HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-01 STAFF REPORTS 2E 1400 IC STREET l l LEAGUE
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PH:(916)658-8200 RECEIVED JAN 172006 OF CALIFORNIA
rx:(916) 658-8240 CITIES
W W W.GCITIES.ORG
ATTENTION: YOUR !
DATE January l 1, 2006
TO: City Managers
FROM: Chris McKenzie, Executive Director
RE: "How the Telecommunications Revolution Will Affect Your City"
ACTION REQUESTED: Please distribute the attached copies of a November 2005 Western City magazine
story on telecommunications("telecom")to your mayor and councilmembers. Additionally, we are
requesting that your elected officials contact their state legislators and Congressional delegation,to urge
them to incorporate cities'concerns in any telecommunications reform legislation. (We are also sending
copies of the story directly to all members of the California delegation and to all California legislators.)
BACKGROUND: As the attached Western City reprint discusses, telecommunications reform has the
potential to dramatically impact your city's franchise fees and utility user's tax(UUT) revenues, as well as
affect the city's ability to ensure public access to vital information services, public safety and economic
development. Reform discussions are underway in the State Legislature and in Congress; legislation at
both the state and federal levels is a strong likelihood in 2006.
It is vitally important that your city's elected officials become familiar with telecom issues and
understand how reform proposals will affect your city—and that they communicate their concerns
to their legislators and Congressional representatives.
We are asking that you do three things:
• Ensure that each of your elected officials receives one of the attached copies of the Western City
reprint on telecom.
• Encourage them to call or write their legislators and congressional representatives to stress the
importance of including city concerns in any reform legislation. (A list of League"Communications
Principles"is included on p.4 of the reprint.)
• Place telecommunications on the council agenda as discussion/information item,or an action item
relating to sending a letter to your legislators and congressional representatives.
A sample letter is attached. This letter is also available on the League's online Advocacy Center
(www.cacities.org/advocacycenter). Information about telecom legislation is available on the League's
website at www.cacities.orq/telecom(under the"Issues and Legislation"section of the website).
Please act today to heighten the visibility of this critical issue in your city. Your legislators need to hear from
you. Please continue to work with your Regional Representative as this policy area develops
Thank you for your cooperation on this critical issue.
Attachments: Copies of Telecommunications Article
Sample Letter n C
Item No. L . C .
F
Sample Letter to Legislators or Congressional Representatives on Telecom
Reform
RE: Impacts of Telecommunications Reform on City of
Dear
Our city is very concerned about telecommunications reform. While we support and
applaud the technological innovations that give rise to the need for reform, we are
deeply concerned about reform proposals that undermine our city's financial integrity
and our ability to protect our citizens from public safety hazards on public rights-of-way.
[Insert details about your current or planned franchise agreement with a
telecommunications provider: the PEG programming it provides and the benefits to your
citizens, the revenue it generates and the critical services it supports, how the franchise
provisions have aided you in addressing public safety issues related to public rights-of-
way, other relevant information.)
While we support reforms that promote open competition among providers, we believe
those reforms should:
• Maintain local control over public rights-of-way.
• Protect local revenues.
• Guarantee access to, and funding for, public, educational and government (PEG)
access television.
As telecommunications reform discussions progress in [Congress or the State
Legislature], we ask that you keep us informed, and consult with us and your other local
officials before voting on proposals that could dramatically affect important public safety
and quality of life issues in our city.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,