HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #01 - Discussion Itemf f)1
Honorable Joe Carollo, October 19, 1981 11IF,-41 5'
iiami City Commissioner
-,� ,� Request for Legal Opin i-nn
concerning Cable TV Li•c,! isinq
C,ep ge F. Knox, Jr.
`p Cit Attorney
Your request for a legal opinir`n was based upon the hypo-
thetical question:
IF A CABLE. LICrNSE APPLICANT WAS
SOLICITING PUBLIC SUPPORT AND WENT
TO A NEWSPAPER AND PAID A SUPS OF
MONEY FOR ADVERTISEMPNTS WHICH NEIVER
APPEARED, ARE THERE, ANY VIOLATIONS
OF CITY OR COUNTY CODES, RULES, AND
REGULATIONS, OR STATE; LAW?
Your hypothetical question must- be evaluated in terms of the
City Code, Resolutions, Request for Proposals (RFP), Dade
County Corse and Florida Statutc'3. tllhen the conduct you des-
cribe in your hypothetical question is evaluated in the terms
of the provisions of the City of Miami Cable Television Ordin-
ance, Resolutions and RFP, the Following is applicable:
1. City of Miami Cable Television Ordinance, Section
10.5-34 (d) requires disclosure of all agreements and ender-
- standings between the applicant and any other person with
respect to the proposed license or the proposed cable tele-
vision operation. This section is set out in its entirety
as follows:
(d) Once the successful applicant has been determined,
but prior to the adoption of a separate ordinance
awarding a specific license, there shall be a full
disclosure of all agreements and understandings,
whether written or implied, between the applicant
and any other person with respect to the proposed
license or the proposed cable- television operation.
If any such written atlreefnents exist, a copy there-
of shall be provided.
0 0
Honorable Joe Carollo -2- October 19, 1981
If an agreement had been matte ] �tween th#2 newspaper and an
applicant it would have to be disclosed pursuant to this
section, prior to the adoption of the ordinance awarding a
specific license.
2. Review of the invitation to apply for a cable television
license (RFP) indicates that in ;trucr_ions were given which re-
quires disclosure of expenses ilicurr-�!:l in seeking the license
award, and additionally, the su,7cessful applicant had to pro-
vide the City with the names an;l addresses of all persons who
were employed or .retained to sp ak on the company's or organiza-
tion's behalf. (See pages 7, 8, 33 and 34 attached herr,to)
The time for the submission of this is within ten (10) days
after the award of the license. Disclosure of such expendi-
ture in your hypothetical question would have to be accomplished,
but in so doing, the requirement of the RFP would be discharged.
3. Additionally, Resolution 80-783, passed and adopte(l Octo-
ber 30, 1980, limits contacts with City elected or appointed
officers, officials or employee!; by cable television industry
representatives to public sessions. This resolution defines
lobbying as any written or oral conduct by one who is employed
or retaine-1 for compensation, which conduct is intended to act
in some part to influence cable television license issuance.
(See attached Resolution) . The conduct you described in your
hypothetical question was not with elected or appointed
officers, officials or employees by the City, but with a private
newspaper, therefore, such Resolution would not be applicable.
Further analysis under the Dade County Code and Florida
Statute reveals the following:
4. Under 5 838.015(I) of the Florida Statutes, bribery is
defined as:
(Cjorrupt•ly to give, offer, or promise
to any public servant, or, if a public
servant, corruptly to request, solicit,
accept, or agree to accent for himself
or another, any pecuniary or ot)ier
benefit with an intent or purpose to
influence the performance of any act
or omission which the person believes
Honorable Joe Carollo -3- October 19, 1383
to be, or the public servant r.epre-
serrts as being, within the official
discretion of a public s(_rvant, in
violation of a public duty, or in
perfr_)rmance of a public duty.
