Franchise Bill Finds Foes

FRANCHISE BILL FINDS FOES
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Republican leaders of the House Commerce Committee are trying to build political support for a bill opposed by cable that would award national video franchises to phone companies. But lawmakers interviewed about the bill said they were not convinced that handicapping cable in an effort to expedite phone-company entry into cable markets was the right approach. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said she was troubled by a provision that would require an incumbent cable operator to offer uniform prices throughout a franchise area. The provision is designed to stop cable companies from using deep discounts to prevent a phone company from building a subscriber base.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6317028.html?display=Top+Stories

* Cable Reform Is Almost Here
[SOURCE: Linux Insider, AUTHOR: Sonia Arrison]
[Commentary] The old franchise system was based on the idea that, because of economies of scale, cable had to be a monopoly service. Now that competition is available from a variety of technologies, such as satellite and the Internet, it's time to revise the regulatory system.
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/features/49410.html

* Video Franchise Reform 'Compromises' Consumers, Says IPI
[SOURCE: Institute for Policy Innovation press release]
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=62558