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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 91-65 CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS RESOLUTION 91-65 BEING A RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT OF THE CABLE CONSUHER COMPETITIVENESS ACT, HR 3560, AND URGING At~RNDHENTS TO THE CABLE TV CONSU'HER PROTECTION ACT, S. 12 ~HEREAS, the City of Columbia HeiEhts, Nin-esota, stron§ly supports competition within the cable industry and the authority of cities to re§ulate local cable operators; WHEREAS, the Cable Consumer Competitiveness Act, HR 3560, would help cities restrain cable industry abuses which include rapidly rising rate increases, inadequate customer service, and retiering of cable channels and services; thus, encouraging competition within the cable industry and helping cities deal with unreasonable rate hikes and poor customer service; WHEREAS, the Cable TV Consumer Protection Act, S. 12, currently contains features which are not acceptable, including prohibiting cities from refusing to award additional franchises, and prohibiting local cable operators from lowering rates in portions of the franchise area where there is competition while refusing to lower rates in areas where there is no competition; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, to urge its congressional representatives to: 1) Support amendments to the Cable TV Consumer Protection Act, S. 12, to restore a more appropriate balance on behalf of City cable customers and City authority to regulate rates and determine whether to award multiple franchises. 2) Support the Cable Consumer Competitiveness Act, HR 3560, providing for: A. Local regulation of basic cable service; B. Redefinition of basic service to mean retransmission of local broadcast stations, PEG channels, or any other programming other than nonadvertiser supported programming on per channel or per program basis; C. Stringent minimum customer service standards--with authority for cities to exceed FCC standards; D. Local authority to deny franchise renewal for failure to provide adequate service and/or noncompliance with franchise requirements; E. Grant of immunity from damages for cities in claims challenging local rate regulation; F. City authority to award competing franchises while allowing local government to deny unreasonable requests for cable franchises; G. Local authority to exceed FCC (minimum) technical standards; H. Local broadcast must carry requirements for cable operators; I. Equipment compatibility standards to make it possible to use cable-ready televisions, VCRs, commercial converters, and remote control devices; J. Mandated access to programming and cable channels by independent program- mers. Passed this 6th day of November, 1991. Offered by: Ruettimann Seconded by: Peterson Roll call: Ail Ayes Date of passage: November 6, 1991 Wil~am J. Elrite, Secretary Pro-Tem Edward M. C~lson,-Mayor