Will they or won’t they?
This may not be earth-shattering news to the techno-policy elite. But, we aren’t placing high odds on Congress enacting ‘cable TV choice’ reform this year.
Yes, the House produced a clear, bipartisan vote in favor, the Senate committee approved it, and survey research indicates strong popular support. But, who knows if a lame duck Senate will muster 60 votes to beat the threatened ‘net neutrality’ filibuster?
What we do know is that ‘choice’ marches on at the state level.
Nugget #1: So far, eight states (TX, IN, VA, KS, SC, NC, NJ, CA) have enacted streamlined, state-wide plans to speed up what now can be an 18-22 month negotiation process between network operators, big and small, and individual local franchise authorities.
As Verizon’s Tom Tauke told Bloomberg recently, we aren’t likely to pursue federal reforms next year, instead increasing our focus on efforts in such states as MA, NY, and PA. Sure, a national franchise is better – and it may still pass Congress – but there are other options, too, that are already working. Verizon’s Doreen Toben and Virginia Ruesterholtz made this point when they supplied all those useful fiber-optic deployment numbers to analysts on September 27.
Nugget #2: FiOS TV is now available in 80-plus communities in seven states (CA, FL, MD, MA, NY, TX, and VA). FiOS Internet is available in portions of 16 states (add CT, DE, IN, NH, NJ, OR, PA, RI, WA). Nugget #3: The ‘triple play’ of FiOS Internet, TV and phone service is available in CA, FL, MD, MA, NY, TX and WA.
Still, Federalism thrives, and Washington has other irons in the fire. For example, the FCC continues its probe of local franchise authorities to see where some may be delaying consumer choice by unreasonably refusing to grant a video franchise. (Remember, those seeking franchises include small guys, too.) Also, the Commission has been asked to look into cable companies’ efforts to strike exclusive access agreements with owners/managers of apartment and condo buildings. This practice can restrict the options of individual renters or owners. Cable has its view, too.
The many lop-sided votes in favor of ‘video choice’ by municipal officials and state legislators suggest that cable TV choice is a popular issue. A recent, Verizon-commissioned survey by two national research firms found that 90 percent of registered voters think it’s important for there to be a choice of cable TV providers. Eighty percent want their senator to vote for the legislation containing the proposal.
Whatever the Senate does or does not do by year-end, progress is being made. The numbers prove it.