BILL REQ. #:  S-0487.1 

Read first time 01/19/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to public, education, and government access channels; and adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that public, education, and government access channels are a vital public resource that should be easily accessible. The collection of aggregate viewership data promotes good management of this resource while still protecting personal privacy.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A city, county, or other local governmental entity that grants a franchise for cable television service must include the following requirements in its franchise agreement: (a) Public, education, and government access channels shall be carried on the lowest cost tier of service; (b) public, education, and government access channels shall not be separated numerically; (c) after the initial designation of public, education, and government access channel numbers, the numbers shall not be changed without the agreement of the franchising authority; and (d) weekly aggregate viewership data for each public, education, and government access program shall be provided to the franchising authority.
     (2) Each franchising authority shall post the aggregate viewership data to a web site for public inspection. The web site shall be updated at least weekly.
     (3) The following definitions apply to this chapter:
     (a) "Cable television service" has the same meaning as "cable service" in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 522; and
     (b) "Franchise" and "franchising authority" are defined in 47 U.S.C. Sec. 522. "Franchising authority" means a city, county, or other local governmental entity that grants a franchise for cable television service.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Sections 1 and 2 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.