The minutes of the 15 December 1997 meeting were approved as presented.

Dr. Moore gave an update of the latest General Assembly events. We learned in early February through contacts around the state that two bills were introduced in the legislature. These were House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 663. House Bill 1005 would have precluded local governments from offering telecommunications services altogether and Senate Bill 663 placed some more reasonable limits on the offering of telecommunications services by local governments. Dr. Moore made some contacts with the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns while in Richmond for the Virginia Municipal League Conference. When House Bill 1005 was considered by a subcommittee of that standing committee on 9 February, Al Bradley attended and testified. The subcommittee was confounded by the number of amendments that were offered to this bill and passed the bill back to the full committee with no recommendation and including all of the amendments. Dr. Moore and Al Bradley then returned to Richmond on 12 February and met with the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. Following the testimony of several representatives of local governments, the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns voted to carry over the legislation until next year. Dr. Moore also noted that an upcoming appeal of an FCC decision in a case involving Abilene, Texas would be heard in the District of Columbia Circuit of Federal Court and that this decision would profoundly influence future problems of this sort. If Abilene, Texas prevailed, as was supposed, then it is likely that there will be no future recurrences of this legislative wrangling.

The next item was that of storm damage to EVA cables and facilities from the storm that occurred on the evening of Tuesday 27 January 1998. David had earlier reported that the Episcopal Church drop had suffered considerable damage as the result of the weight of ice and snow and from having been struck by a tree limb. 4 of the 6 fibers were damaged, but the two remaining fibers were reterminated at a cost of $531.20. This was acceptable to the EVA subcommittee.

Jay Cox discussed the proposed rate changes. Our present rate system results in billings that total $1,986 per month. Revision #2 of the proposed rate structure would result in monthly billing total of $2,096 per month and resolve some inequalities at the same time. The proposed rates are as follows:

Following discussion, Bill Chaffin proposed a motion that the terms "user" or "connection" as contained in the above rate schedule was intended to mean "a physical demarcation point"; or the point-of-presence or connector where EVA presents a service to the customer. This was seconded by Jack White and unanimously approved. A second motion was made by Jack White, seconded by Bill Chaffin, that the Revision 2 rate structure above, as amended to include the definitions of "user" and "connection", be adopted and this was approved unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next scheduled meeting of the Electronic Village of Abingdon is set for March 25, 1998 at 12:00 noon at the Johnston Memorial Hospital Cafeteria.

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Albert C. Bradley,

Secretary

986489144
HOUSE BILL NO. 335 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 13, 1998) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Callahan) A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1500 of the Code of Virginia, relating to organization of local government.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §15.2-1500 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§15.2-1500. Organization of local government.

Every locality shall provide for all the governmental functions of the locality, including, without limitation, the organization of all departments, offices, boards, commissions and agencies of government, and the organizational structure thereof, which are necessary and the employment of the officers and other employees needed to carry out the functions of government. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, general or special, no locality shall establish any department, office, board, commission, agency or other governmental division or entity which has authority to offer telecommunications equipment, infrastructure, other than pole or tower attachments including antennas or conduit occupancy, or services, other than intragovernmental radio dispatch or paging systems shared by adjoining localities, for sale or lease to any person or entity other than (i) such locality's departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities or (ii) an adjoining locality's departments, offices, boards, commissions, agencies or other governmental divisions or entities, so long as any charges for such telecommunications equipment, infrastructure and services do not exceed the cost to the providing locality of providing such equipment, infrastructure or services. However, any town which is located adjacent to Exit 17 on Interstate 81 and which offered telecommunications services to the public on January 1, 1998, is hereby authorized to continue to offer such telecommunications services, but shall not acquire by eminent domain the facilities or other property of any telephone company or cable operator. Any locality may sell any telecommunications infrastructure, including related equipment, which such locality had constructed prior to September 1, 1998, and such locality may receive from the purchaser or purchasers, as full or partial consideration for the sale of such infrastructure, communications services to be used solely for internal use of the locality. Any locality which sells such infrastructure, including related equipment, may, at its option, exclude the incumbent local exchange carrier from the bid or other sale process.

2. That the provisions of this act shall expire on July 1, 2000.

For more information go to (General Assembly Home)

Go Back