Dingell Warns Telecom Rewrite Could Hurt Municipal Interests

[SOURCE: TechnologyDaily, AUTHOR: Michael Martinez]
Rep John Dingell (D-MI), the ranking Member on the House Commerce Committee, warned the U.S. Conference of Mayors that a rewrite of the 1996 Telecommunications Act could hurt municipal interests -- particularly regarding their authority over video franchising and property rights of way. He did not offer a timetable for how quickly a rewrite of the telecom law would move, but contended municipal governments would be bypassed if they were not "quick afoot" defending themselves. Rep Dingell said there is not a "significant amount of understanding" on Capitol Hill about the benefits of local franchising fees for citizens, so that municipalities need to advertise them more.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XWNT1138309821569.html