4/23/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MR. CROSBY AFFIRMED THAT CABLEVISION IS NOT A UTILITY; AT ONE TIME THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) STATED THAT ALL FRANCHISES MUST HAVE RATES CONTROLLED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT NOW THAT HAS BEEN REVERSED. ATTORNEY COLLINS COMMENTED THAT CABLEVISION COMES UNDER THE MANDATE OF THE FRANCHISE, AND THE DEFINITION IS THAT THEY ARE NOT A UTILITY; THERE IS A RIGHT TO LEVY A FRANCHISE FEE. COMMISSIONER WODTKE FELT THEY ARE A UTILITY IN THE SERVICE THEY ARE PROVIDING, BUT AS FAR AS CABLE TELEVISION, SOME PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO HAVE IT. HE ADDED THAT IF THE BOARD DOES HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR RATE OF RETURN AND OPERATION, HE WAS PERSONALLY THANKFUL THAT THEY HAVE AN OPERATION THAT IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK IN PROVIDING QUALITY CABLE TELEVISION. COMMISSIONER WODTKE THOUGHT PERHAPS THE BOARD COULD GET A BREAKDOWN ON THE FINANCIAL FIGURES. HE COMMENTED THAT HE WAS QUITE PLEASED WITH THEIR OPERATION, THE SERVICE THEY ARE PROVIDING, AND THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THEY ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE ON THE CHANNELS. COMMISSIONER WODTKE FELT THEY WERE DOING A GOOD JOB AND THAT THEY WARRANT THE RATE FOR WHICH THEY ARE ASKING. CHAIRMAN SIEBERT STATED THAT HE WAS OPPOSED TO LEVYING A FRANCHISE FEE TO FLORIDA CABLEVISION AS THE CONSUMER IS ULTIMATELY PAYING FOR IT. ATTORNEY COLLINS STATED THAT THE THEORY OF A FRANCHISE FEE IS A METHOD OF RAISING FUNDS; THE SAME RATE IS BEING CHARGED IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THE FRANCHISE FEE. HE ADDED THAT THE CUSTOMERS IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY RECEIVE NO MORE SERVICE AND PAY THE SAME RATE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT FEE IS CHARGED. CHAIRMAN SIEBERT DISAGREED. DISCUSSION FOLLOWED ABOUT FRANCHISE FEES, AND THE FACT THAT IT COSTS CABLEVISION MORE TO OPERATE IN THE COUNTY THAN IN THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE TRAVEL DISTANCE INVOLVED. CHAIRMAN SIEBERT ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHED TO BE HEARD. 29 4.3 APR 2 31990 s A