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The Senate Has an Opportunity to Pass Legislation that Would Bring Real Competition to the Cable-TV Marketplace
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(TEBO OPEN):
IN MAY, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS-FRANCHISE-REFORM BILL, DESIGNED TO BENEFIT CONSUMERS
BY BRINGING REAL COMPETITION TO THE CABLE MARKETPLACE. WHEN THE
SENATE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON NEXT WEEK [THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4TH],
IT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS A SIMILAR BILL, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE VIDEO
COMPETITION, DRIVE DOWN CABLE PRICES, AND FOSTER RAPID BROADBAND
DEPLOYMENT NATIONWIDE. LARRY IRVING--CO-CHAIRMAN OF
THE INTERNET INNOVATION ALLIANCE, AND FORMER ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION--DISCUSSES
HOW CONSUMERS BENEFIT WHEN SUCH COMPETITION EXISTS IN THE MARKETPLACE...
(IRVING):
"UNFORTUNATELY,
FEWER THAN TWO-PERCENT OF AMERICANS REAP THE BENEFITS OF CABLE
COMPETITION. ACCORDING TO THE F-C-C, WHEN TWO CABLE
COMPANIES ARE COMPETING HEAD-TO-HEAD, THE AVERAGE PRICE TO THE CONSUMER
IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN IN NON-COMPETITIVE MARKETS. CONSUMERS
ARE EXCITED ABOUT INCREASED COMPETITION IN CABLE, EAGER FOR NEW
PROGRAMMING AND SERVICE OPTIONS, AND EXCITED ABOUT THE BENEFITS THAT
ENCOURAGING BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT WILL BRING TO VOICE, VIDEO, AND DATA
SERVICES."
(TEBO CLOSE):
IRVING BELIEVES THAT PASSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS REFORM THIS YEAR IS
CRITICAL--AND THAT UNRELATED ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PREVENT
H-R 5252 FROM RECEIVING AN UP-OR-DOWN VOTE, ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
W-W-W-DOT-"INTERNET-INNOVATION"-DOT-ORG. I'M BOB TEBO.
