HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupport of Community-Wide Public, Educational and Governmental Broadcasting • RESOLUTION �����L(
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA, IN
SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY-WIDE PUBLiC, EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL
(PEG) BROADCASTING FOR SOUTH BEND,MISHAWAKA AND ST.JOSEPH COUNTY
��� in 2006, the Indiana state law changed the way in which cable television
companies and new video service providers receive authority to do business in Indiana; and
�y�exa�Q prior to 2006, Indiana cable companies negotiated franchise agreements with local
governmental units [cities, towns counties]; however effective July 1, 2006, the state law shifted
this franchising authority to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC); and
�� .�exea� the IURC enforces the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) cable
service standards at the state level and the State of Indiana operates and maintains a website which
provides information provided by the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor; and
��,�4 the Common Council recognizes that cable companies who were operating under
local franchise agreements already in effect on July l, 2006 with cities, towns and counties, are
permitted to continue to operate under those agreements and pay franchise fees to each community
until such agreements expire, with IURC approval being required thereafter;
���ex� the Common Council further recognizes that the City of South Bend has a
franchise agreement with Comcast which expires on December 31, 2013, and that pursuant to that
agreement South Bend receives a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the gross revenues with
paytnents to the city being made semi-annually on April 15��' and October 15th. The City of South
Bend also receives franchise fees from AT & T which began in 2009, as a result of IURC approval.
vV'�., c.�,��,��t��d, 4�a� �� ��l�r� ��c-�'.� ��d, �,�, as
follows:
Section I. The South Bend Common Council stands ready to help support community-wide
public access television, especially since such services have been curtailed since Comcast notified
South Bend, Mishawaka, Plymouth, Goshen, Hammond, Merillville and Portage that they would be
closing production studios and playback facilities for public access television in December of 2007.
Section II. The South Bend Common Council supports public access television which
would broadcast public, educational and governmental programming. The Council believes that
this should be a project undertaken by South Bend, Mishawaka, and St. Joseph County with the
cooperative support of the private sector for the betterment of providing information and services.
Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and om and after its adoption by
the Council and approval by the Mayor; with copies being t there er to the administrative and
, gislative 1 ers i Mishawa and St. Joseph Count o ter a ' gful discussions.
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, 1 S` District iver . avis, 6�' � trict
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en is, J•. ` ' ic Al `Budd�C" Kirsits, t Large
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� mas ountain, 3'� District T' t A. ise, �j,t,Lar�
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Ann Puzzello, 4t' Distri Karen L. White, At Large
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Dr.--I�vid Varner, 5`' District �_`` �I ��
Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney
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hn oorde, Crty Clerk Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor of South Bend