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Bringing Video Competition to the Cable Industry Would Create Thousands of New Jobs
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(72 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(TEBO OPEN):
ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY CALLED "THE CABLING OF AMERICA",
BRINGING VIDEO COMPETITION TO THE CABLE-T-V INDUSTRY WOULD RESULT IN
MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND NEW, PERMANENT JOBS FOR THE U-S ECONOMY--MANY IN
THE HIGH-PAYING I-T SECTOR. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO BRUCE MEHLMAN
["MEL-MAN"], OF THE INTERNET INNOVATION ALLIANCE--THE
ORGANIZATION THAT COMMISSIONED THE STUDY--THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF
POLICYMAKERS ENCOURAGE COMPETITION...
(MEHLMAN):
"UNFORTUNATELY, CABLE REGULATIONS ARE FROZEN IN
TIME: THEY'VE PRESERVED MONOPOLIES AND THE HIGH PRICES THEY
COMMAND--AND CONSUMERS ARE LOSING. THE CURRENT FRANCHISING
PROCESS--REQUIRING NEW COMPETITORS TO GET INDIVIDUAL APPROVALS FROM MORE
THAN 33-THOUSAND LOCAL BUREAUCRACIES--DISCOURAGES COMPETITION AND
SUPPRESSES INVESTMENT. HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF STATES--SUCH AS TEXAS
AND INDIANA--HAVE PASSED LAWS THAT DO AWAY WITH THESE ANTIQUATED
REGULATIONS. THESE REFORMS WILL SPEED THE BENEFITS OF COMPETITION
TO CONSUMERS IN THOSE STATES. REFORMING VIDEO-FRANCHISE
REGULATIONS--AT THE STATE [LEVEL] OR IN CONGRESS--MEANS MORE JOBS, MORE
CHOICES, AND LOWER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS. AND, STATE GOVERNMENTS
WIN, TOO--AS THE INDUSTRY GROWTH UNLEASHED BY COMPETITION GENERATES MORE
TAXABLE REVENUE."
(TEBO CLOSE):
MEHLMAN URGES PEOPLE TO CALL THEIR SENATORS--AND URGE THEM TO WORK HARD IN
WASHINGTON TO PASS VIDEO-REFORM LEGISLATION THIS YEAR, BEFORE THEY GO
BACK HOME. I'M BOB TEBO.
