SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 16

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

4848L.01I

      Whereas, commercial video programming services from cable television, satellite television, and Internet protocol television are currently the dominant providers of video programming services; and

            Whereas, commercial video programming services and sources of those services are of importance to Missouri citizens and the political subdivisions of this state; and

            Whereas, attempts across the nation to expand consumer choices of those video services have met with both success and failure in the effort to create competitive markets and make available new services and consumer choices; and

            Whereas, this state and its political subdivisions have imposed taxes, fees, and other assessments on various video services which vary widely based on locality and due to increasingly related and competitive services from cable television, satellite television, and Internet protocol television providers; and

            Whereas, ensuring adequate and affordable video programming services and sources of those services necessitate a fair and equitable tax structure across different video services and regions of the state; and

            Whereas, whether governmental entities should limit in any way video programming services or expend public resources to compete with private commercial video entities should be explored:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby create a Joint Interim Committee on Commercial Video Programming Services to be comprised on five members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House and minority leader of the House, and five members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and minority floor leader of the Senate, and such committee is authorized to function during the Second Regular Session and the legislative interim of the Ninety-third General Assembly; and

            Be it further resolved that the committee shall examine and study relevant issues pertaining to commercial video programming services and make appropriate recommendations, including but not limited to, recommendations on financial, legal, taxation, technological, competitive, regulatory, and economic issues of cable television, satellite television, and Internet protocol television services; and

            Be it further resolved that the committee shall prepare a final report, together with its recommendations for any legislative action deemed necessary for submission to the General Assembly prior to commencement of the First Regular Session of the Ninety-fourth General Assembly; and

            Be it further resolved that the committee may solicit input and information necessary to fulfill its obligations, including but not limited to soliciting input and information from the Public Service Commission, the Department of Economic Development, political subdivisions of this state, commercial video service providers, including cable television, satellite television, and telecommunications companies, and consumers of this state; and

            Be it further resolved that the staffs of House Research, the Joint Committee on Legislative Research, and Senate Research shall provide such legal, research, clerical, technical, and bill drafting services as the committee may require in the performance of its duties; and

            Be it further resolved that the actual and necessary expenses of the committee, its members, and any staff assigned to the committee incurred by the committee shall be paid by the Joint Contingent Fund.