Vote sends Indiana Telecom Bill to Governor

[SOURCE: Louisville Courier-Journal, AUTHOR: Lesley Stedman Weidenbener]
A sweeping bill that would remove price controls on local phone service in Indiana and make it easier for telephone companies to compete with cable firms there is on its way to Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) after the House approved it Tuesday. Gov Daniels is expected to sign House Bill 1279 into law amid claims by supporters that the bill will create massive telecommunications investments and jobs in the state. But opponents contend that phone rates will increase while service drops. The House approved it 78-18. The bill will make Indiana the second state in the nation to create a statewide video franchise, eliminating the need for companies that want to provide cable or cable-like services to negotiate individually with each community where they want to do business. Instead, phone companies including AT&T (formerly SBC) and Verizon could fill out a single statewide form and then offer television services over their upgraded phone networks.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/NEWS02/60228033/1025