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U.S. Capitol, aerial view from the West

Representative Barton's version of telecom reform would create national cable franchises

While the California Legislature has been considering AB2987, the "Digital Infrastructure and Cable Competition Act of 2006," which would create a "state-issued authorization" ("cable franchise") for new entrants into the video service delivery marketplace, the U.S. House of Representatives, under the leadership of Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), has been working on legislation that would create a system for the national franchising of video service providers.

The vehicle for this telecom reform is H.R. 5252, the "Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006" (COPE).

You can read the analysis of this bill provided in House Report 109-470 by clicking here.

You can read a summary of the bill prepared by the Benton Foundation by clicking here.

public access producers in Minneapolis don't like H.R. 5252

You can watch and listen to a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) produced by public access producers at Minneapolis Television Network in which they urge a "No" vote on H.R. 5252 because of what they say will be diminished, not enhanced, opportunities for local, community-based programming under the provisions of this bill, in the Online Broadcasting Service (OBS) Brightcove Player below.

You can watch, listen to, make comments about, and syndicate to your own web page this same PSA from Minneapolis Television Network (MTN) using the Click.TV version below.

 

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