Additionally, a "public servant", as used in the statute, is
defined as:
any public officer, agent, or employee of
government, whether elected or appointed,
including, but not limited to, any execu-
tive, legislative, or judicial officer;
any person who holds on office or position
in a political party or political party com-
mittee, whether electcl or appointed; .and
any person participating as a special master,
receiver, auditor, juror, arbitrator., um-
pire, referee, consultant, or hearing eaminer,
or person acting on behalf of any of Lhuse,
in performing a govorrmental function; I;ut the
term does not include witnesses. Such terer
shall include a candidate for election or
appointment to any such office, including
any individual Who seeks or intends to occu-
py any such office. It shall include any
person appointed to any of the foregoing
offices or employments before and after
he qualifies. S 838.014(4) Fla. Stat. (1979).
Florida Courts have determined that as a rjeneral rule, and
in the absence of contrary statutory provisions, the newspaper
publishing business is a private interest and is not affected
with a public interest. A roved Personnel_v. Tribune CoTpany,
177 So.2d 704 (Fla. lst nCA, 1965). Consequently, an -application
of Sections 838.014 and 838.015 to your hypothetical question
readily discerns that their requisite elements are not satisfied.
Hence, the actions would not be viewed as bribery by a Florida
Court.
0
Honorable Joe Carollo
-4-
Octob-�_,r 19, 1981
It is well -settled that a newspaper may publish or reject
commercial advertising tendered to it as its judgment best
dictates without incurring liahility for advertisements re-
jected by it. Approved Personnel v. Tribune. Supra. 11-a ni%
courts have maintained this�nositio'n even where Lhe arlver-
tisetsent is a proper one, and the regular fee for publica-
tion has been paid or tendere:l. 18 ALR3d 1287.
Your hypothetical question does not mention the return of
the fee paid by the advertisemer►t. Review of pertin-nt
statute and code sections reveal an absence of leglislative
regulation applicable to a sit!vition such as the one you
hypothesize. Although newspaper rates are regulated in con-
nection with publication of legal a,lvertiserients an(9 official
public notices under Chapter 50 of the rlorida Statutes,
other advertising protection, ►z ider various statutory sections,
goes to that of a "Deceptive Nature." Because your hypothetical
question does not indicate that an ad appeareJ at all, these
sections wol.ild not be applicable-2. The absence of statements
categorizing the alleged nonexistArit advertisement as h�ing
in the nature of a "political or• legal notice" would preclude
application of Chapter 50 of thy-, statute as well.
The First A►nendment of the U.S. Cons`itution an(l Article I,
54 of the Florida Constitution protect the newspaper from
inquiry into its Editorial content absent charges of libel.
As defined by the courts:
[A] libel is a malicious publication by writing,
printing, picture, effigy, sign, or otherwise
than by mere speech of matter which exposes any
living person, or the 11-ernory of any decoased
person, to hatre:3, contempt, ri-3icule, or
obloquy, or which causes or tends to cause
any person to be shunned or avoided, or whicli
has a tendency to injury any person, corpora-
tion, or association in his or its business
or occupation. 20 Fla. Jur, Libel and Slander
52.
5. No provisions of the Dade County Code are violated by the
conduct described in your hypothetical question.
cc: Mayor Ferre
Honorable Members
City ?tanager
GFK/JJC/JEti/wpe/1
of the City Commission
10/3(I;tln
' r r.r1 r I t F" tip`. i (\ () ` 1 8 V
A Ftt�n1.L'T10"1 T'I'1'11'1'11tt': P 1 1 CC`NIr,C7. 1"71! t'ITY
F11'CTIvr C'F AI -I( Iit111, rot 1('I I tUI! IC1),I,'• r!r
f't!F'1•CYfI'S by CATIl' III ION ION lY.i'llSTrY I'T-rESEfiTA-
?1Vf:5, 1.1 ,I1-r I.I'T'1•i('1,N'l7 r'F 711fIN Ar..`N'l ;
1'11-7IIEh PI711A7 TIII sr,i' imxr Or AI.I. SUCH
U110ACTS I' 1;11 ('I'TED IN KI 1711:: TO Tnr CITY
COMOIII SSIOt' V 1,101' In lilr I "FUAr1,'I. OF ANY CAVI.r
'1rlrvlsio, ITC11:-I:: r1'Ilt!it; llr'.'I1'Tt: 1111,T 711IS
11r.SOLV7101 r T C('1" 'lI'i'I t' ANI- 11:11 I1 F L'Iri F-C AS
NOT TO CO!' I,1C7 k1TII TIM YLLIFIbA rt'I•L1C FFCOr.DS
ACT.
