RESOLUTION 91-20259 RESOLUTION NO. 91-20259
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
SUPPORTING THE CALL FOR THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION REMOVING FEDERAL
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED UPON THE BELL OPERATING ,
COMPANIES, THEREBY PERMITTING THE FULL
PARTICIPATION OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY IN
PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND
SERVICES.
WHEREAS, affordable information services are not widely
available to small and medium-sized businesses in our community;
and
WHEREAS, the world trade balance in telecommunications
equipment is deteriorating and foreign-based companies are becoming
increasingly stronger in the American telecommunications equipment
market; and
WHEREAS, the basis of the information age is the
combination of computer and telecommunication technologies, and
about 60% of the American telecommunications industry is prohibited
from participating under current court restrictions; and
WHEREAS, such restrictions are no longer needed because
regulatory safeguards have been developed to protect against any
potentially anti-competitive activities in the telecommunications
industry; and
WHEREAS, the revision of the current line of business
restrictions on the Bell Operating Companies will enhance the
capacity of the United States to better compete in the global
information and high-technology marketplace; and
WHEREAS, our communities could benefit from an expanded
pool of capital and expertise for research, development, design and
manufacture of telecommunications equipment which would be the
result of a more competitive telecommunications industry.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the City of Miami Beach, Florida,
strongly supports the call for Congress to pass legislation
removing federal restrictions imposed upon the Bell Operating
Companies, thereby permitting full participation of American
industry in providing telecommunications equipment and services.
Section 2 . That the City clerk is hereby directed to
forward true copies of this resolution to Senator Bob Graham,
Senator Connie Mack and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 6th day of March , 1991.
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ATTEST:
FORM APPROVED
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER CITY HALL
1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE
TELEPHONE: 673-7010
COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM NO. j/3
—
DATE: March 6
TO: Mayor Alex Daoud and
Members of the City Commission
FROM: Carla Bernabei Talarico
City Manager
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CALL FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
PASS LEGISLATION REMOVING FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED UPON THE BELL
OPERATING COMPANIES, THEREBY PERMITTING FULL PARTICIPATION OF AMERICAN
INDUSTRY IN PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES.
In 1984, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, under a federal consent
decree order, was required to divest itself of the monopoly over telephone
systems; this action resulted in the creation of various "Bell " operating
companies. Since then, the consent decree has also severely restricted their
ability to participate in the development and advancement of the American
telecommunications industry. This action also includes a prohibition on the Bell
companies from manufacturing telecommunications equipment and offering of
information services.
Currently, other world countries enjoy an advantage in this era of rapidly
developing global telecommunications. This advantage exists not because America
does not have the technology or expertise but because over 60% of the American
industry is prohibited from doing so under current court restrictions. Such
restrictions are no longer necessary because regulatory safeguards have been
developed to protect against any potentially anti -competitive activities in the
telecommunications industry.
This resolution supports federal legislation currently pending in Congress that
remove federal restrictions, thereby permitting full participation of American
industries in providing telecommunications equipment and information services.
Currently, telecommunications regulation is in the hands of Judge Harold Greene
of the U.S. District Court. This legislation, if passed, would return regulatory
control to the Federal Communications Commission, an agency with Congressional
oversight. Similar legislation overwhelmingly passed the Senate Commerce
Committee in 1990.
Resolutions supporting this action has been adopted by the Dade League of Cities,
Inc. , and other municipalities within Dade County.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the attached
resolution which supports the call for the United States Congress to pass
legislation removing federal restrictions imposed upon the "Bell " operating
companies, thereby permitting American industry full participation in providing
telecommunications equipment and services.
PFL:me
(AL
AGENDA. 7
ITEM
DATE
0I IGINAL
RESOLUTION NO. 91-20259
Supporting the call for the United States
Congress to pass legislation removing
Federal restrictions imposed upon the Bell
Operating Companies, therby permitting the
full participation of American Industry in
providing telecommunications equipment and
services.