SB23: Bill Text

LRB-0987/1

MDK:kmg:pg

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Senate BILL 23

January 23, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Moen, Breske, M. Meyer, Farrow, Wirch and S. Fitzgerald, cosponsored by Representatives Hoven, Schneider, Underheim, Plale, Ott, Huebsch, Pettis, Turner, Vrakas, Montgomery, Powers, Lassa and Schooff. Referred to Committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs.

SB23,1,2 An Act to create 66.0419 (3m) of the statutes; relating to: operation and costs of 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:

SB23, s. 1 Section 1. 66.0419 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB23,2,4 66.0419 (3m) Municipal cable television system. (a) A municipality that owns and operates a cable television system shall prepare and maintain records that include all of the following:

SB23,2,7 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.

SB23,2,9 2. The amount, source, and cost of working capital used for the municipal cable television system.

SB23,2,12 (b) Except as provided in par. (c), a municipality that owns and operates a cable television system may not pass on the cost of the cable television system to nonsubscribers.

SB23,2,13 (c) A municipality may pass on the cost of all of the following to nonsubscribers:

SB23,2,14 1. Public, educational, and governmental access channels.

SB23,2,16 2. Debt service on bonds issued under s. 66.0619 to finance the construction, renovation, or expansion of a municipal cable television system.

SB23,2,19 (d) This subsection does not apply to a municipality that began operating a municipal cable television system before the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date].

SB23, s. 2 Section 2. Effective date.

SB23,3,2 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after publication.

SB23,3,3 (End)