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TELECOM from page 5 .............................................. services to libraries and schools, loss of control over These were an amendment to require a build-out PEG channels and PEG support, loss of local control schedule for new video service providers; and an over public rights-of-way, and loss of local revenues amendment to maintain local govemment control of from franchise fees and other local fees and taxes. public rights-of-way and settle public rights-of-way (See "League Concerns with AS 2987," p. 2.) enforcement disputes locally, rather than at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as The bill has been referred to the Assembly Com- the draft bill prescribes. mittee on Utilities and Commerce. No hearing date has been set. A third amendment that sought to maintain current local govemment consumer protection Federal Markup Moves Forward mechanisms was withdrawn when the Republican committee leadership committed to work on similar In Washington D.C., the League worked with other language in the measure as it moves to markup at local govemment organizations to push for amend- the full committee level. ments to similar concerns identified with the draft federal measure. (See "Initial Concerns with the Next Steps for the Federal Draft Legislation 'Communications, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006,'" located at www.cacities.orgltelecom.) While these amendments were not successful at the subcommittee markup, another opportunity to Two Califomians are on the subcommittee present similar amendments during the full commit- marking up the measure: Representatives George tee markup remains. The League continues to Radanovich (R-Fresno) and Anna Eshoo (D-Palo work with Califomia members on the committee Alto). Supporting concerns raised by local govem- (Reps. Waxman, Eshoo, Radanovich, Capps, ments, Congresswoman Eshoo offered an amend- Bono and Solis) and the national local government ment during the committee mark up to clarify that groups to refine these amendments and seek their providers of "Intemet protocol" video service (IPlY), adoption in the full committee markup, which is such as A T& T, would be included in the bill along with expected to occur later this month. cable video service. What Cities Can Do This issue became a focal point of the markup, as AT&T had submitted a letter (posted on the League's Both Califomia legislators and members of website at www.cacities.orgltelecorn) to Committee Congress are heading back to their districts for their Ranking Member John Dingell (D-Mich..), asserting respective spring breaks: the Califomia Legislature that the company's new enhanced intemet/video for one week (April 10 -14), and Congress for two service does om qualify as a cable service under weeks (April 10 - 21). City officials are encouraged current law or under the Republican draft measure - to call their legislators and members of Congress leaving the company free to pursue its own contract and talk to them about cities' concerns with the arrangements to provide service outside the frame- pending telecommunications legislation in the state work of the new federal proposal. Legislature (AB 2987 - Nunez) and in Congress. Congresswoman Eshoo's amendment was To access background materials, a sample defeated after committee Chairman Joe Barton (R- letter, talking points and other advocacy tools, Texas) maintained that the language adopted in the please visit the League's Telecom page at Republican committee draft included IPTV as a cable www.cacities.orgltelecom. You can write letters service, despite AT&T's insistence otherwise. online at the League's online Advocacy Center (WWW.cacities.org/advocacv). The subcommittee went on to defeat two other amendments supported by local govemment groups. Continued on Page 7 PAGE 6 . PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org April 7, 2006 . Issue #14