Verizon may Lobby states on TV service Rules

VERIZON MAY LOBBY STATES ON TV SERVICE RULES
[SOURCE: Bloomberg News 10/5]
Verizon's lead lobbyist said the company is likely to abandon efforts to pursue federal rules to ease the sale of television service if pending legislation fails this year. The second-largest US telephone company will instead focus on obtaining statewide agreements in Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, lobbyist Tom Tauke said. Those states are the largest Verizon markets without statewide franchises in place to help it sell TV service without having to get permission and negotiate deals with each municipality, Tauke said. The company has secured agreements in Texas, New Jersey, California, Virginia and Indiana.
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/10/05/verizon_may_lobby_states_on_tv_service_rules/