RESOLUTION #2006-107

 

URGING CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO ENSURE THE CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH ISLAND THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ALL PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK LOCAL CHANNELS

 

WHEREAS Philadelphia local TV channels have been historically received by the citizens of Long Beach Island and Ocean County; and

                     

WHEREAS Comcast Cable has recently informed our citizens that local Philadelphia Channel 10 will no longer be available as a part of the Basic Package; and

 

            WHEREAS Comcast intends to remove additional local channels from the Basic Package in the future; and

 

            WHEREAS to continue to receive local Philadelphia Channel 10, our citizens would have to upgrade to Comcast Digital cable service at a far greater cost, which many of our citizens cannot afford; and

 

            WHEREAS we rely upon Philadelphia local news channels to advise our citizens of weather and dangerous conditions at the Shore; and

 

            WHEREAS the availability of inexpensive local Philadelphia networks for all of Long Beach Island and Ocean County is a matter of public safety and for these reasons it is imperative that our citizens have access to all local Philadelphia channels; and

 

            WHEREAS we have been informed that Satellite companies such as Dish Network and Direct TV are prohibited from providing local Philadelphia channels to our citizens because of the unfair and onerous application of the Satellite Home Viewers Act; and

 

            WHEREAS this affords an unfair business advantage to Comcast Cable and deprives our satellite subscribers the ability to receive Philadelphia locals; and

 

            WHEREAS New Jersey does not have any local network affiliates and our citizens rely exclusively on Philadelphia and New York for local emergent information; and

 

            WHEREAS we believe that the Satellite Home Viewers Act should be amended to allow all residents and homeowners the right to receive both Philadelphia and New York local broadcast; and

 

            WHEREAS we are aware that legislation was introduced in the United States Senate on November 23, 2006 entitled the Satellite Consumer Protection Act which would allow satellite companies to carry local stations that are considered “significantly viewed” by the Federal Communications Commission. Currently Philadelphia is considered “significantly viewed” for Long Beach Island.

           

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Commissioners of the Borough of Harvey Cedars, County of Ocean, that our New Jersey Congressional and State Representatives take all action necessary to ensure our citizens the absolute right to receive all Philadelphia and New York local broadcast channels in all formats, cable and satellite; and

           

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the local cable companies provide the Philadelphia locals in the Basic Package so that our residents will not be forced into a more expensive package in order to receive the Philadelphia local channels.

 

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be forwarded to the following:

  1. US Senator Robert Menendez
  2. US Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
  3. Congressman H. James Saxton
  4. Congressman Christopher H. Smith
  5. State Senator Leonard T. Connors, Jr.
  6. State Assemblyman Christopher J. Connors
  7. State Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf
  8. The Mayors of the Long Beach Island Municipalities and Stafford Township
  9. Comcast Cable Communications

 

PASSED ON:  December 1, 2006