Title
Resolution to Endorse the Protecting Community Television Act (HR 6219/S 3361)
Memorandum
The FCC's 2019 Franchise Fee Order redefines the federal Cable Act's 5% franchise fee to include the value of most non-monetary franchise obligations as franchise fees. This change allows cable companies to reduce what they pay for the use of public property and rights-of-way. The Protecting Community Television Act (HR 6219/S 3361) corrects this error by clarifying franchise fees are only monetary.
The Cable Act protects the rights of a local community to charge cable companies a five (5%) percent franchise fee and to meet community needs and interests, such as providing public, educational and governmental channel capacity. Contrary to industry practices that date to the 1980s, the FCC's actions could result in reducing cable operators' monetary compensation to towns and municipalities that wish to communicate with residents through community television. The FCC Order could force communities to choose between franchise fees or communicating with residents through community media that provide Americans with local civic, public safety and public health content.
The Protecting Community Television Act (HR 6219/S 3361) clarifies that only monetary payments, not non-monetary franchise obligations, qualify as Cable Act franchise fees and are subject to a fee cap. Without it, a cable operator could create fees to drain away franchise fees, resulting in a significant drop in resources for Community Television Network's PEG channels.
Since 1973, CTN has provided free television production workshops to residents and non-profit organizations and created local cable programming about our community. CTN is one of the oldest access television operations in the country and is funded via cable franchise fees.
The bill is authored by Senators Ed Markey (MA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI). Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA) and Pete DeFazio (OR) are the House authors. As of February 1, the bill has 1...
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