Sample Resolution Supporting Municipal Telecommunications Initiatives, and Opposing Senate Bill 248 and Assembly Bill 518 from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Sample Resolution Supporting Municipal Telecommunications
Initiatives, and Opposing Senate Bill 248 and Assembly Bill 518

WHEREAS, under 1993 Wisconsin Act 496 and the Federal Telecommunications Act
of 1996, municipalities are allowed to supply competitive telecommunications
services to their communities; and

WHEREAS, to date 19 Wisconsin municipalities have been granted Competitive
Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) status from the Public Service Commission of
Wisconsin; joining more than 200 communities nation wide; and

WHEREAS, most large, incumbent telecommunications companies are primarily
investing in high population urban markets; all but ignoring the rural and
low-income areas, thereby increasing the technological "Digital Divide"
between urban and rural areas of Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, State Senator Kevin Shibilski (D-Plover), and State Representative
Neil Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) have introduced legislation in the 2001-2002
Legislative Session (SB 248 and AB 518) prohibiting Wisconsin cities,
villages, towns and counties from providing telecommunications services to
local citizens and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Alliance of
Cities, Wisconsin Counties Association, the Regional Telecommunications
Commission, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Wisconsin
Education Association Council, the Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance,
the Wisconsin Towns Association; and the Municipal Electric Utilities of
Wisconsin have collectively communicated to state legislators urging them
not to co-sponsor legislation which would prohibit telecommunications
competition by cities, villages, towns or counties;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the (City or Village) of _______________
strongly supports the current legal right and authority of Wisconsin cities,
villages, towns and counties to provide competitive telecommunications
services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City or Village of ______________ opposes
the "anti-competitive" preemption legislation introduced by Senator
Shibilski, Representative Kedzie and the Wisconsin State Telecommunications
Association (SB 248 and AB 518), which would prohibit municipalities from
providing local citizens and businesses telecommunications and internet
services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be sent to the
Governor and the state legislative delegation representing this community.