair existing local <br />government contracts with cable operators and cause the quality of service to decrease. <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of <br />Minnesota that: <br /> <br />1. The City will support efforts directed against unwarranted amendments to <br />Chapter 238 of Minnesota Statutes; and <br /> <br />2. The City urges the Minnesota Legislature and its appropriate committees <br />in the strongest possible manner to oppose any effort to amend Chapter 238 of Minnesota <br />Statutes at this time; and <br /> <br />3. Local cable franchising should be maintained, consistent with applicable <br />law, as a proven means of ensuring that local cable-related needs and interests are met, <br />protecting consumer interests, public safety, public rights-of-way and public property, <br />promoting meaningful multichannel video competition and ensuring that broadband <br />networks and advanced services are available throughout Minnesota communities, to the <br />maximum extent feasible and consistent with applicable law; and <br /> <br />4. Existing compensation for the use of public rights-of-way, including <br />franchise fees, financial and in-kind PEG support, PEG channel capacity and institutional <br />networks, must be preserved, and local governments must retain the authority to adjust <br />such compensation, as needed, to satisfy local needs and interests; and <br /> <br />5. Copies of this Resolution shall be distributed to the leadership of the <br />Minnesota Legislature and the state legislators representing the City; and <br /> <br />6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. <br /> <br />Passed and adopted this _ day of <br /> <br />. 2008. <br /> <br />CITY OF <br /> <br />,MINNESOTA <br /> <br />2 <br />