HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2005-10-24 Item 4A - Resolution - Oppose National Telecommunications Legislation CO UNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
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ITEM INFORMATION
CAS NUMBER. 05-137 I ORIGINAL'AGENDA DATE. 10/ 24/05
AGENDA I'T'EM TITLE A Resolution Opposing National Telecommunications Legislation
CATEGORY Discussion Motion Resolution Ordinance ['Bid Award Public Hearing Other
illtg Date rlitg Date llig Date 10/24/05 dl Date illtg Date Mt; Date Mfg Date
SPONSOR Council M Adm Svcs DCD Finance Fire Legal P&R Police PII'/
SPONSOR'S Proposals in Congress would have a detrimental effect on Tukwila if they were passed.
SUMMARY This resolution opposes legislation that would threaten city regulation of our own rights of
way, and also legislation that would form a national cable /video franchise.
REVIEWED BY COW ivltg CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte Transportation Cmte
Utihties Cmte Arts Comm. Parks Comm. Planning Comm.
DATE. 10/10/05
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR/ADMIN Pass the resolution
COMMITTEE Transportation Committee recommended resolution to Council
COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
Fund Source:
Comments
MTG. DATE RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
I 10/24/05
MTG. DATE ATTACHMENTS
10/24/05 Memo from L. Lauterbach dated 10/19/05
Draft resolution
To'
CIty CouncIl
From
Lucy Lauterbach
Date.
October 19, 2005
Subject:
Resolution Opposing National Legislation
This year the Congress IS consIdenng re-wntmg the TelecommunicatIOns bIll that wIll govern
telecommumcations in the country for the next several years The first proposals that would be
portIOns ofthe larger bIll If passed by both Houses m vVashmgton, D.C. have been introduced m
the both the House and the Senate. Fortunately each ofthe two bIlls only has the support of theIr
sponsor m the House and the Senate. That often indIcates there IS not strong bIpartIsan support
for the bIlls, but that could change m the coming weeks, dependmg on what Congress hears from
cItIzens.
The effect of the two bills already mtroduced would be to allow one company to serve the entire
country (includmg cItIes like TukwIla) wIth cable/vIdeo servIce, and to gIve the authonty for
regulatmg CIty nghts of way to the compames who would use them.
Jim Haggerton has lobbIed Senators and House members on telecommumcations recently, and
he can explam the fight cIties wIll have .battlmg the telecommumcations giants like Venzon and
Comcast who have one of the strongest lobbies m D.C.
The resolutIOn on the following page attempts to clanfy the CIty'S posItIon on
telecommumcations' franchising and the use of our nghts of ways.
Sending this to our congressional delegatIOn would send a message that cItIes like TukwIla do
care about thIS Issue and want to make a statement.
If you approve the resolution, It can be sent to the Regular Meetmg for approval.
[IDrn&~tr
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, OPPOSING A NATIONAL FRANCHISING PROCESS,
AND OPPOSING LEGISLATION THAT REMOVES THE ABILITY OF
INDIVIDUAL CmES TO REGULATE THEIR RIGHTS-OF-WAY.
WHEREAS, national legislation has been introduced in HR-3146/SR-1349 to create
a national cable/video franchise, thereby bypassing the local franchising process; and
WHEREAS, SR-1504, the Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act, has
been introduced in an attempt to abrogate cities' ability to regulate their rights-of-way;
and
WHEREAS, Tukwila has consistently processed franchise agreements within 120
days, and usually in less time, which refutes the assertion that national regulation is
necessary due to lengthy franchise processing time by individual cities; and
WHEREAS, Tukwila encourages open competition for services provided by fiber
optic lines in our rights-of-way, and believes that competition and coordination among
several providers is beneficial to our citizens, and
WHEREAS, these and similar bills would not only eliminate all current cable
franchising authority, but would also threaten cities' current use of cable lines for traffic
signals and municipal public safety; and
WHEREAS, these bills would eliminate any build-out requirements, which could
result in bypassing poor neighborhoods when installing future cable services; and
WHEREAS, the Tukwila City Council believes that cities should have the ability to
provide communications services, including internet, cable and telephone services, for
the benefit of local citizenry and economic development purposes without undue
interference from the Federal government;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. All federal legislation that limits and abrogates cities' use of its rights-of-
way would be detrimental to the City of Tukwila, and should be opposed.
Section 2. We urge our congressional delegation to oppose bills that remove cities'
ability to regulate their rights-of-way, and bills that would require cities to
accommodate industry being the sole provider of cable and video in their rights-of-way
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this _ day of
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED'
OF TUKWILA,
,2005.
Pamela Linder, Council President
Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY
Office of the City Attorney
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council.
Resolution Number
C:\Docuw.ents and Settings\AJI Users\DeskIO?\Kelly\~i5DA T A \ResoJuLions\Oppos:e Natiooal Fnnchi5ing.d~
LU= 10/20/2005
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