After Ind., Franchise Battle Shifts to N.J.

AFTER INDIANA, FRANCHISE BATTLE SHIFTS TO NEW JERSEY
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
Even as Indiana’s governor signed a statewide video-franchising effort into law, a fractious fight continues over regulatory reform in New Jersey and the overall public-relations and legal struggle between the cable and telephone industries continued to escalate. In New Jersey, a Senate committee on March 13 approved a draft of a reform bill that would enable statewide video certification within 45 days. S192 would only require a competitor (such as the bill’s backer, Verizon Communications Inc.) to commit to providing service to 60 of the state’s most populous cities beginning within three years of certification. Service must be widely available in those cities within six years, according to the measure’s current language. Certification by the state Board of Public Utilities’ newly created cable office would allow operation for 15 years. Cable incumbents, meanwhile, would be bound to their current deals -- but could opt for early renewal under the terms of existing contracts. Cable companies immediately branded the legislation a “sweetheart deal” for Verizon.
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