Subject: 20876/BillProtest/TelecommSvcs
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1993 09:13:43 -0500


                               RESOLUTION NO. 20876
                
                
                 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
                 CHATTANOOGA URGING CONGRESS TO REJECT THE
                 TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL UNTIL IT PROTECTS THE
                 INTERESTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
                
                                                    
                
                
       	    	 WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States is set to
       consider a Telecommunications Reform Bill in the next few days or 

       weeks; and
       	    	 WHEREAS, the bill, as originally passed by both the
       Senate and the House, included protection for the interests of 
the
       City of Chattanooga and other local governments all across the
       country; and
       	    	 WHEREAS, the bill, as reported out of a Conference
       Committee, no longer has that protection; and
       	    	 WHEREAS, the bill, as written, could allow telecommuni-
       cations companies to tear up streets, roadways, sidewalks, parks, 

       or other public land and right-of-way without compensation,
       consideration or regulation by local governments; and
       	    	 WHEREAS, this could cause undue harm and financial
       hardship on the City of Chattanooga and other local governments;
                                NOW, THEREFORE,
       	    	 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
       CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, as follows:
       	    	 Section 1.  The City Council of the City of Chattanooga
       hereby urges in the strongest possible terms that Congress either 

       reject the Telecommunications Bill or amend the Bill to protect
       the interests of local governments across the country.
       	    	 Section 2.  The Clerk of the City Council is hereby
       directed to send a copy of this resolution as soon as possible to 

       both Tennessee Senators, all nine members of the House of
       Representatives from Tennessee, to all members of the Hamilton
       County Legislative Delegation, to Senator Bob Dole and to Speaker 

       Newt Gingrich.
      
       ADOPTED:	 January 30, 1996
      
       WSPjr