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