Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 39
CHAPTER 88
Relative to cable and video service.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 07, 2014.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 39, Roger Hernández.
Cable and video service.
This measure would call on the United States Congress to amend a specified federal law to allow states and their municipalities to determine the best use of public, educational, and government channel support.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Public, educational, and government (PEG) channels are one of the last surviving sources for local television programming across the country and PEG channels play a significant role in televising open and public meetings; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels are a unique and valuable resource for local information and discourse for residents; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels televise local government meetings, including city council meetings, planning commission meetings, county board of supervisors meetings, and school board meetings, so that citizens are informed about the actions taken by local officials; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels also are utilized to communicate with residents on municipal events and services and provide advisories and preparation directions to residents for emergency purposes; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels provide a window through which residents can view the diversity of cultures, educational information, recreational activities, and artistic endeavors in their local community; and
WHEREAS, PEG channels reflect the unique identity of the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, It is important to preserve PEG channels and funding for PEG channels and to ensure that PEG-channel facilities continue to be available to serve residents and to provide local opportunities for skill-building and professional development for students and workers; and
WHEREAS, Section 542 of Title 47 of the United States Code puts limitations on how PEG channel funds can be used, and, if amended, would address critical and immediate threats to PEG channels; and
WHEREAS, These amendments would provide solutions for critical and immediate threats to PEG channels and facilities in California and across the country by removing use restrictions on PEG channel access fees, restoring PEG channel revenue streams, and preventing video providers from charging municipalities for the transmission of the PEG channels; and
WHEREAS, This change to federal law would allow PEG channel fees to once again be used for any legitimate PEG channel expense instead of restricting PEG channel fees to capital expenses only; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature calls on the United States Congress to amend Section 542 of Title 47 of the United States Code to allow states and their municipalities to determine the best use of PEG channel support; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature calls on the United States Congress to eliminate an outdated and unnecessary pre-1984 distinction that does not give flexibility to local governments to utilize PEG channel funds for any legitimate PEG channel expense in addition to capital expenses; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and the Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.