Local Officials Push Hill for Say in Telecom Rewrite

As many as 20 elected local government officials Wednesday began lobbying key members of the House and Senate Commerce Committees, urging Congress to “recognize the importance of local franchising authority.” More than 50 meetings with members of Congress and staff have been set, said Arvada (CO) Mayor Ken Fellman, who chairs the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Information & Technology Communications Committee. Cities are willing to consider streamlining the franchising process, Mayor Fellman said. But local governments must be involved in any telecom law rewrite, he said. “It’s crucial that we have a seat at the table.” NATOA President Coralie Wilson said the NATOA annual conference starting today in Washington will let local telecom regulators meet congressional representatives to “express our concerns and interests on the telecom rewrite legislation.”
[SOURCE: Communications Daily, AUTHOR: Dinesh Kumar]
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* City Official Gives House Telecom Bill Mixed Reviews
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-HMSQ1127334669173.html