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TELECOM from page 1 ............................................. The proposal was released by Energy and inserted into any federal telecommunications law Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R- reform legislation that the committee moves Texas) shortly after a deal with leading Democrats forward. Her concern was echoed by the commit- on the committee fell through. The decision to move tee and subcommittee's Ranking Members John a Republican draft marked a sharp turn of events, Dingell (D-Mich.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), coming several weeks after five top Republican and who also raised an issue with the bill's proposal to Democratic members of the committee had made authorize the FCC to arbitrate franchise agree- significant progress on a bipartisan agreement. ment violations. The Republican-sponsored draft bill proposes to Municipal broadband deployment was also allow telecommunications operating companies and addressed, with subcommittee member Rick other new entrants into the video service market to Boucher (D-Va.) expressing his support for the obtain national, rather than local, video franchises. draft bill's municipal broadband provision, and New entrants would obtain 10-year national fran- engaging in positive dialogue with Mayor Fellman chises by filing with the Federal Communications on the subject. Commission (FCC). Draft Moves to Mark up Draft Bill Unclear on Several Key Details Committee and subcommittee chairmen Joe The draft is unclear on some details on how the Barton and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) continued to system might operate. Key concerns for local express their desire to move new competitors into government center on the lack of speCific guidance the video service market as soon as possible, and on build-out to serve all areas of a community; assert their belief that their draft proposal could definitions of "gross revenues" for the purpose of accomplish this objective through the creation of a determining franchise fees and support for PEG national franchise system. Chairman Barton aims channels; consumer protection; and enforcement of to move the unnumbered draft bill along quickly, rules on local rights-of-way. (For more information and to mark up the bill at the subcommittee level see "Initial Concerns with the 'Communications, next week. Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006," p. 4.") The League is working with the national local Local Concerns Presented by Colorado Mayor government groups, as well as with California and Committee Members congressional delegation members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, to advance cities' top Local government concerns were presented at priority issues and gain a more detailed under- the hearing by Mayor Ken Fellman of Arvada, Colo., standing of the bill. who provided testimony and served as a witness on behalf of the National League of Cities, the U.S. What Cities Can Do Conference of Mayors and other groups. Mayor Fellman did an outstanding job of presenting infor- City officials are encouraged to call or write mation about local government franchising and their members of Congress, and talk to them offering local government's concerns with the draft about cities' concerns with the shape of telecom- bill. (A copy of the mayor's testimony can be viewed munications regulatory reform. To access back- on the League's Telecom webpage at ground materials, a sample letter, talking points www.cacities.ora/telecom.) and other advocacy tools, please visit the League's Telecom page at www.cacities.ora/ California Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-Los telecom. You can write letters online at the Angeles), a member of the Energy and Commerce League's online Advocacy Center Committee, also demonstrated support for local ()NWW.cacities.org/advocacv). governments' concerns. The congresswoman asked League regional representatives are also that a more comprehensive build-out provision be Continued on Page 7 PAGE 6 - PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Website--www,cacities.org March 31, 2006 - Issue #13 ~.- .