Legal Document

476 U.S. 488 106 S.Ct. 2034 90 L.Ed.2d 480 CITY OF LOS ANGELES and Department of Water Power, Petitionersv.PREFERRED COMMUNICATIONS, INC. No. 85-390. Argued April 29, 1986. Decided June 2, Syllabus Respondent sued petitioners, the city Los Angeles its Power (DWP), in Federal District Court, alleging, inter alia, a violation rights under First Amendment by reason (1) city's refusal to grant respondent cable television franchise on ground that had failed participate an auction for single area (2) DWP's access poles or underground conduits used power lines. The Court dismissed complaint failure state claim upon which relief could be granted. Appeals reversed remanded further proceedings. Held: should not have been dismissed. activities allegedly seeks engage plainly implicate interests. Through original programming exercising editorial discretion over stations programs include repertoire, communicate messages wide variety topics formats. But where speech conduct are joined course action, values must balanced against competing societal Thus, has made factual assertions justify restrictions franchising these disputed respondent, there fuller development issues before this will decide legal issues. Accordingly, case so petitioners may file answer material disputes resolved. Pp. 493-496. 754 F.2d 1396 (CA9 1985), affirmed remanded. REHNQUIST, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. BLACKMUN, filed concurring opinion, MARSHALL O'CONNOR, JJ., joined, post, p. 496. Edward J. Perez, Angeles, Cal., petitioners. Harold R. Farrow, Oakland, respondent. [Amicus Curiae Information from pages 489-490 intentionally omitted] Justice REHNQUIST 1 Preferred Communications, Inc., City (City) (DWP) United States Central California. alleged respondent's Fourteenth Amendments, §§ 2 Sherman Act, City's See Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 12(b)(6). Ninth Circuit with respect but as claim. (1985). We granted certiorari latter issue, 474 979, 380, 88 333 Respondent's DWP alleged, following facts: asked Pacific Telephone Telegraph (PT & T) permission lease space their utility order provide service south central Angeles. App. 6a. These utilities responded they would unless first obtained City. Ibid. franchise, refused it one, stating was award area. Id., at 6a-7a.1 3 operators speakers, id., 3a, is sufficient excess physical capacity economic demand accommodate more than one company, 4a, process allowed discriminate among applicants based deemed "best." Based other allegations, violated Free Speech Clause Amendment, applicable State California Constitution, certain provisions law. 11a-19a. 4 did deny system. argued scarcity available public structures, limits medium, practical esthetic disruptive effect installing maintaining system right-of-way justified decision restrict facilities company. F.2d, 1401. 5 free without leave amend It also antitrust claims, reasoning were immune liability state-action doctrine Parker v. Brown, 317 341, 63 307, 87 L.Ed. 315 (1963). Finally, declined exercise pendent jurisdiction remaining claims. 6 part part. upheld conclusion federal laws. 1411-1415. Court's dismissal claim, 1401-1411. held that, taking allegations true, 1399, refusing issue company when one. 1401-1405, 1411. expressed view facts brought into ambit cases such Miami Herald Publishing Co. Tornillo, 418 241, 94 2831, 41 730 (1974), rather Red Lion Broadcasting FCC, 395 367, 89 1794, 23 371 (1969), Members Council Taxpayers Vincent, 466 789, 104 2118, 80 772 (1984). 1403-1411. 7 agree dismissed, we therefore affirm judgment court; do narrower taken it. well-pleaded sought serve.2 City, while admitting existence poles, rights-of-way, like, justifies limit franchises terms minimizing systems make use property. characterizes uses stringing "nearly 700 miles hanging buried wire appliances necessary operation system." Brief Petitioners 12. them "a permanent visual blight," ibid., adds installation repair subjects designed purposes servitude cause traffic delays hazards unsightliness. turn replies does "provide anything speculations assumptions," "legitimate concerns easily satisfied need right speak speaker." 9. 