June 6, 2005

Resolution #64: Supporting Local Governments Offering Broadband Internet Access Services To Citizens urges Congress to ensure the continued ability of local governments to offer broadband Internet service access to citizens.

Resolution #44: Permanent Fix For The E-Rate And The Universal Service Fund: Exempting It From The Anti-Deficiency Act urges the Senate to pass S. 241, to provide a permanent exemption of E-Rate from the Anti-Deficiency Act and the House introduce and enact a companion piece or legislation; and encourages state and local governments to provide ample instructions on how to use such technology and incorporate it into the curriculum.

Resolution #65: Preserving The Role And Rights Of Local Governments In A New Telecommunications Age resolves that the Congress should accommodate the interests of local governments in any revision or amendments to the federal Communications Act.

Resolution #66: Public Safety Access To 700 MHz Spectrum calls on Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation in 2005 to mandate a date certain of no later than December 31, 2006 to end the DTV transition and provide spectrum access to public safety on a nationwide basis in the 700 MHz band; and calls on Congress to limit the disruption of over-the-air broadcast by subsidizing digital'to-analog television converter equipment for analog television sets from proceeds of a 700 MHz spectrum auction as well as labeling of analog televisions sets to communicate that the television sets will be incapable of displaying over'the-air television broadcast signals after December 31, 2006.

Resolution #67: Resolution Supporting Local Franchising Of Cable Telecommunications Companies affirms the prime importance of local cable franchising in granting permission for cable companies to use valuable public property for their lines; in providing needed protections for municipalities, the public, and cable customers; and in tailoring franchise requirements and services to meet local needs.

Resolution #68: Local Government Principles For Communications Policy Modernization: Protecting Local Government Interest urges the Administration and Congress to support a balanced federalist approach that encourages new innovation and technology while preserving appropriate authority for local government to protect their citizens, particularly as it relates to public safety and homeland security, promoting local competition and economic development, taxation, universal access, rights'of-way management, and consumer protection.

Resolution #69: Urging Protection Of Local Taxing Authority In The Modernization Of The Nation's Communications Tax Laws urges Congress and the Bush Administration to follow the principles adopted by the Conference Communications Task Force in developing legislation to modernize federal communications tax laws, including the authority to raise revenue to provide for the public interest is vital to state and local governments and should be preserved, rental payments for the use and occupancy of the public rights'of-way should be applied on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis among providers of communications services that use the public rights'of-way; and non rental costs including maintenance incurred by state and local governments associated with communications companies' provision of services should be borne by that company.

Resolution #70: A National Intercity Rail Policy For The 21st Century Recommendations Of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Amtrak Intercity Rail Investment Task Force urges the Administration and Congress to stabilize Amtrak operations, infrastructure, and financials by appropriating Amtrak's FY06 grant request of $1.82 billion while federal policy-makers debate the immediate and long'term authorization for Amtrak; and establish a sustainable federal passenger rail trust fund, comparable to the highway and aviation trust funds, to provide Amtrak, states and local governments with a reliable source of capital and operating support for intercity passenger rail corridors.

Resolution # 71: Resolution Urging The Federal Government To Respond To Increasing Transportation Infrastructure Threats By Supporting A Well-Funded TEA-21 Reauthorization urges the Congress to approve and the President to sign a well-funded surface transportation law with funding levels that not just maintains but improves America's aging transportation infrastructure.

Resolution #72: Resolution In Support Of Creating A "Projects Of National And Regional Significance" Or "Mega Projects" Category In The Reauthorization Of TEA-21, And Funding It At The Highest Level Possible urges Congress to pass a Projects of National and Regional Significance category with a high level of funding in the final TEA-21 reauthorization bill.

Resolution #73: Assuring Safe Rail Transport Of Hazardous Materials Through Cities calls on Congress and the Administration to direct the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Department of Transportation to conduct an assessment of freight railroad notification procedures for the transport of hazardous materials through local jurisdictions; and establish a coordinated system for notifying appropriate local first responders of the transportation of rail hazardous materials through local jurisdictions.

Resolution #74: Seaport Security calls on Congress to immediately pass legislation authorizing the Secretary of the Transportation Security Administration to issue Letters of Intent for multiyear funding to seaports with plans to carry out long'term security improvement; and calls on Congress and the Administration to give seaport security equal importance in policy development and resources as it has given the development or aviation and airport security policy and funding, and assist the nation's 361 public seaports in carrying out the federal mandate to improve their security infrastructure.

Resolution #75: In Opposition To Proposed Cuts To The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) calls on Congress to maintain the authorized level of AIP funding at $3.6 billion to continue to address the nation's aviation infrastructure and capacity needs.

Resolution #76: Urging Increased Funding For The Transportation Security Administration's Baggage And Cargo Screening Explosive Detection System Program urges the TSA and Congress to develop an effective creative financing program that will accelerate the installation of efficient, cost-effective in-line baggage and cargo screening EDS where appropriate, to provide sufficient annual appropriations to assure such installations, and to reimburse airports at the statutorily authorized federal share.