AgdaPkt 2006-07-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Municipal Groups Achieve Some Important Amendments Several key improvements to the bill were achieved by the League and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), working with the National League of Cities (NLC), National Association of Counties (NAOC), the U.S, Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NA TOA) and other national municipal groups. These include amendments strengthening local control ot local rights otway, protecting local franchise fees, and preserving "PEG" (public, education and government) access channels and their funding. In addition, we understand that several important provisions were adopted by Sen, Stevens as part of his manager's amendment, which resulted from discussions with the national local government groups. Those changes included increasing from 75 to 90 days the amount of time that cities would have to negotiate with new video providers before the contract applies; allowing cities to collect monies on fees already paid by cable operators; requiring AT&Ts Internet television service to be subject to new franchising requirements; and ensuring that localities not lose existing public-access channels and institution networks. The amendment was accepted by voice vote. No Build..out Provisions The most contentious video-franchising amendment - deciding whether new video service providers should be required to build out their service to all neighborhoods within their franchise area - was ultimately rejected by the committee by a 12-10 vote. The League had worked closely with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and Sen. Barbara Boxer's office on the amendment, which would have required newcomers to deploy video services in phases. The obligation would have started as soon as a new entrant offered video service to 15 percent of a given franchise area, Once the company had met that threshold, it would have had to offer service to a further 20 percent of homes every two years until all households are reached. California cities should thank Sen. Boxer for her tremendous efforts in spearheading this issue. The League and CSAC sent a June 23 letter (a copy can be accessed at www.cacities.orQ/telecom) to the senator endorsing the amendment. The amendment was supported by all of the committee's Democrats and Republican Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). The committee's rejection of this amendment leaves the bill with NO build-out requirements. Key Troublesome Amendments for CitIes Adopted The committee also adopted, by a 19-3 tally, an amendment offered by Sen. George Allen (R- Va.) that would permanently extend the moratorium on Internet taxes. In addition, the committee also adopted an amendment by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would place a three-year moratorium on all new cell phone taxes. In a key point for Texas and other states which have recently adopted statewide cable franchise laws, the committee rejected an amendment that would have "grandfatheredU state franchise laws recently adopted in Texas and several other states. It now appears that H.R. 5252 would pre- empt those laws. Net Neutrality Remains Contentious Issue The most controversial item in the bill is the issue of network neutrality, Sen. Ron Wyden (D- Ore,) has stated that he will place a hold on the bill, preventing a vote until the issue is resolved. The thorny topic dealing with whether high-speed Internet operators should be able to charge content providers more for premium treatment may result in significantly more discussions occurring on this bill than the sponsors intend. 9A Page 12 4