WIIEl7r.AS, r'e C i I V Of t(iAmi i presently •:•artina the
process of AwaTdil a cal:lr tnlevirirn licence: an:l
h11T'1.1:Ac, , a11nIY!-j� cf t1— r.:l'rIrnrr ref other etti•
which have and rt; rn t)liI hoer -s trv,alr: n Ia,Ir.In of Iawr.II('
filed against r;uni-ipAlitirr: aIIr•i11- favnlitirr and other ir-
proper practices 1 city rffi-•iAls: An'T
I:IIr.F'LAS, ) •t-hl•it1'I 1/ IF-r cAhlr teI- visinn has been or
ray be nor intrns Iha1, the usual, eustrr•ary Icbhying on the
topics before the sty r--•;-i•.r-ion: And
w11CF'LAF, t',r pill 1 i c --d wi 1 1 hr a•i•: at,c• i if the of f I l 1 -
at ions and Artivit' I F of these 1•11v.3te intcrrstr are a trattcl
of public I, now lcda :
NOW, TNr6flOrr, 1'r 17 TrF^1.'.'F1) PS 71ir. COt1155I01: CF
THr CITY Or F(lAN1, rlcrlt,A-
.. coon 1. l.cl•hyin1/a Aud ccrrruniratinn with elects':,.
or appointed offi-'rs, cfflriw.l', rr nr.l•Ivyn,s of the City by
cable induetrN replesentativrF r:1,,)I I Itrrited to public set -3cI ..
All other lob)yirla t4nc1 rrr-t-ynirntirr with inIivld•taI elective
or appointed officers, off iriair. or-r11n';r-s s'1aII be prchibitr:,
except that rrqurris by ind„-•try 7rI•rr!znntnIivcr, license arr)i-
cants and their ag"nt.s inr information or for r-t•tings to exrhAn::r
1/ •Lohl-ying" a- u�n•1 hrr••in "•rnI,s Ary crndurt (whether
oral or written) I}' one who it rr•I)myrd or retained
for ecrtrnsarirn, wl'Ich renr'luet it intvnird to act in
some I•rrt to influ-n retie telrvi�ir•n license issuance. ,
The trlr• "irf' I,acr i-ruat,(r nran- to Ircr-•tr, advocate, _
or ol,lonr thr ) cage, rr d1.,fent, of ral•le �rl*;• rirr---
license i ssuaur'.. CITY CCI.MMISS!�IN
MEETING OF
0 C T 3 0
SU :1
P t:. amok
n,+cPn.snry ilJnrmr n,l itt 11+• )r,t-,tnti••u cf 1•i•1 lr .},nsrtlr r,r
he addressod to tl+c Cite I;gt,n.t,•r ns his dr•<iott�r, nc providc••i
for in Section 2 1 roof.
Section 2 The City N.ntinyer or his derignee can authrrtr,
the exchange of n. •eesary infnrmation and trertirar- with ay),�:t,t••?
officials, office- or rt-r] —r. c-f thr City, h-•:over, the s,•I
-
stance of any dis, -joIs� It,10 ir,fI,rr•ntfnn prrvi•'.r d, or rt•r i It .
aftended ether th )uf•11r r,- -inn- wit )I rrl•If' ir•lttstry reil,-
sentatives, licen- A)•I Iirertt- An,) tf,ir ngrntr -Inl1 be dtr-
cIaSPd in writing ) the City Itntlac!„r to the C1ty CnnriSSIrr.
prior to the awnrtt r/q of the t i crn-c .
