94-1076 Council File # `+4 — 07(
Green Sheet #
RESOLUTION
CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
Presented B 0�
Y LZ / /�
Referred To Committee: Date
A Resolution requesting Senators Wellston and Durenberger
maintain local government's franchising authority
when telephone companies provide cable service.
1 WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul serves a vital role as trustee of the public
2 right -of -way for the benefit of the citizens and taxpayers of Saint Paul, and
3
4 WHEREAS, the City Saint Paul ex�rcises that role by entering into franchise agreements
5 with any entity that wishes to use t e public right -of -way, and
6
7 WHEREAS, the many franchise agreements the City has entered into contain clauses
8 which protect the public interest including things such as construction standards,
9 indemnification conditions, obligations to restore the public right -of -way and consumer
10 protection provisions, and
11
12 WHEREAS, the many franchise a eement cover the cost for the City to administer,
13 negotiate and enforce the agreeme t, and
14
15 WHEREAS, in the case of the cab a franchise for the City of Saint Paul, there contains
16 public access requirements that pr 'de citizens and community organizations the
17 opportunity to share in video broa casting, and participate in telecommunications
18 activities for purposes of sharing i ormation and ideas, thereby promoting a diversity of
19 viewpoints in the electronic marke lace, and
20
21 WHEREAS, the Saint Paul cable franchise provides the public an opportunity to view
22 the City Council public hearings and legislative deliberations, and
23
24 WHEREAS, the cumulative value f the public benefit guaranteed by the cable franchise
25 agreement to the City is approxim tely 1 million dollars a year, and
26
27 WHEREAS, current technology h evolved to such an extent that the telephone
28 companies are capable of offering he same services that cable companies offer, and
29
30 WHEREAS, since local governme is currently have no franchising authority over
31 telephone companies, there is a re 1 risk that the Saint Paul cable franchise will become
32 obsolete if the telephone compani s are allowed to provide video cable -like services
33 without local franchises, and
1 WHEREAS, the United States Senate is considering a bill, S 1822, that recognizes that
2 local governments should continue to play an important role in developing the nation's
3 information infrastructure,
4
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVE , that the City of Saint Paul urges Senator Wellston
6 and Senator Durenberger to SUPP RT the local franchise provisions in Section 501 of S
7 1822 , and
8 1
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, t at the Senators amend those provisions to clearly
10 state that telephone companies pro 'ding cable service are subject to the same local
11 public interest obligations to which able operators are subject.
Yea, Na s Ab--nt
Blakey ✓ Y Requested by Department of:
Harris �j
Grimm ✓ _____,e__ Guerin
Me and ✓
Reitman
Thune ly By:
ii a. 1 ,
Form Approved by City Attorney
Adopted by Council: Date ° � `'�
l
Adoption Certified by Counci S etary By: ..a-....A•!..• 4 _x -,_
By: IL e Approved b Mayor for Submission to
Council
Approved by M . li � : Date SOW
i _ i, l 4 By:
E
DEPART 1ll/I1i9P' � QUl fiL 7 /27 / , , DAMP INITIATED N ° 2 ✓ 2 5
i1 / / GREENSHEET 1
CONTACT PERSON & PHONE Q rl DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ED CITY COUNCIL
Tony a 26641 AS!'3N CITY ATTORNEY Crry CLERK FOR MUST BE ON COUNCIL AGENDA BY (DATE) Row NG [J BUDGET DIRECTOR ED FIN. & MOT. SERVICES DIR.
ORER E3 MAYOR (OR ASSISTANT) ED
TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES (CLIF ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE)
ACTION REQUESTED:
Resolution urging the United States SeLators from Minnesota to protect local government tlranc
authority.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Approve (A) ar Re$ect(R) PIRSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
_ PLANNING COMMISSION _ CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 1. Has this person/firm ever worked under a contract for this department?
CIB COMMITTEE _ YES NO #
STAFF 2 Has this person /firm ever been a city employee?
YES NO
DISTRICT COURT 3 Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally possessed by any current city employee?
SUPPORTS WHICH COUNCIL OBJECTIVE? YES NO
E`plain all yes answers on separate *heat and attach to green attest
INITIATING PROBLEM. ISSUE, OPPORTUNITY (Who, Whet, When, Where, Why
The United States Senate is considering legislation that could make the Saint Paul Cable franc
obsolete,
l
i
ADvANTAlifteFetertif Saint Paul will have a voice in the debate over this issue.
DISADVAp jar ezi APPROVED:
i
DISADVANTAGES IF NOT APPROVED:
The City of Saint Paul may lose any read control over the public right -of -way that has a potential
of benefits of 1 million dollars a year. I
TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION $ COST /REVENUE BUDGETED (CIRCLE ONE) YES NO
FUNDING SOURCE ACTIVITY NUMBER
FINANCIAL INFORMATION: (EXPLAIN)