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from: Telegram.com

Statewide cable franchising bad news

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The current local cable franchise system doesn’t discourage competition or consumer choice. This 25-year-old system has worked well, and for many communities in eastern Massachusetts there has been competition between RCN and Comcast for some 10 years. Also, throughout all municipalities in the state there are two other competitors in the form of satellite TV providers — Dish Network and Direct TV. In many communities, Verizon is the fifth provider of multi-channel video services, as defined by the FCC.

If new competitors want to enter into a city franchise, currently they merely have to match the incumbent’s license terms. Thus, there exists a level and fair playing field.

But it appears Verizon simply wants to avoid being subject to local franchise terms and accountability. It appears that it wants to move regulatory authority as far away as possible from our local cities and towns. So, when you have a complaint about customer service, or when you are not allowed access to their high-speed Internet, digital phone or TV service in your low-income neighborhood that has been redlined by Verizon, you may have to go to the FCC in Washington or to the DTE in Boston to get satisfaction.

Good luck. Verizon’s proposal for telecommunication reform in this state will harm important public, educational and government channels, leave local institutional networks, which provide towns and cities with low-cost telecommunication services, to wither and die after the incumbent’s license expires.

A statewide franchising is bad news for all cities.

MAURO DePASQUALE

Worcester