Item C: Telecommunications Tax Fund

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Telecommunications Vision and Policies Eugene’s Telecommunications Vision: a coordinated region-wide infrastructure that provides accessible and affordable high-speed connectivity for citizens, public institutions, and businesses and is constructed in a manner that best serves the public interest. Eugene’s nine telecommunications policies are: 1. All City residents, businesses and public institutions shall have access to the full range of tele- communications services at reasonable, affordable rates. 2. The City shall receive fair compensation, including but not limited to full recovery of all its costs for the use of public rights of way and other City property by telecommunications providers. 3. The public must be protected from adverse safety consequences stemming from the installation, maintenance and operation of telecommunications facilities in the City. 4. Telecommunications facilities must be located, installed and maintained in a manner that mini- mizes visual impact, preserves views, and is consistent with City of Eugene adopted land use plans and policies. 5. Public inconvenience and disruption stemming from the installation, maintenance, and operation of telecommunications facilities shall be minimized and fully compensated. 6. The City shall ensure that telecommunications providers make use of the rights of way in as effi- cient a manner as possible. 7. The City shall have access to reliable, flexible telecommunications services. 8. Similarly situated telecommunications providers shall be treated in a similar manner. 9. The City shall use telecommunications along with other media, including an emphasis on the Internet, to communicate with and provide information and services to citizens, public institu- tions, and businesses. Ordinance 20083 – Major Components: 1. Compensation or ‘rent’ for use of the public rights of way (ROW): The ordinance retained the 7% use fee but replaced negotiated franchise agreements with standardized licenses to meet the level playing field criteria of federal law. The use fee was extended to a new class of user defined as “resellers”: users who use the ROW through wire-line lease agreements with major telecom or cable providers. 2. Management, maintenance, and compensation for use of the public right-of-way: The ordinance contains provisions that preserve the integrity of the right-of-way and maintain the health and safety of the community, including developing a long-range plan for placing utility wires underground. 3. Telecommunications Technology Investment if Community Benefit: The ordinance levies a2% reg- istration fee/tax obligation for all cable and telecommunications providers operating facilities located in Eugene, owned or leased, in the ROW or not, wireless or wireline. This is a lawful business privilege