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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01 AFN Program CommitteeRESOLUTION NO. 99- C:) / A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF ASHLAND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE FOR THE ASHLAND FIBER NETWORK CABLE TELEVISION (AFN/CATV) SYSTEM AND PRESCRIBING ITS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. RECITALS: A. The City of Ashland is in the process of establishing a municipally owned cable television system to be known as the Ashland Fiber Network Cable Television (AFN/CATV). B. The city desires to establish a separate entity to ensure that the city does not exercise editorial control regarding the content of any cable service on its cable system as required by section 613(e) of the federal Cable Communications and Policy Act of 1984. C. The city council desires to establish such an entity prior to the time AFN/CATV becomes operational and formally express its intent that neither the council nor the mayor nor any other official of the city shall interfere with programming decisions which are to be made by the entity established by this resolution. THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Established - Membership. The AFN/CATV Programming Committee is established and shall consist of seven voting members who shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. For the initial appointments, two members shall be appointed to terms expiring April 30, 2000, two members to terms expiring April 30, 2001, and three members to terms expiring April 30, 2002. SECTION 2. Term - Vacancies. The term of the voting members shall be for three years, expiring on April 30 of each year. Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the mayor, with confirmation by the city council, for the unexpired portion of the term. terms. Any voting member who is absent for four or more meetings in a one-year period shall be considered no longer active and the position vacant, and a new member shall be appointed to fill the vacancy. SECTION 3. Quorum - Rules and Regulations. Four voting members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. At its first meeting of the year, the committee shall elect a chair, vice-chair and a secretary, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the committee. The committee may make rules and regulations for its meetings, consistent with the laws of the state and city charter and ordinances, and shall meet as necessary. The rules and regulations promulgated by the committee shall provide for receiving input from the residents of the city. SECTION 4 Powers and Duties - Generally. The primary purpose of the committee Page 1 - Resolution (G:\PAUL\Telecommunications\Ordinances~program committee res.wpd) shall be to make programming determinations regarding AFN/CATV. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the committee shall be as follows: The committee shall serve as a complete separate entity from the city to achieve separate editorial programming, selection of material and transmissions. The committee shall conduct such public hearings deemed helpful to gather information from the residents and citizens in performing its function. The committee may request any necessary special studies on the location, condition, and adequacy of available programs and the desirability of any matters to be so transmitted. The committee may acquire and maintain such information and materials as are necessary to achieve and accomplish its duties. The selection of these channels shall be made by the committee in a manner consistent with the revenue and expense projections involved with the financing of the system. The committee may not exercise its powers in a manner that restricts or interferes with the city's ability to comply with federal and state laws. SECTION 5. Editorial Control. Neither the city council, the mayor, nor any other official of the City of Ashland shall exercise any editorial control regarding the content of any cable service owned or operated by the city, other than programming on any channel designated for governmental use. SECTION 6. Reports. The committee shall submit copies of its minutes to the city council and shall prepare and submit such reports as from time to time may be requested of it by the city council. This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashland Municipal Code §2.04.090 duly PASSED and ADOPTED this __ 1999. Barbara Christensen, City Recorder SIGNED and APPROVED this __ day of Reviewed as to form: day of ',J~~ ,1999. Catherine M. Shaw, Mayor Page 2 - Resolution (G:\PAUL\Telecommunications\Ordinances~program committee res.wpd)