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from: Madison.com

SAT., NOV 17, 2007 - 11:06 PM
Cable competition bill's other consequences

If the cable competition bill becomes law as expected, it won't only affect whether more than one company offers paid-television services in some communities:

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Local governments wouldn 't be able to require companies to meet certain customer service standards.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS: Satellite television providers would be subject to state consumer protection laws, but local governments would eventually have no authority to set additional requirements.

COMPLAINTS: Complaints would be handled and investigated by the state only. Local governments wouldn 't have authority to investigate.

PUBLIC ACCESS: Public access channels will have guaranteed funding for three years but none beyond that.

RULES: The state will be barred from writing new rules affecting cable providers beyond what 's written in the law.