LRB-1968/1
MDK:kjf:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
March 3, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Jensen, Bies, J. Fitzgerald, Hines,
Krawczyk, McCormick, Montgomery, Musser, Nass, Pettis, Schooff, Suder,
Turner and Van Roy, cosponsored by Senators S. Fitzgerald, M. Meyer,
Carpenter, Kedzie, Leibham, Stepp, Welch and Wirch. Referred to Committee
on Energy and Utilities.
AB110,1,2
1An Act to create 66.0419 (3m) of the statutes;
relating to: operation and costs
2of municipal cable television systems.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, a municipality that owns and
operates a cable television system from passing on the cost of the system to
nonsubscribers. There are two exceptions to this prohibition. First, the prohibition
does not apply to a municipality that began operating a cable television system before
the effective date of the bill. Second, a municipality that began operating a cable
television system on or after the effective date of the bill may pass on the following
costs to nonsubscribers: 1) the cost of public, educational, and governmental access
channels; and 2) the cost of debt service on public improvement bonds for the
construction, renovation, or expansion of the municipality's cable television system.
The bill also requires a municipality that owns and operates a cable television
system to prepare and maintain records that include the following: 1) the cost of
franchise fees, pole rentals, and all other expenses that the municipality would incur
if it were a nonmunicipal cable television operator that had been granted a franchise
by the municipality; and 2) the amount, source, and cost of working capital used for
the municipality's cable television system. This requirement does not apply to a
municipality that began operating a cable television system before the effective date
of the bill.
For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB110, s. 1
1Section
1. 66.0419 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB110,2,42
66.0419
(3m) Municipal cable television system. (a) A municipality that
3owns and operates a cable television system shall prepare and maintain records that
4include all of the following:
AB110,2,75
1. The cost of franchise fees, pole rentals, and all other expenses that the
6municipality would incur if it were a nonmunicipal cable television operator that had
7been granted a franchise by the municipality.
AB110,2,98
2. The amount, source, and cost of working capital used for the municipal cable
9television system.
AB110,2,1210
(b) Except as provided in par. (c), a municipality that owns and operates a cable
11television system may not pass on the cost of the cable television system to
12nonsubscribers.
AB110,2,1313
(c) A municipality may pass on the cost of all of the following to nonsubscribers:
AB110,2,1414
1. Public, educational, and governmental access channels.
AB110,2,1615
2. Debt service on bonds issued under s. 66.0619 to finance the construction,
16renovation, or expansion of a municipal cable television system.
AB110,2,1917
(d) This subsection does not apply to a municipality that began operating a
18municipal cable television system before the effective date of this paragraph ....
19[revisor inserts date].
AB110,3,2
1(1)
This act takes effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after
2publication.
