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BACKGROUND <br /> California Assembly Bill 2987 (AB 2987), the Digital Infrastructure and Video <br /> Competition Act (DIVCA) shifted oversight of cable television franchises from local <br /> governments to the state through the California Public Utilities Commission. The <br /> passage of AB 2987 caused limited use of PEG revenue collected from subscribers for <br /> capital costs only. PEG fees continue to be collected from subscribers by the cable <br /> operators. These fees are received by the City and are now specifically designated for <br /> capital costs only related to public education. This designation has affected TV 30 as <br /> well as public access channels throughout the country with similar state laws. The <br /> impact to the City has resulted in a General Fund Subsidy to TV 30 of approximately <br /> $140,000 per year for ongoing operations and limited use of PEG revenues of public <br /> education capital projects throughout the city such as equipment for city facilities that <br /> may host public meetings. Similar impacts are shared by the partner cities that jointly <br /> fund TV 30, Dublin and Livermore. <br /> The Community Access Preservation Act (CAP Act) was introduced in May 2011 in the <br /> 112th Congress as an attempt to correct the consequences of DIVCA. Unfortunately, <br /> the legislation made little progress. On December 10, 2013, U.S. Senator Tammy <br /> Baldwin (Wisconsin) introduced U.S. Senate Bill 1789 in the 113th Congress to address <br /> the same problems. The passage of U.S. Senate Bill 1789 would amend the <br /> Communications Act of 1934 to protect Public Education and Government (PEG) <br /> channels and would allow the City to use PEG revenue for operations in addition to <br /> equipment and capital expenditures. <br /> Submitted by: Fiscal Review: Approved b : <br /> Maria Ojeda Emily Wagner Nelson Fialho <br /> Assistant to the Director of Finance City Manager <br /> City Manager <br /> Attachments: <br /> 1. Resolution <br /> 2. U.S. Senate Bill 1789 <br /> Page 2 of 2 <br />