HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-11-13 89-444 RESOLVE09-444
Assigned to Councilor Scented, November 13, 1989
s,- - CITY OF BANGOR
QITLEJQgOav y. Restoration of Local Regulatory Authority
Over Local Cable Television Systems
By res City Courwil acne Oly of Basaw.
WHEREAS, The Cable Communications Act of 1984 restricted
states'. and local governments' abilities to
regulate the cable television industry directly;
and
WHEREAS, Since the passage of the Cable Communications Act
of 1984, concentrations of ownership amounting to
monopolies have increased among cable operators,
even though that Act was intended to "promote
competition in cable communications and minimize
unnecessary regulations that impose undue
economic burden on cable systems;" and
WHEREAS, Municipalities throughout the nation, including
the City of Bangor, have been subjected to
substantial rate increases, service reductions,
and programming changes that do not always
reflect consumers' eeds or the original
intentions oftheir franchise agreements; and
WHEREAS, More than half of the nation's households, and a
substantial number of the residents of this City
subscribe to cable, and cable television i
increasingly becoming the main means of access to
information and entertainment; and
WHEREAS, Existing law provides this City and other
franchising authorities no authority to control
or question the imposition by cable franchises of
exorbitant rates upon citizens whose
rights-of-way have been placed at the companies'
disposal by virture of the grant of franchises;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City of Bangor declares
its support for the restoration of local
regulatory authority over cable television
systems; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED TEAT, the City of Bangor urges
Congressional action for appropriate federal
legislation to restore local authority over cable
systems, to eliminate the barriers to
competition, and to rectify other aspects of the
1984 Act that work to disfavor cable consumers.
89-444
IN CIn COUNCIL R E S 0 L V E
November 13, 1989 '
Passed
Restoration of Local Regulatory
6117 c ERK a. iy ore yea Sion systems
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