from: WISPolitics.com [1]

Gov. Doyle: Signs cable competition bill
12/21/2007

Contact: Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor,
608-261-2162 or 608-575-8577

Improves Consumer Protection Provisions

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today signed Assembly Bill 207, legislation that will provide Wisconsin consumers with more cable service choices. The Governor also preserved protections for cable customers through several vetoes.

“By opening the door to cable competition in Wisconsin we should see expanded services to consumers and more investments in communications technologies and infrastructure in the state,” Governor Doyle said. “And while we are opening the door to competition, people can also be assured that Wisconsin’s strong consumer protection laws will continue to cover them when it comes to issues like billing errors and service interruptions.”

The new law streamlines the cable franchise process by creating a statewide video service franchise process through the Department of Financial Institutions. The statewide franchise will replace the current process where individual municipalities grant cable franchises in Wisconsin. Existing municipal cable franchises will be phased out.

Language was vetoed from the bill that limited consumer protections and prohibited state agencies from drafting administrative rules regarding the new franchise application and revocation process.

Under the new law, video service providers will still pay a fee to municipalities set at no more than 5 percent of the company’s gross receipts and Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels will continue to broadcast. The rights of municipalities and their taxpayers are also protected by ensuring video service providers continue to pay for use of public rights of way.

The Governor thanked State Senator Jeff Plale and State Representative Phil Montgomery for their work on the bill.

Governor Doyle’s veto message is available at: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=12738 .