D&C LTE: Watch out for Cable Biz lies on the Brodsky Telecom bill
Yesterday we asked you to call the Gov about supporting the Brodsky Telecom bill. It is indeed a no-brainer if you’re a regular citizen like you or me. But what if you’re a cable company? You get freaked out and spread misinformation to preserve your monopoly and profits. This writer stands up to the lies:
Telecom reform, viewers’ reprieve
Cable companies have been spreading misleading information about a bill that would provide for statewide video franchises. The bill is the Telecommunications Reform Act of 2007 and is bill number A.3980 in the Assembly and S.5124 in the Senate. The record needs to be set straight.
The bill does not take anything away from our local municipalities but actually gives them more. It gives municipalities the maximum 5 percent of the gross cable revenues (a true 5 percent) in addition to 2 percent to support public access channels. Municipalities also retain full control of our right-of-ways as they do now.
In addition, the bill provides for free hookups to municipal buildings such as libraries, schools and police/fire stations.
The reason for these lies is simple. Cable companies want to continue their monopoly. Studies have shown that where a statewide franchise has been introduced, cable prices have dropped. It’s time the residents of New York had a choice for their television provider and stop the cable monopoly.
DAN POWER
LANCASTER, ERIE COUNTY
The writer works in Rochester as a representative for Communication Workers of America.
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[...] their television provider and stop the cable monopoly.ÂÂ — Dan Power, Lancaster, Erie County http://rochesterturning.com/2007/06/27/dc-lte-watch-out-for-cable-biz-lies-on-the-brodsky-telecom-bi... [...]