In accordance with a unanimous vote of the General Membership, the following resolution was transmitted to the Mayor, Commission and staff.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has passed HOUSE BILL 529, “The Consumer Broadband Choice Act of 2007”, that authorizes the State of Florida to grant state-issued franchises to AT&T and any number of other telecommunication companies for the intended purpose of allowing these companies to provide Florida residents with competitively priced DSL and cable TV services; and
WHEREAS, the unregulated unsightly appearance and location of the telecommunication equipment used to provide these services has and will have a profound negative impact on the safety along our public rights-of-way, the appearance of neighborhoods, and property values throughout Fort Lauderdale.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations:
That the Council formally objects to the unsightly appearance and location of the telecommunication equipment that has already been constructed on both public and private property in the City of Fort Lauderdale; and
That the Council fully supports the City of Fort Lauderdale’s anticipated creation of an Ordinance to regulate the appearance and location, on both public and private property, of all telecommunication equipment, both existing and planned, authorized by House Bill 529, in order to minimize the negative impact this equipment will have on the safety along our public rights-of way, the appearance of our neighborhoods and property values; and
That the Council formally requests that the aforementioned Ordinance include a requirement that all telecommunication equipment authorized by House Bill 529, be placed on poles or underground whenever possible; and
That the Council formally requests that the aforementioned Ordinance include a requirement that all telecommunication companies in the process of planning the construction of this equipment be required to consult with appropriate neighborhood representatives and property owners prior to receiving a permit for construction of the planned equipment, in order to ensure a minimal impact on the proposed location.
Adopted this, the 11 day of September, 2007.
Eugenia D. Ellis , President On behalf of the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations