Can you see me now? Verizon gets Cable Access

Probably not. (0.00 / 0)

I am in the part of NJ that is served by Embarq(once known as Sprint Local). I strongly doubt we will see telecom services and speeds like the rest of the state, or prices like some parts of the state, for a good long time.

We have Embarq and Comcast out here. That's it. No real competition takes place.


The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Sat Aug 05, 2006 at 04:08:16 AM UTC

I worry about (0.00 / 0)

The death of local public access. This sort of state-wide franchise agreement only takes control away from local communities to negotiate multiple (if any) public access channels, as well as the facilities and equipment to produce the programming. There is also a worry that these state-wide agreements (NJ has the honor of being only the second state to have one -- after Texas!) will make it easier for nation-wide agreements down the line. Deregulation at its finest...right. I just don't think this is the kind of "competition" I am looking for.

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by: City Belt @ Sat Aug 05, 2006 at 12:54:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No need to worry about that (0.00 / 0)

The bill specifically protects that.  From the Senate Economic Growth Committee's May 15th Statement on Bill S-192 (emphasis mine):

The bill amends section 28 of the act to require a commitment from a CATV company receiving a system-wide franchise to: (1) match or surpass any line extension policy operative at the time the system-wide franchise is granted and placed into effect prior to the enactment of the bill by a local franchise or certificate of approval, for the duration of the system-wide franchise; (2) provide each municipality that is served by a CATV company with two public, educational and governmental access channels, provided that if two or more access channels are requested by a municipality, the municipality shall demonstrate that its cable-related needs require the provision of such additional access channels; (3) retain or provide, without charge, one service outlet activated for basic service to any and all fire stations, public schools, police stations, public libraries, and other such buildings used for municipal purposes; (4) provide free Internet service, without charge, through one service outlet activated for basic service to any and all fire stations, public schools, police stations, public libraries, and other such buildings used for municipal purposes; (5) provide equipment and training for access users, without charge, on a schedule to be agreed upon between the municipality and the CATV company; (6) provide a return feed from any one location in the municipality, without charge, to the CATV company’s headend or other location of interconnection to the CATV system for public, educational or governmental use which, at a minimum, provides the ability for the municipality to cablecast live or taped access programming, in real time, as may be applicable, to the CATV company’s customers in the municipality; and (7) a commitment to meet any consumer protection requirements applicable, pursuant to BPU regulations, to CATV companies operating under a municipal franchise.  The board is to adopt rules for procedures for resolving disputes between CATV companies themselves and between CATV companies and municipalities concerning the commitment requirements described above.

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by: PocketAces @ Sat Aug 05, 2006 at 13:35:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]