WHEREAS, cities, villages and townships have a long and
very successful history of supporting the introduction of new
cable/video services – a successful deployment made possible
in large part by the current system of local cable
franchising; and
WHEREAS, the Charter Township of Bloomfield currently
has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Comcast for cable
television services and the Township may award additional
cable franchises upon application, qualification and
compliance with applicable ordinances; and
WHEREAS, AT&T and Verizon have been actively advocating
across the country that local cable franchise agreements be
eliminated, and
WHEREAS, AT&T is blaming Michigan communities as the
reason they cannot enter into the cable/video business, while
local communities and local residents want more cable
competition and would quickly allow AT&T into their community,
AT&T has refused to negotiate a franchise with any city,
village or township, and
WHEREAS, local communities’ participation in the cable
franchising process ensures build-out requirements so that all
residents irrespective of age, race, education, or income
level, receive the same service, and
WHEREAS, Bloomfield Township believes that all
residents should have access to the same choice of cable/video
service.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charter Township of
Bloomfield is open-for-cable/video business and can guarantee
that within days of a formal request we will have a franchise
agreement ready for any new cable/video providers’
consideration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AT&T and any other cable
provider interested in operating a cable system in Bloomfield
Township may apply for a cable system franchise in Bloomfield
Township upon receipt of a copy of this Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the applicant and its
submission include a commitment to enter into the same
franchise agreement terms as currently exist with the
Township’s present cable provider (Comcast) and otherwise
qualify and comply with applicable ordinances, the Township is
willing to take the necessary steps to grant one or more
additional cable television system franchises in the Township
upon such terms and compliance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township Clerk is
hereby directed to send copies of this Resolution and the
Township’s existing cable franchise agreement and ordinance to
the chief executive officer of AT&T, and to make such
materials available to any other provider that requests same
or expresses and interest in operating a cable television
system in the Charter Township of Bloomfield.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Bloomfield
Township Board of Trustees hereby affirms its support for the
current local cable franchise agreement system and urges
federal and state policymakers to only support legislation
that:
Maintains local control of the cable franchise process;
Ensures build-out requirements so that providers are
not able to "cherry-pick" customers, or stops current
cable providers from shutting down service to current
cable service areas;
Ensures no reduction in direct revenues and protects
PEG revenues as well as the Township’s current level of
public broadcasting and current level of services provided
to the Township’s residents; and
Preserves Michigan’s Metro Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be
forwarded to our state legislators in Lansing, our
Congressional representatives in Washington, D.C., Governor
Granholm and the Michigan Municipal League.