Section 3. T11I,-. Ion^i+I,i,'r 'h,II tint. t r,Strued c t
it+terpretrd ro a, rn,flt,t wIt)I th, )fnvl,.11,• rf the Fi,rti
public Records Act tChn`trr lla, F.F.1
Section 4. TI+,• r"I'.rvnrfuI hitl,i,r r t t f i le an oath.
that Sections 1 ar' 2 f th, 1,rrr3is rP-,r,Iutic+r+ Ij;jv been adr+,tr•1
to and that any An nl] tr-,tIr,;e }•y all.,. of th, r-Ir,,,PntativcS cf
said successful hi 'der have t•tr•r, p•Ihlic)y h�1d At:a properly
disclose,'..
t!it rf O;tr ,r, 19b:
� 1
G. t)' T)t I. I. �^
t, ID !•! AFfFC'.'rI P�
C1 ht t'
ASSISTA►:T CITY A77�•rt:ry
t
AI 1 ASQt "OP!' AKI` G•' I.I I CI1;Fcc
GIIVJ..I.L
7-
r$o-7i8n
t,i,is frr wiOf, i.:++.iI of i,i:'J1,'ir,f
misun derstandInj.
Application Selection procc(Jn"(.s
The City of tliairl will evalu,itr ,11 rvop!),a1,. that, hive coi.iplied viit;i
requirement;. Ail applicar, Ls thi,t I, i,,�i Of,, quill I so Icatiuns 1 is Led in t!,_
RFP and have sul:,n i I t;:(i I;rrjt)t,, <il s i„l I,•- 1 1. !if I v,: ;i I ur,us w 111 t: e ti l i ered th(.
opportun i ty to
mace
a fovinal
t ion I o
Oiw
c i ty counci t
i n support
v� i
applications.
llif-,
If aring will sl It
mw.-,,h, rs
of
the public tv
,)(I(Iress th'?
commission. N.oc ire or tinie and plat ' (till �,! giv'?n Lu ,ll,iil icai,i : ind pull i,
when the cit.,i „ion is re. -My ti, e onv (icl. o public h,-ai ing for this putim'.
Following tiiv the c(i.; cum,•issIon will coi,iplefe its e a';tiation an'.l 1 i '
final action reps -ding the granting if th.- Iic',nse andi at;�+ptior, (1. the ordif, +:irc_.
The successf,i' applicant will h+, r(c+ ,i►i-(; i(. dic..l,,ct, incurred ii,
seeking the 1 ii.(+ist: a:,`ard. A forr.i i (:►',+li,'^'1 I,+.�+tit for Lhis 1,pose. Ji,�
,
record should shn-.r c:�Pend i Lij res of 1;)r :i l riiid its cori'nrate pav,' .
partner or jt�iol vt.i:L(iter. 10 i to th,! I,,o suit of the
llcFnse ai'c vc-quite , includinii, I:o' ,i':!. 1;i--(tud to ,;d.',.i i islli„ warket:ing,
puolic relaticris, )c+Ubying ano ,ii+1,11t.Ant must it
disclo5c th,_ ar.lsi :ii(.8 acid Lev,--, a,,ir,,n::nls nr plans
relevint to th:_, lic•?nsing pic►c.c; lrchidi,((I, i.,iL nni. il,(ii.(,d to. cash, prop—.;
stock or stud, ,oLiu-is.
The city will require su(h infoiinatiun within tcn (10) days after the ai;ird
of the license by that city commissioii.
The success fill appl i c,3r.-',. i ; rr-,(. i i rt. 1 n 2: ill-, S a..
addresses of all persons whio Nave br I -(!tJ0LtI-' It-J 0;-I th'.
company or organ;zations's behalf. ', Puri, to cur Vvtpurp,.sc
is provided. This form should bo s•-,twflttcd within 10 doys ariter the award
of the license by the city comm-Issic
SLRVICES N.-I ilLSPI-i
A plieition. I.equirrmi- n t s
This invi%attion ccntain5 �felccl
;jy the (•I .
