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nanrT <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (~" <br />Resolution Opposing <br />Legislation at the Federal or State Level to Strip <br />Local Governments' Cable Franchise Authority <br />WHEREAS, County and Municipal governments have the ability to grant cable <br />franchises, and to require that franchises address the community's cable-related <br />needs, as generally governed by the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, it is only through County and municipal cable franchising that true <br />competition without discrimination can be achieved; public, education, and <br />government access can be preserved; cable consumers adequately protected; <br />franchise fees administered uniformly, and the safety of public rights of way <br />monitored; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County stands firmly in favor of competition, covets <br />increased competition and choice for our residents, and abhors the fact that <br />special interests are touting legislative changes an the basis that competition and <br />access have been denied; and <br />WHEREAS, the t),S, House Energy and Commerce Committee is considering <br />legislation that threatens these provisions and would unduly strip local <br />governments' authority to enter into franchising agreements with new video <br />providers, and possibly terminate existing cable franchising agreements; and <br />WHEREAS, the N.C. Revenue Laws Study Committee is considering legislation <br />that would preempt local cable franchising by instituting franchising statewide, <br />replacing "local franchise tax with state tax and imputed fee", and designating "a <br />state agency to receive cable complaints and required adequate public, <br />education, and government channels"; and <br />WHEREAS, Orange County receives approximately $250,000 in annual fees <br />through its cable franchise agreement -funds vital to sustaining general and <br />human services to a growing population -and values its strong tradition of local <br />control and direct accountability on issues of the public interest; <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners is opposed to any legislative proposal at the federal or state level <br />that would weaken, eliminate, or subvert local authority to regulate cable <br />franchising, and calls upon the members of the Orange County's legislative <br />delegation and its delegation to the U,S, Congress to join in vigorous opposition. <br />This the 18~h day of April 2006, <br />Barry Jacobs, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />