RES 1103RESOLUTION NO./103
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Camas,
Washington to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
opposing Comcast Cable's Petition for Special Relief filed with the
FCC for Determination of Effective Competition for "7 Vancouver,
Washington,Franchise Areas",(CSR-7159 -E),and supporting the
City of Vancouver's efforts opposing the Comcast Petition before the
FCC.
WHEREAS,the City/County Cable Television Office (Cable TV Office)filed for Rate
Regulation Certification with the FCC on FCC Form 328 on behalf of the City of Vancouver and
Clark County,Washington,on September 1,1993;and
WHEREAS,the FCC granted such authority for rate regulation and the certification
became effective October 7,1993;and
WHEREAS,the Cable TV Office has continued to be certified for local rate regulation of
the basic service tier (Channels 1-29)and related equipment and installation services consistent
with the Federal Cable Act of 1992 and the related rules adopted by the FCC in the absence of
"effective competition";and
WHEREAS,the Cable TV Office received a copy of a "Petition for Special Relief filed
by Comcast with the FCC which requests that the FCC find that Comcast faces "effective
competition"in seven,Washington franchise areas",including the City of Vancouver and the
City of Camas;and
WHEREAS,as more fully set forth in SR 110-07,if the FCC approves the Comcast
petition,the City will lose the ability to
•Regulate cable rates for Basic Service,Equipment and Installations;and
•Enforce the Uniformed Rate provision of FCC rules which require that all
customers within a franchise area (the City)be charged the same rates for the like
services;and
•Enforce the Anti Buy-through provisions which prohibit cable operations from
requiring customers to buy any tier of service,except Basic Cable,in order to
purchase premium of pay-per-view services;and
WHEREAS,if the FCC approves the Comcast petition the company will no longer be
subject to rules and customer service standards requiring notice to subscribers regarding rate and
increases;and
WHEREAS,the City of Camas is located in Clark County Washington,is a City of
Resolution No.Page -2
approximately 16,000 and has no local radio or television stations;and
WHEREAS,the local Public (FVTV),Education (TV ETC and Government (CVTV)
(PEG)cable access channels on the cable system are the only local television programming and
information available to Clark County residents;and
WHEREAS,DBS providers do not offer or provide the local PEG channels;and
WHEREAS,Comcast has not demonstrated that the Petition for Relief serves the public
interest of the citizens of Camas as required by Section 76.7 (a)(4)(i)of FCC rules;
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,by the Council of the City of Camas as
follows:
Section I
The City states its opposition to the Comcast petition for Special Relief with the FCC
regarding Effective Competition.
Section II
The City supports the efforts of the City of Vancouver in opposing the Comcast Petition
for Special Relief regarding Effective Competition.
ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Camas,this'h ^day of
May,2007.—X f \SIGNED:
Mayor
WATTEST:
PPRO
Q
City Attorney