The City ci f Niaw,; is establiskirt) f,
a , it that all
applicants have maximum frcedom to ,
v (.I t-.;i tip. it ova- i w,.,-vo iva,,, 6 cre at i
fI
proposals. April icants should cat-efr
ly rc'vicw all jnJ ccnd;lti,-,,...
set forth in 1*.i,:? draft ordinaiicc w-
2
i�ii lz:c Cab!e
Television Lic.---rse Requirements of
applic'n"
be r e q u i re ci to o L:i in a Count' Ci I
I rIc v i Li i r t a r t i n k:
constructi�
Tt,e City of Mi i,,ii fully "
n -i L-i n with tier
.,uccessful for the
in applied
proposals. All -."Iews being offered
derv'.; �o be f re e i �
and volunterily ofluredand will, b,--
ki lice,isv an bt:come sub",_!
to the enforLUA-Ift. provisions -,tL,4-n,i
)plicant riui'.
agree to support a;1J waiver rc!(j:Jire:i
!-J. t—., Lr,!,,,i;: I ca fv,-, Coim;ifl s
(FCC) any voluntary offer of service.,
or terh-,i(til Lhat
exceed FCC requir-2,nc-its.
`UUESb UL LICENSE APPLU M
I.A.
Due Date*
'
firm Nam,
' Affiant's Signature--
'
Official Position -- _-- ------...__..__
------_.._.----_—.
V to --
INSTRUCTIONS
List total eo,'n-', i,•cm-red in s•ei:i, i
Uve Nip,-i I:' yw!r kocal
co-pany, and its horr?nl c.orpora:irjn, partrl.
r,r .ici'�t. 'rr'Ll!jr. -ir, ..� �, (j the
following cateaorie ;. Include estir,i+ps fr -
expenses you have incur rF d, bjt
for which you havc not yet been billed.
—
Expense I tc.n
u rL
Salaries paid t�i cr,---any or organizat-w
porsom"r.l
(local and national)
'Contracted vici ::--,:onsultants, att, fneys,
local
spokespersons , lobbyists, etc.
Advertising :ind 1w: ,ic rr.lations (;.�edi,r
a,js, mi0io—
visual preseni.atiens, etc.)
_ _ —
Printing
—
Studies and survey
_
_
Travel
- - - --._._--
Other"
ToLaI
On a sepa►znt,� sh; e't, provide in(orr it .'n r, w; djn'7 co:-O.ingency
aareernents or bonus pl -,ors relevant t.0 .Ire 1 i r,:r-. i ru Pr-ocess including, but not
limited to, cash, Property, stock or stock options.
Signature ---- _--- Attest ---- --- -- -- ------ Date
* This form is to I.,,. ccrrple'.ecl l y thei.Ii Oniti_ .ind submitted
within 10 day-7 after the award of tiro: lirm-S'P try the Lit•y Lcr:-nssion.
"* If the total emcceds '.)5,000 in thi,- r..rrs!r;(•r,;, iist, rri:Jvidual LAtegories
of expenses.
tag+: J
r�
1,000ESSFUL LIUNS. AVI L I
Due Date*
/inn Name
Afflant's Signature
Official Positioii
Date
INSTRUCTIONS
Li St nam.-,, ,`n 1 autir-esses o i a E 1 l ri:, i loc%.1 i `. F1T ri r ,a ! i t'i;i 1 i.; 3se,�
vr,loyees at iornC,,vs, cnnsultanis, pt.' to l`.: is,, r"I!:1'
CcunseI , ioraI n'rlttrtrs , c�t.c. ) %.Ain havi-- t `:'n (`I;'`1 � ,'!+(t of ; Cti? t li!'CUntaC
the id,vor, (V!Inci l rne.mbers or city sti' � f to si-,, k on your u.)mpan.' or organi -
tation's beha If.
* 111iS f(iI'm is to be cu-inIetE;lI t;11? rf1:1 1.1) r:,,r t a n U-j
submitted --ithin 10 days afte, the DWI)r,o of th,? licunse ij✓ try
City Coo iission.