8 take true purpose motion dismiss, see, e.g., Kugler Helfant, 421 117, 125-126, n. 5, 95 1524, 1531, 44 15 (1975). Ordinarily frames undertook case. different between private litigants two reasons: first, action municipal corporation pursuant ordinance challenged here, and, second, colorable grounds. adduced essentially arguments imposed ordinance, least unwilling questions posed parties thoroughly developed record proceedings opportunity prove those rely. 9 think alleges: 10 "The business television, like newspapers magazines, subscribers mixture news, information entertainment. As newspapers, companies portion reprint (or retransmit) communications others, same time providing some content." 3a. 11 through recently noted significant amount regarding what include." FCC Midwest Video Corp., 440 689, 707, 99 1435, 1445, 59 692 (1979). Cable partakes aspects communication ideas traditional enterprises newspaper book publishers, pamphleteers. proposed seem interests wireless broadcasters, found fall within supra, U.S., 386, 1804, even though broadcasters' outweighed Government regulating frequencies. 12 Of course, protected end inquiry. "Even equally permissible all places times." Cornelius NAACP Legal Defense Educational Fund, 473 788, 799, 105 3439, 3447, 567 Moreover, See, 805-807, 2129-2130; O'Brien, 391 376-377, 1673, 1678-1679, 20 672 (1968). think, however, desirable express any detailed views proper resolution question raised responses know now about how constitutional resolved present rights-of-way proposes install maintain them. 13 claims no trial required, because "generate legislative record" enacting ordinances each 44. "Whether limitation number . 'reasonable,' " continues, "thus cannot review historical facts." 45. supports contention regard citation Railroad Retirement Board Fritz, 449 166, 179, 101 453, 461, 66 368 (1980), Schweiker Wilson, 450 221, 236-237, 1074, 1083-1084, 67 186 (1981). 45, 52. 14 flaw argument both Fritz Wilson involved Fifth equal protection challenges legislation, Amendment. Where law subjected challenge, rule rationality sustain legislation typically controlling force. cf. Ohralik Ohio Bar Assn., 436 447, 459, 98 1912, 1920, 56 444 (1978). This "may simply assume always advance asserted sufficiently abridgment expressive activity." 803, 22, 2127, 22; Landmark Inc. Virginia, 435 829, 843-844, 1535, 1543-1544, reversing remand 16 ordered. 17 whom O'CONNOR join, concurring. 18 I join understanding leaves open standard judging municipality's restriction facilities. Different media treated differently purposes. Compare, League Women Voters California, 468 364, 3106, 3117, 82 278 In assessing concerning access, determine whether characteristics analogous another medium warrant application already existing require new analysis. arises out lack nature television. Recognizing considerations, ante, 493-494, attempt choose particular standard. concludes challenging Angeles' policy exclusivity franchising, alleges cognizable authorizes municipalities means "franchise license" system, prescribe "rules regulations" protect customers operators. Cal.Gov't Code Ann. § 53066 (West Supp.1986). Congress endorsed systems. Communications Policy Act 1984, Pub.L. 98-549, Stat. 2779. Pursuant authority State, adopted provision forbidding construction obtained. Admin.Code, Art. 13, 13.62(a) A provides allotted bidder offering "the highest percentage gross annual receipts" derived "such compensation consideration prescribed advertisement bids notice sale." Ordinance 58,200, 5.2 (1927). October 1982, published soliciting indicated only awarded, established deadline submission bids. 91a. set forth nonfinancial criteria considered selection process, including degree local participation management ownership reflecting ethnic diversity area, 52 channels two-way communication, willingness aside various facilities, develop services interest, criminal civil enforcement principals, experience activities, creative aggressive affirmative action. 98a, 101a-102a, 105a, 108a-109a. submit bid response solicitation, eventually awarded operator. They imposes numerous conditions successful applicant franchise. claimed entirely apart violate rights. reach contentions, neither we.

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