Resolution 94-21051 RESOLUTION NUMBER 94-21051
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
SUBMIT A TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES GRANT
TO THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA) FOR THE
EXPANSION OF FIRE CABLE TELEVISION OPERATION
FACILITIES THAT WILL INCLUDE MOBILE
ORIGINATION CAPABILITIES, AND APPROPRIATING
SUCH FUNDS IF AWARDED.
WHEREAS,the National Telecommunications and Information Facilities(NTIA)
has announced that a total of$21.3 million for Fiscal Year 1993-1994 is available for projects
to plan and construct public telecommunications facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City is desirous of pursing all available funding for the
augmentation of an existing basic cable television operation to enable greater broadcasting
capabilities including remote field productions; and
WHEREAS, in the spirit of the "Government in the Sunshine" Law and through
the City's policy of open government, the new telecommunications facilities would keep its
citizenry more greatly informed; and
WHEREAS, the City is prepared to submit the attached grant application by the
March 17, 1994 deadline for the establishment of a telecommunications facilities that will
include mobile origination capabilities and thus provide greater public telecommunications to the
public .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize the City Manager to submit a telecommunications facilities grant
to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the expansion
of the cable television operation facilities that will include mobile origination capabilities, and
appropriating such funds if awarded.
PASSED AM) ADOPTED THIS 16th DAY OF February , 1994.
RMC/HSM/jr / /
PrMAYOR
ATTEST:
‘ - FORM APPROVED
CITY CLERK LEGAL DEPT.
By
Date
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH ea_
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIV�, MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER TELEPHONE: (305) 673-7010
FAX: (305) 673-7782
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 110--qq
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TO: Mayor Seymour Gelber and DATE:
Members of the City Commission February 16,1994
FROM: Roger M. Ca on
City Manage
SUBJECT:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO SUBMIT A TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
GRANT TO THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
• INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA) FOR THE EXPANSION OF
THE CABLE TELEVISION OPERATION FACILITIES THAT WILL
INCLUDE MOBILE ORIGINATION CAPABILITIES; AND
APPROPRIATING SUCH FUNDS IF AWARDED.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
The.Administration recommends adoption of the attached Resolution which authorizes the City
Manager to submit a grant application to the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) for the 1994 funding cycle for the augmentation of the City's existing
cable television operation; and to appropriate such funds if awarded. Grant applications must
be received in Washington, D.C. by March 17, 1994;.
BACKGROUND:
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) telecommunications
facilities grants program allows $21.3 million in funding to be used to: provide new
telecommunications facilities that will extend service to, or establish new facilities; expand the
service areas of existing telecommunications entities; and improve the capacities of existing.
licensed public broadcast stations to provide public telecommunications services.
The Miami Beach Telecommunications Facilities grant request falls within the NTIA's
established priority areas of: projects that include local origination capacity; replacement of basic
equipment of existing essential broadcast stations; replacement and improvement of basic
equipment for existing broadcast stations; and augmentation of existing broadcast stations.
All funds received from the Miami Beach Telecommunications Facilities grant would be used
to assist the City's existing cable television operation to purchase equipment beyond its current
basic broadcast programming capacities. Specifically, funds would be used to augment our
existing television facilities for purposes of enabling local programming to originate from an
auxiliary studio as well as from distant sources via a mobile origination facility. In this way,
City meetings and emergency government actions (hurricane evacuation announcements) and
other programming of interest to the local community would be more readily accessible to the
citizens of Miami Beach beyond the current basic level of broadcasting. 24
AGENDA
ITEM ' J
DATE
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• COMNIISSION MEMO
FEBRUARY 16, 1994
PAGE 2
The submission of the Miami Beach Telecommunications Facilities grant is consistent with the
Public Information Department's Five Year Plan for a cable television operation that includes
a cable television operation and remote field productions.
This is a matching grant, requiring a 25 percent local match. The match requirement could be
met through equipment that the City already plans to purchase.
Furthermore, a second grants program, the Information Infrastructure Grants (funded:at $26.
million for FY 94), will be announced after the NTIA has developed program guidelines. Any
funding received through this program could be used for costs associated with the set-up of a
city-wide telecommunications network. The telecommunications network would, once in place,
provide a link with the national information infrastructure and would include linkage with other
local governments, schools and other organizations. Thus, making it easier to learn of and
obtain other funds from federal, state and county sources.
ANALYSIS:
The Administration proposes that this program be considered as a feasible funding source for
the City's cable television operation to augment its broadcasting and programming capabilities
and essentially establish a telecommunications facilities that will include mobile origination
capabilities.
Determined on FY 93 funding patterns in which NTIA awarded $20.8 million for 105 grants,
ranging from $1,898 to $968,989, the City, in seeking to obtain the highest grant award
possible, will request a dollar amount based on a multi-component equipment package ranging
from$200,000 and above. However, because there is a 25 percent local match requirement, the •
City Administration must be cognizant that the local match amount will also range from$50,000
and higher, depending on the actual dollar amount awarded..
•
Based on the notification, regarding the availability of resources through the 1994 NTIA
Telecommunications Facilities Grant Program, the City is prepared to submit a formal grant
application to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by the
March 17, 1994 deadline.
CONCLUSION:
•
Formal Commission action is requested to approve the attached Resolution which authorizes the
City Manager to submit a telecommunications facility grant to the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) for the expansion of the existing cable television
operation facilities and include mobile origination capabilities. Approval by the City
Commission will also appropriate the funds'in the event of approval of the grant.
RMC/HSM/jr
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