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from: Germantown News

Telecommunication bill passes hurdle
By Don Moore

On Tuesday, April 17, the Tennessee House subcommittee on utilities and banking passed an amended version of the cable/video franchising bill by a vote of 8 to 6. Representative Steve McManus (Rep.-Cordova), a member of the committee, voted against the bill. Rep. Brian Kelsey (Rep.-East Memphis/Germantown), also a committee member, voted in favor.

“The amendments addressed provisions for public educational governmental channels (PEG) and build-out requirements modeled after Missouri legislation,” said Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy's administration and all five Germantown aldermen oppose the legislation, which they say effectively eliminates local control of franchising, substantially weakens the authority of municipalities and reduces municipal revenues.

According to Goldsworthy, “the legislation eliminates local franchise agreements, removing local government from protecting and promoting the interests of its citizens.”

Goldsworthy also said the legislation “allows video service providers to pick and choose customers, serving some and not being accessible to others.”

The mayor said Germantown could lose PEG channels, including the award-winning GHS-TV production and telecasting program at Germantown High School.

Goldsworthy also said she welcomes a local franchise with AT&T, which supports the bill, and invites the company to apply for a local franchise agreement. The company has not pursued such a franchise.