2 edits | Possible federal law could make this issue moot A bill winding its way thru the Senate will make this whole issue moot. It is S.1504( »thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z···s.01504: ) and it would authorize national TV licensing rights that no community could override.
»www.mondaq.com/i_article.asp_Q_a···_E_36552
It is not clear whether comprehensive telecom reform proposals can achieve passage, given the contentious issues raised by any wide-ranging legislation, leaving narrowly focused bills as the most likely candidates for enactment. Senator Ensign (R‑NV) touched on the question of the most appropriate legislative approach at a Capitol Hill forum on October 25 in extolling the benefits of S. 1504, his Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act (discussed in the October Bulletin). He focused on one provision of the bill that would enable carriers to obtain national video service franchise rights. Although he indicated that he is anxious to have such a policy enacted, he is not inclined to separate that provision from the rest of the bill in an attempt to push it through Congress faster, noting that Senate floor time is at a premium. Relevant text from the bill:
quote:
SEC. 13. VIDEO SERVICES.
(a) Video Service Providers- A video service provider may not be required--
(1) to obtain a State or local video franchise;
(2) to build out its video distribution system in any particular manner; or
(3) to provide leased or common carrier access to its video distribution facilities and equipment to any other video service provider.
(b) State and Local Government Authority to Regulate-
(1) REASONABLE FEE-
(A) COMPENSATING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS-
(i) IN GENERAL- A State or local government may require a video service provider to pay a reasonable video service fee on an annual basis to the units of local government in which the video service provider provides video service for the purpose of compensating such local government for the costs that it incurs in managing the public rights-of-way used by such provider.
(ii) AMOUNT OF FEE- The video service fee imposed under clause (i) shall not exceed 5 percent of gross revenues.
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Cod
join:2000-07-05
Kernersville, NC Reviews:
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| Re: Possible federal law could make this issue moo said by fAcEtIOUs:A bill winding its way thru the Senate will make this whole issue moot. It is S.1504( » thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z···s.01504: ) and it would authorize national TV licensing rights that no community could override. » www.mondaq.com/i_article.asp_Q_a···_E_36552It is not clear whether comprehensive telecom reform proposals can achieve passage, given the contentious issues raised by any wide-ranging legislation, leaving narrowly focused bills as the most likely candidates for enactment. Senator Ensign (R‑NV) touched on the question of the most appropriate legislative approach at a Capitol Hill forum on October 25 in extolling the benefits of S. 1504, his Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act (discussed in the October Bulletin). He focused on one provision of the bill that would enable carriers to obtain national video service franchise rights. Although he indicated that he is anxious to have such a policy enacted, he is not inclined to separate that provision from the rest of the bill in an attempt to push it through Congress faster, noting that Senate floor time is at a premium. Hope it passes...Regardless of the anti-telco pundits, the bottom line is it would mean more competition which in the end is better for consumers. |
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 marigoldsGainfully employed, finallyPremium,MVM
join:2002-05-13
Saint Louis, MO
kudos:1 | said by Cod:Regardless of the anti-telco pundits, the bottom line is it would mean more competition which in the end is better for consumers. It would mean more competition if you live in a highly profitable area capable of supporting multiple buildouts.
If you even live on a block that does not match a profitable profile, not only could you not see competition but you could see reduced services from your existing provider (e.g. they could decide to offer only 256/256 data services and digital only tv with a family cable base package).
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