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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 16, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5.-U <br />SUBJECT: Opposition to Proposed Federal Legislation To End Local Cable Franchise <br />Fees <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y!N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Background E-mail from <br />The People's Channel <br />Draft Letter to Congressional Delegation <br />& Senate Committee Members <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Gwen Harvey, Assistant County <br />Manager, ext 2300 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To provide information on pending legislation before Congress that would abolish <br />local cable franchise fees and consider a formal letter of opposition from the BOCC, <br />BACKGROUND: Staff has learned through the Triangle .I Cable Consortium consultant, Bob <br />Sepe of Action Audits, that on July 27, Senators Jahn Ensign and Jahn McCain introduced S. <br />1504, the Ensign/McCain Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act, which would <br />abolish cable franchising; reduce cable franchise fees; grant video providers the right to use <br />public rights of way in perpetuity; and potentially abolish all zoning of cellular towers, telephone <br />franchises, and in other ways prevent governmental regulation in the provision of public <br />communication services. <br />Municipalities across the nation are being cautioned to take S, 1504 very seriously and promptly <br />contact the Senate Commerce Committee responsible far drafting the bill to register an <br />opposing view, In Orange County, annual revenues from the cable franchise amount to aver <br />$250,000, and the BOGG is fully aware of extensive negotiations currently underway with the <br />local franchise operator to secure more favorable terms for governmental access programming <br />and service extensions. <br />Bab Sepe has prepared a model letter for Cable Consortium member governments to use to <br />make their concerns and opinions known immediately to Congress, Attached is a background <br />e-mail on the proposed legislation circulated by The People's Channel. Also attached is a draft <br />letter to be signed by the BOCC Chair and forwarded to Representative David Price and <br />Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr as well as the Senate Commerce Committee <br />members, <br />