2007-11-05 Regular Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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ÌØ×Í ÜÑÝËÓÛÒÌ ×Í ß ÐÎ×Ê×ÔÛÙÛÜ ÝÑÓÓËÒ×ÝßÌ×ÑÒ ÞÛÌÉÛÛÒ ß ÙÑÊÛÎÒÓÛÒÌßÔ ÞÑÜÇ ßÒÜ ×ÌÍ ßÌÌÑÎÒÛÇ ßÒÜ ÓßÇ ÞÛ Óß×ÒÌß×ÒÛÜ ßÍ ß ÝÔÑÍÛÜ ÎÛÝÑÎÜ ×Ò ßÝÝÑÎÜ É×ÌØ ÌØÛ ÐÎÑÊ×Í×ÑÒÍ ÑÚ ÍÛÝÌ×ÑÒ êïðòðîïøï÷ô ÎÍÓ±ò îððêò ÓÛÓÑÎßÒÜËÓ TO: Julie Feier FROM: Paul Martin DATE: October 5, 2007 RE: Senate Bill 284—Video Services Providers Act ÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁ As you know, this year the Missouri Legislature enacted Senate Bill 284, the Video Services Providers Act (SB284). This memorandum summarizes the Act’s provisions and its administrative requirements, and it further explains the attached ordinance, which we have prepared to implement SB284’s limited local authority. SB284 Summary SB284 creates one franchising authority for video service providers, including cable television operators. To become franchised a provider need only apply to the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), identifying the geographic areas in which it wants to provide service. The law applies to all new providers, and existing providers can “opt in” to PSC authorization, in which case the provider’s existing local cable franchise, and accompanying regulations, are void. A provider may honor an existing franchise until it expires, but upon expiration, the provider must obtain PSC authorization. SB284 limits the traditional authority of municipalities to regulate video service programming. While it continues to permit local franchise fees within certain limits, it restricts, and ultimately eliminates, mandatory public, educational, and governmental programming and financial support. SB284 does not require that a company provide universal service to everyone within a municipality. While it allows cities to require that providers abide by watered-down customer service regulations, it strips cities of the traditional enforcement authority for the violation of those regulations (i.e., through municipal court prosecutions). SB284 also addresses municipal ability to regulate the location and appearance of video service facilities on public and private property.