1999-032-OPPOSE HOUSE BILL 1614 AND SENATE BILL 653

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RESOLUTION NO. 99-032 WHEREAS, House Bill 1614 and Senate Bill 653 have been filed in the Texas Legislature; and, WHEREAS, the bills provide that city-owned property will be managed by a statewide uniform franchise; and, WHEREAS, the statewide uniform franchise would be adopted by ten (10) non-elected people appointed by a non-elected board of the state; and, WHEREAS, the bills, in effect, create a subsidy by allowing the rent-free use of public land by for-profit companies; and, WHEREAS, the bills would require Texas taxpayers to provide financial support for national and international telecommunications companies through free use of public land; and, WHEREAS, since the bills would reduce the rent paid for use of public land, they would result in an increase of taxes for Texas citizens; and, WHEREAS, competition in the area of telecommunications has not come to the average Texas citizen, nor is there any indication it will soon or that it would come as a result of these bills; and, WHEREAS, local control of local property should be at the local level; and, WHEREAS, the bills serve to benefit national and international telecommunications companies at the expense of Texas citizens; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS: 1. That the City of Paris urges the Texas Legislature to oppose H.B. 1614 and S.B. 653. 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage. PASSED AND ADOPTED, this 25th day of March, 1999. {J~~7/ Charles H. Neeley, Mayor