HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 91-12 RESOLUTION NO. R91-12
A Resolution of the Gity Council of the City
of Friendswood, Texas, urging the Congress
of the United States to revise the Cable
Communication Policy Act of 1984, and
expressing general concern about the need
for greater local government regulatory
authority.
* * * � * * * * * * *
WHEREAS, the Cable Communications Act of 1984 restrieted
states and local gavernments abilities to regulate
the cable television industry directly; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the Cable Communication Act of
1984, concentrations of ownership amounting to
monopolies have increased among cable aperators,
even though the Act was intended to promote
competition in cable communications and minimize
unnecessary regulations that impose undue ecanomic
burden on cable systems; and
WHEREAS, municipalities throughout the nation, including
Friendswood, have been subject to substantial rate
increases, reductions in service and programs
changes that do not reflect consumers needs or the
original intentions of their franchise agreements;
and
WHEREAS, more than half of the nations households, and more
than 4405 of residents of Friendswood subscribe to
cable, and cable television is increasingly
becoming the main means of access of information
and entertainment; and
WHEREAS, cable subscribers in Friendswood have been
subjected to rate increases of 264 percent over the
past 11 years, as well as increases in the costs of
converters, installation and premium services.
WHEREAS, cable television is rapidly being priced beyond the
reach of lower income people, including families
with children and the elderly, who particularly in
need of information and other services that are
available solely through cable television; and
WHEREAS, the diversity of information services pramised by
the 1984 Cable Communications Act has failed to
materialize; and
AGENDA 1TEM
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proved Denied
WHEREAS, the promise of universal service, has nat been
fulfilled; and
WHEREAS, existing law provides this City and other
franchising authorities no authority ta control or
question the imposition by cable franchises of
exorbitant rates upon citizens whose rights-of-way
have been placed at the companies' disposal by
virtue of the grant of franchises; and
WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has adopted policies
in favor of increasing local governments' cable
regulatory authority and in favor of more
competition in the provision af cable television
service to consumers; and
WHEREAS, legislation that is now pending in the Congress
seeks comprehensive charges in the Cable
Communications Act of 1984.
NOW, THEREF�RE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD, THAT:
Section 1. The Friendswood City Council declares it' s
support for the restoration of local
regulatory authority over cable television
systems.
Section 2. The Congress of the United States shQUld
rewrite the Cable Communications Palicy Act
of 1984, with particular favor on
reregulation of subscriber notes, allowance
of telephone company provision of cable
service under circumstances that respect
local government authority, system
ownership transfers, the impact of vertical
integration in the cable industry, and
other aspects of the Act that directly
impact local regulation and cansumers.
Section 3 . The Friendswood City Council urges
congressianal action for appropriate
federal legislation to restore lost
authority over cable systems, to eliminate
the barriers to competition, and ta rectify
other aspects, of the 1984 Act that work to
disfavor cable consumers.
.
PASSED, APPROVED AND RESOLVED THIS THE 18th day of March,
1991.
yor Paul W. Schrader
ATTES :
Q/t-�
De ris Archer, C
City 5ecretary
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