HomeMy Public PortalAbout1998-04 House Bill No 3291 oppositionRESOLUTION NO. 98-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA; OPPOSING
HOUSE BILL NO. 3291 PRESENTLY IN COMMITTEE IN
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE REGARDING FRANCHISE FEES
FOR UNDERGROUND RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCESS TO BURY
TELEPHONE LINES; SAID OPPOSITION BEING MADE TO
ANY PROPOSAL TO PLACE UNFAIR RESTRICTIONS
AND/OR LIMITATIONS ON FRANCHISE FEES CHARGED
BY MUNICIPALITIES TO FOR-PROFIT TELEPHONE
COMPANIES FOR SAID SERVICES AND PERMITTING
THEIR BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED ON PUBLIC LANDS
WITHOUT SEEKING ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FROM
CITIES.
WHEREAS, House Bill No. 3291 is presently in committee in the current session of the
Florida Legislature, which concerns franchise fees paid to municipalities for the underground right-
of-way access to bury telephone lines; and
WHEREAS, the existing State Law allows municipalities to charge telephone companies up
to 1% of their gross revenues in franchise fees, and those firms that provide cable television, gas and
electricity pay similar fees; and
WHEREAS, with the proposed Bill, the telecommunications industry hopes to place stricter
caps on what cities may collect, which would give for-profit telephone companies nearly free access
to land for which the municipalities should be justly compensated; and
WHEREAS, language in the proposed Bill could further permit telephone companies to
conduct their business on public lands without seeking "additional authority" from the cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF KEY
BISCAYNE, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the Village Council of the Village of Key Biscayne opposes House Bill No.
3291 presently in committee in the Florida Legislature regarding franchise fees for underground
right-of-way access to bury telephone lines.
Section 2. That opposition to House Bill No. 3291 is specifically directed to any proposal
to place unfair restrictions and/or limitations on franchise fees charged by the municipalities to for-
profit telephone companies for said services, and further to permit their business to be conducted on
public lands without seeking additional authority from the cities.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of January , 1998.
CONCHITA H. ALVAREZ, VILLAGE CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY
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RICHARD J. WEISS, VILLAGE ATTORNEY