Cable: No Special Deals for Telcos

[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow said Monday that cable operators should be granted whatever regulatory breaks Washington and local governments give to telephone companies that want to begin video service. He proposed that new entrants such as AT&T and Verizon should be given 30 days to negotiate deals to provide TV service. If no agreement were reached, the new entrants would get the same deal cable has; if the new entrant reached a deal, cable would get the same treatment. Such proposals are likely to be discussed Tuesday as the Senate Commerce Committee holds a hearing into video franchising.
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