Sponsor
Aldermen Anderson, DeHahn, Fair, Friedel, Hart, Helding, Hermes, Kaplan, Karas, Maack, Shakoor, Sollman, Spangenberg, Weidner and Wisneski
Title
Video Franchising Resolution
Whereas, on March 27, two legislative committees held a hearing on AB 207 and SB 107, bills aimed at bringing video competition to Wisconsin consumers - at the cost to Wisconsin citizens of local consumer protections, local public access channels and local regulation; and
Whereas, video competition will be coming to Milwaukee without AB 207 or SB 107, thanks to an interim agreement in a lawsuit against AT&T; and
Whereas, the communities of Amherst, Abrams, Cochrane, Coon Valley, Cameron, Cable, Hillsboro, La Valle, Camp Douglas, Oxford, Blue River, Union, Westby, La Crosse, Mount Horeb and Strum already enjoy video competition without AB 207 and SB 107; and
Whereas, Verizon has easily obtained local franchises covering nearly 8 million U.S. households but only offers video service to 30 percent of them, and AT&T has franchises covering 60 percent of its national footprint yet only offers video service in a tiny fraction of selected markets; and
Whereas, the resources at risk under AB 207 and SB 107 include public access from the video subscriber’s living room to the actions of local government, community schools, area youth groups and religious services; and
Whereas, AB 207 and SB 107 would eliminate or undermine in-kind support from cable and video providers, reduce franchise fee revenue, eliminate dedicated public, educational and governmental (PEG) channel fees, institute impossible content requirements and eliminate cablecast technical requirements; and
Whereas, none of these community resources need be sacrificed in the name of a goal that everyone in Wisconsin seeks: video competition on a fair and level playing field; and
Whereas, federal law requires cable companies to provide PEG channel support according to community needs, and there is no reason state law cann...
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