IP Democracy: Telcos Gain Stevens' Support on National Franchising

As the phone industry warms in the spotlight provided by Supercomm in Chicago, SBC and Verizon, at least, have to be even happier that the powerful Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ted Stevens (R-AK) is rooting to give them relief on the franchising issue. Speaking at an FCBA lunch yesterday, Stevens said “we need to think about some sort of national franchise” for the bells, according to National Journal”s Technology Daily.

Stevens support came on the same day that Verizon’s chief lobbyist Tom Tauke spoke on the very same subject during a Supercomm panel. Tauke called for a national policy that promotes telco competition in the video marketplace, and specifically asked for help on eliminating the hassles of obtaining cable franchises in the 30,000 localities across the U.S.

“We already have the authority to deploy the network, and we are entering the video market as a new player in a competitive marketplace. Applying the cable franchise rules to us is unfair and simply delays the day when consumers will have a choice of video providers,” Tauke said.

He also called for the Bush Administration to move quickly in filling vacant FCC commissioner slots. “It is hard to make bold policy when you have one vacancy and two lame ducks,” he said.

Speaking on the same panel, SBC Group President Forrest Miller echoed Tauke’s sentiment, according to Reuters. “Video franchise processes were designed in an era in which cable companies had absolutely no competition and virtually guaranteed returns,” he said. “New entrants have no guarantees, but we do have every incentive to compete.”

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on June 7, 2005 9:26 AM to IP Democracy