REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE TASK FORCE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVES STUDYING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND FRANCHISE ISSUES.

WHEREAS, the telecommunications industry is experiencing change due to technological advances; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico municipal league will provide to municipalities a model ordinance to enact a twelve-month moratorium on renewing franchises for telecommunications providers; and

WHEREAS, the telecommunications industry and municipalities have formed a task force, including legislative members, that has been meeting during the 2001 interim to study telecommunications franchise issues; and

WHEREAS, the objective of the task force is the development of a statewide process for agreements between municipalities and telecommunications providers; and

WHEREAS, until a process is reached between the industry and the New Mexico municipal league, it is desirable to ensure that new entrants to the telecommunications industry in New Mexico be bound by the same requirements as exist in current agreements with like telecommunications providers within the municipality;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to continue the appointments of two members of the house of representatives and two members of the senate to participate in a task force comprised of a representative of the cable communications industry, a representative of the wireless industry, representatives of the telecommunications industry and representatives of New Mexico's municipalities studying telecommunications franchise issues; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to direct the revenue stabilization and tax policy committee and the economic and rural development and telecommunications committee to receive a report from the task force of its findings and recommendations prior to the first session of the forty-sixth legislature but no later than December 31, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexico's municipalities be requested to hold new entrants to the telecommunications industry to the requirements of current telecommunications providers and to extend the moratorium on renewing franchises until July 1, 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative council service, the New Mexico municipal league and representatives of the telecommunications industry.