Number
110370
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Resolution supporting the Community Access Preservation Act of 2011.
Analysis
This resolution supports the Community Access Preservation Act of 2011 (H.R. 1746) and urges Wisconsin's Congressional delegation to take all actions in support of the immediate passage of this bill.
Body
Whereas, U.S. Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) introduced the Community Access Presentation (CAP) Act of 2011 (H.R. 1746) to address severe challenges faced by public, educational and government (PEG) access channels; and
Whereas, PEG channels permit governments, schools, individuals and groups to provide and receive information about local events, emergencies and issues; and
Whereas, PEG channels also encourage the creation of local programming by civic groups and non-profit organizations, cover government and school meetings, and promote local interest and civic engagement; and
Whereas, PEG channels play a significant role in the City of Milwaukee and provide a unique and valuable resource for local information and discourse for the residents of the City; and
Whereas, Historically, the number of channels and amount of funding dedicated to PEG TV was negotiated as part of local cable franchise agreements between the cable companies and local governments, with each community determining its own programming interests; and
Whereas, It is important to preserve PEG channels and funding for PEG channels from cable providers, and to ensure that PEG channels continue to be available to the entire community to serve the residents of the City; and
Whereas, Recent state-level franchise laws in many states have jeopardized the continued viability and existence of PEG channels to the point that communities and consumers in certain states, including Wisconsin, will lose all future funding for PEG channels under current franchising laws; and
Whereas, The CAP Act restores and provides a permanent funding source for PEG operations by ensuring that PEG channels receive the greatest of: (1) the historical level of support received prior to the enactment of state franchising laws; (2) the amount required under current franchising laws; or (3) up to 2% of the gross revenues of the cable operator; and
Whereas, Under the CAP Act, municipalities would be permitted to use PEG fees for any PEG purpose, including both capital and operating expenses; and
Whereas, The CAP Act further requires that cable operators provide at least the greater of: 1) the number of channels that were provided prior to state franchising legislation; or 2) up to 3 channels; and
Whereas, The CAP Act reaffirms that cable operators shall deliver PEG channels to subscribers without additional charges and "without degradation and without altering or removing content or data" and such channels shall be viewable "by every subscriber of the cable system without additional service or equipment chargesÂ…"; now, therefore be it
Revolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council supports the Community Access Preservation Act of 2011 (H.R. 1746) and urges Wisconsin's Congressional delegation to take all actions in support of the immediate passage of this bill; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to each member of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
Teodros W. Medhin/sd
LRB 128627-1
6/28/2011