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from: Surburban Chicago News

Cities lining up to fight state control of cable TV

March 18, 2007
By STEVE LORD and Heather Gillers STAFF WRITERS

GENEVA -- Pete Collins is wearing a path between here and Springfield.

The information technology person for the city of Geneva is one of many representing municipalities throughout the state at hearings in the State Capitol about House Bill 1500, known as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.

The bill would end local franchise agreements for cable television and any other telecommunications video service and make the cable business regulated by the state instead.

Companies would apply to the Illinois Commerce Commission, instead of local village boards, city councils or county boards for a franchise to serve anywhere in the state.

Supporters say the bill would force video providers to compete by taking away exclusive local franchises, thus lowering prices to consumers. With the state awarding franchises, there is more clout to force video providers to serve everyone, including low-income customers.

"But it's not about competition," said Mary McKittrick, Geneva's assistant city administrator, sounding the complaint of bill opponents. "It's about companies bullying their way into the marketplace. It's about eminent domain; it's about not committing to universal coverage."

Opponents say the bill will obliterate local control, not just over customer service but over local rights of way. Companies no longer would have to get a permit to build in public places.

Of more concern to local officials is that House Bill 1500 would give companies limited eminent domain power.

"If AT&T chose to put one of those boxes in someone's back yard, they could," McKittrick said.

Towns oppose measure

A bevy of municipalities, from Chicago on down, have lined up against the new legislation. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus have come out against the bill. The Metro West Council, which includes 17 municipalities in Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties, opposes the bill.

The DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference also opposes the bill, as does the Illinois Municipal League. The Kane County Board Legislative Committee also came out against the bill.

In Kendall County, officials in both Yorkville and Oswego are concerned about the legislation. Both are opposing it as members of the Metro West Council.

John Crois, Yorkville's interim city administrator, called the bill an "erosion of the ability of the city to have input." Kendall County Administrator Jeff Wilkins said the idea that the county would lose any control over rights of way concerns him, since utilities, roads and storm drains are a "large investment" and "cost a lot to repair."

Springfield debate begins

Lining up for the bill are AT&T and Verizon, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. It is sponsored by state Rep. James Brosnahan, D-Oak Lawn, with a number of co-sponsors, about two-thirds of them Democrats. The only area representative listed as a co-sponsor is 55th District Rep. Harry Ramey Jr., who represents a district that includes the east side of Geneva and part of Batavia.

Just how local legislators will line up behind the bill is unknown. They have been hearing about it -- Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns this week discussed it with state Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia. But David Dring, a spokesman for the office of House Republican Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, said they are "just starting to focus on that now."

The first testimony from opponents came last week, from private companies such as Comcast, which opposes the legislation. On Thursday, the House Telecommunications Committee will begin hearing from the municipal opponents.