HCSHBs651,HB479&HB647--VIDEOSERVICEPROVIDERS
SPONSOR: Richey
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonUtilitiesbyavoteof11to1.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
651.
Thisbillmodifiesthedefinitionof"videoservice"forprovisions
oflawrelatingtovideoserviceproviderstonowincludestreaming
content.
ThisbillisthesameasSB1232(2022).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatsatelliteandstreamingservices
haveneverbeenchargedafranchisefee.Thefranchisefeesare
forexclusiverighttotheright-of-wayandtheseservicesdonot
haveinfrastructure intheright-of-way.Iflocalmunicipalities
beginchargingfranchisefeesontheseservices,consumerbills
willmostlikelyincrease.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Richey;and
DirecTV.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthecurrentfeesdo
notcoverthecostofmaintainingtheright-of-way.In2021,the
GeneralAssemblypassedlegislationtocreateataskforcetolook
intomanagementandtaxationoftheright-of-way.Thistaskforce
hasyettomeet,whichmakesthestatutorychangespremature.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereCharlesC.Caverly,City
ofMarylandHeights;JohnF.Mulligan,Jr.;KevenSchneider,City
OfStJosephMissouri;MunicipalLeagueofMetroStLouis;
MissouriMunicipalLeague;CityofKansasCity;Cityof
Springfield;CityofSt.Peters;andStevenM.Berezney.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillspokeaboutthelegislation
thatpassedin2021thatreducedthefranchisefeesbutestablished
ataskforcetolookintofuturestatutorychanges.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwasMissouriInternetAnd
TelevisionAssociation(MITA). Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.