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Massachusetts Video Franchise Bill Faces Delay

From Multichannel News, June 11, 2007
By Linda Haugsted

A vote on a bill that would reform cable franchising in Massachusetts, much criticized by local officials, may be headed for a 90-day delay.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos (D-Lowell) has recommended that a task force study the measure, which would move franchising authority to the state’s Department of Telecommunications and Energy. He began publicly suggesting the bill needed more work even before a June 5 hearing on the Verizon Communications Inc.-backed bill before the Joint Committee on Utilities, Telecommunications and Energy.

Though the committee did not vote on the task force, Verizon officials believe committee members will take the sponsor up on his suggestion, pushing a vote on the bill into September.

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