COPE seen hurting localities

CABLE ACT SEEN HURTING LOCALITIES
[SOURCE: Washington Times, AUTHOR: Jacqueline Palank]
Passed by the House last week, the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006, known as the COPE Act, would create a national franchising system in lieu of the local franchises that currently exist. The Federal Communications Commission would be in charge. "It's not a very good day for local government and it's not a good day for consumers," said Marilyn Praisner, vice president of the Montgomery County Council. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Thursday will review its own, broader version of the House bill. A major role of the local cable administrative offices is to act as an intermediary between consumer and cable provider when a complaint can't be resolved. If a national franchising system is established, local officials question the federal government's ability to handle the detail and quantity of the complaints, which include unrestored construction sites, missed appointments and billing errors. Officials worry that a federal franchise would not require cable providers to service an entire geographic area. Local officials say the House bill may take funds away from the public, educational and governmental channels that make up local programming, called PEG channels, as well as the fiber network that allows for communication between all government buildings and schools, called an institutional network or I-net.
http://www.washtimes.com/business/20060615-095645-5861r.htm