Fiscal Note
No funds required.
Title
Creating the Madison City Channel Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.
Body
WHEREAS, Madison City Channel provides an important service in keeping city government open and accessible; and
WHEREAS, Madison City Channel covers over 150 city meetings per year on television and online; and
WHEREAS, Madison City Channel is supported in large part by Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) fees assessed to cable bills; and
WHEREAS, the Cable Competition Bill became law in January of 2008; and
WHEREAS, Governor Doyle retained PEG fees for three years; and
WHEREAS, the State Legislature could act to retain PEG fees with remedial legislation; and
WHEREAS, without remedial legislation, the end of PEG fees would cut Madison City Channel's support approximately in half;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison recognize the importance of Madison City Channel and urge the State Legislature to enact remedial legislation to prevent the end of PEG fees in 2011;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the mayor and Common Council form the Madison City Channel Ad Hoc Advisory Committee tasked with exploring all available options for the operation of Madison City Channel if remedial legislation is not enacted and PEG fees end in 2011; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the mayor will appoint two alders and five citizen members to the committee; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that committee will report back to the mayor and Common Council with recommendations by April 1, 2010.