PRINTER'S NO. 3094

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 383 Session of 2001

        INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, CRUZ, CURRY, DERMODY, DIVEN, D. EVANS,
           GEORGE, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, LEVDANSKY, McGEEHAN, MELIO,
           MUNDY, ROEBUCK, ROONEY, SATHER, SHANER, STABACK,
           E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WALKO, WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI, G. WRIGHT
           AND YOUNGBLOOD, DECEMBER 13, 2001

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
           DECEMBER 13, 2001

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Memorializing Congress to enact legislation to reregulate the
     2     cable industry.

     3     WHEREAS, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was intended to
     4  provide an atmosphere in which competition would bring about
     5  rate decreases for cable subscribers; and
     6     WHEREAS, Since 1999, millions of cable subscribers have
     7  experienced rate increases in excess of 20%, more than four
     8  times the rate of inflation; and
     9     WHEREAS, Cable rates have increased repeatedly, often several
    10  times within one year, and have become burdensome for consumers,
    11  particularly those on fixed incomes; and
    12     WHEREAS, Decreased oversight of the cable industry has led to
    13  unfettered rate increases, forcing consumers to pay rapidly
    14  increasing prices; and
    15     WHEREAS, Local governments no longer have jurisdiction over
    16  the rates their residents pay for cable service; and

     1     WHEREAS, The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has not provided
     2  consumers with adequate protection from spiraling cable rates
     3  and has removed the ability of consumers to contact their local
     4  officials to seek recourse; therefore be it
     5     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
     6  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
     7  United States to conduct an investigation into the rising costs
     8  of cable subscriptions for household consumers; and be it
     9  further
    10     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
    11  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize Congress to pass
    12  legislation to reregulate the cable industry insofar as
    13  providing price controls on cable rates and allowing for local
    14  government oversight with respect to rates and requested rate
    15  increases; and be it further
    16     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
    17  the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
    18  member of Congress from Pennsylvania.








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