from: The Enterprise [1]

Taunton council opposes cable TV bill

By Donna Kulpa, Enterprise correspondent

TAUNTON — The City Council voted Tuesday to oppose a bill that would allow a cable TV company to bypass negotiations with communities when setting up a new cable franchise.

Verizon has been lobbying for this legislation, Senate Bill 1975, “An Act Promoting Consumer Choice and Competition for Cable Service.”

A letter from Donna Colajezzi of Taunton's Public Access Channel noted that if Verizon was allowed to avoid local negotiations and pay only 1 percent for public education and government funding for local-access TV, then Comcast could renegotiate to be on the same level field, meaning the 3.5 percent Comcast pays Taunton could drop to 1 percent.

Attorney William August also told the council that by bypassing negotiations with the local municipalities, Verizon or any cable company might only provide services to part of a community and could transfer or cut off service.

“The seniors' discount negotiated in an amendment by Taunton doesn't have to be offered under the proposed Senate bill,” said August. “Also, the cable company's franchise would be granted by the state Cable Licensing Board after 15 days as long as the application for the franchise was filled out correctly and FCC regulations were followed.

“Last Wednesday Taunton's entire cable commission went on record opposed to the bill. There are 47 towns on Mass.gov.det opposed to the legislation,” said Cable Commission Chairman Peter Higgins.

“Taunton doesn't have an exclusive contract. Verizon could negotiate on the same level playing field as Comcast. Middleboro, who was on the list of communities opposed to the Verizon cable bill, just signed a contract with Verizon under the current local community franchise negotiations,” he added.

“Under the current local cable franchise option, Verizon is signing good contracts,” said August. “Verizon has not gone into Boston or Springfield under the current franchising system. We want to keep control under the local option.”

Councilor Jason Buffington moved that the council send a letter to state legislators asking them to vote against the bill. The motion passed unanimously.