said by N3OGH :

You make a valid point, when it comes to greedy local politicians and franchise agreements, but...

I would sure as hell rather see my franchise tax go to my local municipality, where I can show up to the township meetings (and I do) and gripe about how the people who are spending the money (the township supervisors) are spending it.

With a national franchise, all that money goes to DC. It's just another drop in the bucket for them. More cash to study the mating habits of the duck billed cockroach, or to build a bridge to nowhere....