IP Democracy: New Jersey on Cusp of Statewide Franchising

After a bruising battle that pitted unions and cable operators against phone companies, New Jersey is close to enacting a law that creates state-wide franchising. On Monday, the state assembly approved a bill, S.192, by a vote of 61 to 13 that would enable the New Jersey Board of Public Utlities to grant state-wide franchises.

Taking its cue from other states, including Indiana, Kansas, Texas, Virginia and South Carolina, that have passed similar measures, the New Jersey legislature approved the bill to allow faster telco entry into the video business in exchange for stepped-up franchise fees. Despite cable’s opposition to the legislation, last-minute changes that give local governments greater power over how phone companies enter a local market seems to have diminished cable’s anger over the bill.

The National Journal’s Tech Daily has this piece on the bill noting that a signature by the governor, needed for the bill to become law, is not an automatic thing in this case. The legislation won’t be sent to Governor Jon Corzine until the Senate reexamines the provisions regarding franchise fees.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on May 24, 2006 12:02 PM to IP Democracy