Iowa Gov signs cable television expansion bill

IOWA GOV SIGNS CABLE TELEVISION EXPANSION BILL
[SOURCE: Sioux City Journal, AUTHOR: Dan Gearino]
Gov. Chet Culver closed the books on this year's legislative session Tuesday, signing 11 bills, including a measure that will allow cable television providers to apply for the right to sell their services statewide. The cable television measure replaces a system in which cable providers needed to get approval from local governments, a process that critics say has led to high prices and few choices. Iowa joins about a dozen states that have revised cable franchise rules to encourage competition. Often, the competition comes from telephone companies that decide to enter the cable business. Qwest, the largest phone company in Iowa, was one of the leading supporters of the measure. The leading opponent was the Iowa League of Cities, which argued that local franchise agreements allow cities to customize services to local needs. Cable companies provide free or reduced-cost services to local governments in exchange for the right to serve local customers.
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/30/news/iowa/9d3e5f4474...