10-20 - 03-16 - support for communit access preservation act
Resolution 10-20
March 16,2010
Member Pentel introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA STATING
SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY ACCESS PRESERVATION ACT (HR 3745)
WHEREAS, the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota is the official governing
body elected to preserve and protect the best welfare and interest of the City and its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, public, educational and government (PEG) channels playa significant
role in Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels are a unique and valuable resource for local information
and discourse for the residents of Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels televise local government meetings, including City
Council, Planning Commission, city board and school board meetings, so that citizens are
informed about the actions taken by local elected officials; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels contribute to the democratic process by providing
opportunities for candidates and others, such as the League of Women Voters, to discuss
local issues during election campaigns; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels provide a window through which residents can view the
diversity of cultures, recreational activities and artistic endeavors in their local community;
and
WHEREAS, PEG channels reflect the unique identity of the communities they serve;
and
WHEREAS, City of Golden Valley, Minnesota hereby vigorously opposes any
federal legislation that will reduce the right of local governments to establish benefit
requirements including public, educational, and governmental access channels, including
funding, facilities, and equipment for such channels; and to require dedicated capacity or
institutional network systems for educational and governmental purposes; and
WHEREAS, City of Golden Valley, Minnesota will support efforts directed against
legislative change to ensure that all persons residing in the City will have unfettered access
to all forms of information resources in the broadest range of rights and interests to ensure
that those that use public rights-of-way and benefit from the use of public rights-of-way are
continued to be obligated to provide compensation in the form of public, educational, and
governmental access channels and funding, and other support services for PEG Access
Channels as well as ongoing community needs requirements notwithstanding technological
changes or advancements; and
Resolution 10-20 - Continued
March 16,2010
WHEREAS, the intent of the Act is to make clear that the definition of "cable service"
under the Cable Act is applicable to all forms of technologies that make video programming
available by land lines to subscribers enabling the rightful authority of local governments to
ensure uniform treatment of providers of video services within their community; and
WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that PEG Access channels continue to be
available to the entire community to serve the residents of Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, HR 3745, the Community Access Preservation Act, addresses critical
and immediate threats to PEG Access.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
The City Council supports immediate passage of HR 3745; and
The City Council calls on our Congressional delegation to take all possible actions in
support of the passage of HR 3745, including, but not limited to, endorsing, co-sponsoring
and voting for HR 3745, and to work for its rapid passage.
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Linda R. Loomis, Mayor
ATTEST:
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Member Scanlon
and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Freiberg, Loomis,
Pentel, Scanlon and Shaffer; and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon
said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor and her
signature attested by the City Clerk.