Free Press Franchising E-Mails Flood FCC

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Hundreds of e-mailed comments flooded the FCC over the weekend in advance of the deadline for comments in its proposal to modify video franchising rules to encourage competition. Many appeared to be e-mails of the same message from media reform group Free Press. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has made it clear he thinks that, to advance the compelling government interest of speeding the roll-out of broadband and video competition to cable and satellite, new multichannel video providers need some government help bypassing the time-consuming local franchising process. Free Press, which wants to make sure that community input is not also bypassed, set up an online complaint filing form under the heading "Defend local needs from corporate greed," with a message promoting continued local input into the franchise process.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6307348?display=Breaking+News...
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