S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

SUPPORTING FULL CARRIAGE OF WRIW TELEMUNDO 50 ON A BASIC TIER ON THE RHODE ISLAND COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. SYSTEM

WHEREAS, Based upon the 2000 Census, the Hispanic population in Rhode Island accounts for 9% of the population; and

WHEREAS, Based upon the 2000 Census, the Hispanic population in Rhode Island has doubled over the last decade; and

WHEREAS, It can be assumed that the Hispanic population in Rhode Island will continue to grow rapidly; and

WHEREAS, The large Hispanic population in Rhode Island has a need to receive community information as well as information that impacts their everyday lives; and

WHEREAS, There is one dominant cable TV company in Rhode Island, Cox Communications, Inc., which serves 96% of the cable households in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Cox carries one Hispanic station on its basic tier, which is a Boston station; and

WHEREAS, WRIW Telemundo 50 produces local Hispanic newscasts and local Hispanic community programs; and

WHEREAS, Cox carries WRIW Telemundo 50s newscast on Cox 3, Monday through Friday at 6 pm and 11 pm for a half hour each and an hour on Saturday and Sunday morning; and

WHEREAS, WRIW Telemundo 50 has the potential to produce more local programming which would inform and entertain the local Hispanic population; and

WHEREAS, Cox Communications' refusal to carry WRIW Telemundo 50 on a basic tier full time, denies the local Hispanic population news, information and entertainment, and jeopardizes the future of an important media business in Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby supports full carriage of WRIW Telemundo 50 on a basic tier on the Rhode Island Cox Communications, Inc. system; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Cox Communications, Inc.