Pay-TV Service Ignites Lobbying Slugfest

[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Drew Clark]
The cable and telecommunications industries are involved in a slugfest over who may offer pay-television programming, and both sides are eager to secure as many nonprofit allies as possible. The heart of the battle pits the benefits of competition against the fear of redlining, or discriminating against households based on race or income. Some public-interest groups and lawmakers have highlighted the issue of telecom companies only offering video services to wealthier neighborhoods.Tension between the cherished goals of competition and universally-available video service has split nonprofit groups. Bell supporters include National Consumers League, Consumers for Cable Choice, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. On cable's side are local governments that control franchising, community media advocates for "public access" cable and minority groups seeking to ensure their voice is heard via cable programming. The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council believes the Bells will discriminate without build-out requirements. "We are going to be opposed to redlining," Executive Director David Honig said. "The risk of redlining here is pretty significant," said Jeannine Kenney, a senior policy analyst with Consumers Union. "There is simply no evidence at this point that negotiating with localities is necessarily a bar" to Bell-obtained video franchises. "Our point is, if you want to streamline your business cost, then it is essential that at a national level we have a set of obligations to serve all consumers in a franchise area," Kenney said. Cable lobbyists also make that point.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CIKT1131484568957.html

* In VA, Verizon Softens Video Policy
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-GWBY1131482935903.html