Let Phone and Cable firms Compete for TV Viewers

LET PHONE AND CABLE FIRMS COMPETE FOR TV VIEWERS
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] When telephone companies upgrade their aging networks so they can deliver super-fast Internet access and television-quality video, consumers stand to benefit. So it makes sense for state and federal lawmakers to want to help more consumers enjoy this kind of competition. Two bills -- one introduced by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez on Thursday and another approved by a key committee in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday -- take steps in that direction. Both would allow phone companies such as AT&T and Verizon to get into the television business without having to go city by city to secure local franchises. This is a good idea in principle. Local franchising can be slow and litigious. Unfortunately, both bills would allow phone companies to deploy their services only in affluent cities and neighborhoods. Instead of everyone benefiting from lower prices and better service, it's possible that only a few would -- and they'd be the ones least in need of lower prices. The gap between digital haves and have-nots would grow wider. And cable firms, which are under stricter requirements to serve entire communities, would be at an unfair disadvantage. Both the state and federal bills should be amended to make sure the benefits of this promising new form of competition are spread equitably across California and the United States.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/14286347.htm